New York City Opera Wardrobe Master and Costume Designer for The Theater Project’s Crowns to Speak
WHEN: 6:30 PM, prior to Thursday, October 14, performance WHERE: Roy Smith Theater on the Cranford campus of Union County College, 1033 Springfield AvenueTICKETS: Free, open to attendees of any performance that weekend
A behind-the-scenes look at costume design for the stage features insight from
veteran New Jersey costume designer Bettina Bierly
Ms. Bierly will share insight into the costume design process from start to finish and recount experiences from her many theatrical design endeavors, including her work on the colorful costumes of The Theater Project’s current production of Crowns, now running in Cranford. She is currently the Wardrobe Master for the New York City Opera in residence at Lincoln Center and the owner of Bettina Bierly Inc., design studio. Ms. Bierly previously served as New York City Opera’s Costume Director and has also recently designed costumes for New Jersey stage productions at George Street Playhouse, Playwrights Theatre of NJ, Bickford Theatre, Luna Stage and Fairleigh Dickinson University. The Theater Project is Union County College’s Professional Theater Company and its production of its first ever musical, Crowns, continues with performances Thursdays through Sundays until October 17, 2010. Performance times are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, and Sunday matinees at 3 PM. Tickets range from $10-30 and can be reserved by contacting Brown Paper Tickets either online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/125413 or by telephone at 800-838-3006. Information is also available at http://www.thetheaterproject.org/.
Crowns is a celebratory musical play in which hats become a springboard for an exploration of black history and identity as seen through the eyes of a young black woman who travels down South to stay with her aunt after her brother is killed in Brooklyn. Gospel music, rap and dance underscore her story as she explores her cultural identity and the significance of her roots in a very energetic, colorful and theatrical depiction of African-American life. Special accessibility performances will be held throughout the run of Crowns. All remaining Sunday matinee performances will be sign interpreted for deaf audience members from our community. As is done for all shows presented by The Theater Project, the cast will be available after each performance to take up individual Q&A with interested audience members as our way of furthering the uniqueness of live theater versus other entertainment options.
