American Theatre Costumes

Costume design is a very underrated element of theater. Many people do not understand the true importance and the hard work that goes into it. The costume design has many different roles associated with it that the audience is not always aware of. For example, the costumes are able to establish time and place, reveal character, demonstrate relationships, tell the story, coordinate with other production elements, and meet the needs of individual performers. There are four main types of costume design used in theater. They include history, fantastical, dance and modern. A costume includes the clothing, jewelry and the props that go along with the wardrobe. Much more goes into costume design than just figuring out what the performer is going to wear. The major role

It can be as simple as the colors, fabric and textures are of the clothes or it can be as advanced at how realistic the costumes are and how exaggerated they look. For example, based on the type of play the costumes many be larger or smaller than it would be in real life and must still appeal to the way the play is supposed to play out. Costume designers must also collaborate and work with other departments like make-up artists. In a Romantic style play the makeup artist and costume designers must collaborate to make a feeling rather than just a look. Romantic plays are a type of acting that must appeal to emotion rather than intellect. Costume designs and make up are one of the most important aspects of plays and the emotions and feelings you receive from them. They must make sure the make-up matches with the costumes and also looks nicely on stage with the lighting and stage design. A color pallet will be chosen to ensure that none of the makeup, costumes, or lighting will clash with each other. If the costume, make-up, and surrounding do not work well together than the whole setting with not look the way the playwright