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Theatre, Speech and Dance

THE WAY OF THE WORLD
Designed by
Phillip Contic

THE WAY OF THE WORLD
Designd by
Phillip Contic

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND
by
Phillip Contic

water no water
Designed by
Juman Malouf '97

The Brown University Department of Theatre, Speech and Dance offers a wide range of opportunities for students interested in costume design. Three courses are offered every year.

TA27 "Clothing and the Human Experience" provides an overview of clothing and apparel as a vital art form and as a social and psychological comment on the individual and the times in which we live.

TA28 "Beginning Costume Design" trains the student to examine character in the context of a theatrical script considering approaches sensitive to time, place, space, form and texture. Students are trained to work with visual media--drawing, painting, collage, etc.,--learning how to communicate character with visual media. Students are required to work in the costume shop to develop a clearer understanding of the costume design and build process.

TA129 "Advanced Costume Design" provides more advanced training challenging the student with more difficult design and artistic problems. Students in this class are required to work in the costume shop during the semester. Time in the shop provides an understanding of the costume design process and a very intimate understanding of the workings backstage theatre.

The costume shop is equipped with up-to-date sewing equipment, dress mannequins, and dye facilities. The shop, staffed by the costume designer and the costume shop manager, provides an organized and professional atmosphere where students can learn the process of making a design come to life. The costume shop is also staffed by six costume shop assistants. These are paid positions available to more experienced students.

Students also have the opportunity to design for the Sock and Buskin season. Student-driven productions such as Senior Slot and Brownbrokers are always designed by outstanding student designers. These productions have the support of the costume shop staff and are designed under the mentoring and support of the costume designer. Design students are often given the opportunity to design pieces for the Spring Dance concert. Designing for dance presents challenges to the designer that other productions in the Sock and Buskin season do not.

Other design opportunities are abundant throughout the campus. Organizations such as Production Workshop and Musical Forum, Playwriting's New Plays Festival and Rites and Reason Theatre are places where an enthusiastic designer can work in other venues outside of the Theatre, Speech and Dance Dept.

Costume design also has cataloged a collection of antique and vintage clothing. These garments are under the supervision of Fran Romasco, the Costume Shop Manager. The collection currently has over two hundred items; the oldest being an 1832 wedding dress from Massachusetts. The dress, petticoat, bodice and hoops were donated by Virginia Hood Stevens '43, along with many other family pieces. The Stevens donation became the impetus to begin conservation for the antique clothing. A project is currently underway to assure that each piece is stored appropriately for preservation. The antique clothing collection will be used for study in the costume history and design classes.