You can take it with you. That is, you can take with you a bit of history from Seattle Repertory Theatre. They're having a costume and prop sale for the second time ever since 1974.
For one day only, on June 6th from 10AM to 4PM, the Seattle theater icon opens its wardrobe closet for a special sale of over 300 costumes, props, hats, wigs, plus other odds and ends from the past 36 seasons. Sponsored by Seattle Repertory Organization (SRO), the Rep's volunteer group, all proceeds go to the Rep's operating budget
Every costume is one of a kind. Prices range from $10-$1000, while sizes range from women's XS (0-2) up to a man's size 48 suit. A dozen of the most elaborate pieces will be part of a silent auction.
At a private preview, Jerry Manning, Seattle Rep's producing artistic director, and Sarah Gladden, the stock manager, acted as guides, rolling out the racks like a fashion show on wheels. Surrounded by a fabulous assortment of lush costumes, this reporter experienced visual silks and satins, gossamer laces and faux fur, glittery lame and cut velvet, feathers and sequins, all in vibrant colors, like a Toulouse Lautrec painting.
Gladden organized the pieces by period-from 1400 to modern times. A Rep mainstay since 1976, she can find a costume quicker than you can think to ask.
Manning, with the Rep since 2000, beams over the costumes like a proud papa. "Alice Clayton wore this gorgeous 18th century gown as Toinette, the saucy maidservant, in "Imaginary Invalid" last year. Just look at the detail. The ruff made of gilded hypodermic casings, the skirt adorned with gilded hemostats and a large appliqué of a medical cadesus."
"The whole gown took 400 hours to build, and will be offered in a silent auction with a reserve of a thousand dollars," Gladden explains, "a little more than the cost of the materials."
Another big ticket item? Queen Elizabeth's gown, the most intricate of all the pieces, worn by Lori Larsen in "Beard of Avon" (2001)--also with $1,000 reserve. Based on a painting of Queen Elizabeth, the sumptuous gold creation comes with a jeweled headpiece, butterfly veil, stand-up ruff and a Farthingale wheel.
Nearby, Oberon's costume for "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (2001) reigns over the racks like a Tim Burton-esque black leather muscle outfit from "Batman." The silent auction reserve is $200.
The oldest piece which somehow survived the Reps first sale date back to "Henry IV" in 1967--a fabulous cape-like garment with hanging sleeves, sweeping train and lavender silk lining. The silent auction reserve is $50."
So what can you get for $10? Knit tops that Chelsea Rive wore in "Boom" or the boy's shirts and pants from "Cure at Troy." There are gold robes for $15, water dresses from "The Breach-sequin fabulous-for $24-$40 and hand-painted kimonos from M. Butterfly for $30.
Manning proudly points to a cardinal red 18th century gown and a black hat trimmed with red roses. "This one is my favorite. Kate Mulgrew wore it in "The Misanthrope" (1983)-12 years before she signed on to play Captain Janeway on "Star Trek: Voyager."
"This is my very favorite," chimes in Gladden. "Jeannie Carson's costume for "A Flaw in the Ointment" (1993-94)-a green gown with snake decor wrapped around the dress and headpiece.
"It's going to be crazy during the sale," she predicts "People are going to strip down onstage, despite the dressing areas."
SRO has set a modest goal of $10,000, the same amount the 1974 sale raised. Hopefully, this year's fundraiser can double the proceeds. But what will that buy?
"Think of it this way," said Manning. "In the Bagley Wright, that's the director's fee--$20,000. So start there. We can hire a director," Manning claps his hands. "Now all we have to do is find 200 pots of $20,000 here, there and everywhere."
The sale also features a drag section of over-sized couture, one gown worn by Nick Garrison. And in the prop lineup, the fish tank from "Boom" goes for $200. FYI: It doesn't come with fish.
But you can buy a costume, complete with bullet holes and blood. "Gladden holds up a tuxedo, "Larry Ballard got blown up in this. We even have gold lamé with bullet holes. People seem to get shot a lot in plays."
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