Cabaret TECH

This past week I've spent my time helping out at King Edwards school for their production of Cabaret. It was great to see how much had happened in the past three months, the sets and costumes were amazing along with the actors themselves watching rehearsals it was easy to forget that this was only a school production, because it was so much better than some stage shows I've seen at theatres.

Willkommen

All of the principals there were two cast I'm presuming for the obvious (if one was ill) but I also think as they were the main speaking parts it meant that more students could take part as a main role. Luckily from a costume side of things the girls were the same size so they could share costumes rather than upping the cost by having double main costumes and confusing things when it came to their quick changes. 

Don't tell Mama

My role with the production was wardrobe mistress, doing the general fix ups, taking in, being side stage in case there were any breaks during show and helping the cast with quick changes but it was mostly only Sally Bowles and the MC that had any change in costume.

Cabaret

It was interesting to see the Costumes designers take on the characters and I like the simplicity or the costumes and the simple theme of black. As it did the job especially for Sally's role. When she's performing in the Kit Kat club it's sparkles and accessories but when she takes a side step and at the apartment with cliff she's always in the pant suit adding a bit of colour to her with the blue.

Finale

Cabaret productions

This weekend I'll be helping out with TECH rehearsals at King Edwards school for their production of Cabaret. In the run up to the show I've been refreshing my memory of the story line and taking note of the different interpretations of the story especially when it comes to the costumes.

The most well known production of Cabaret is of course the film version with Liza Minnelli. This was the first version of Cabaret I'd seen so whenever I watch any other production Minnelli is always my Sally Bowles. She just depicts her in such her own way. She makes Sally Bowles become such a real, confident, out for herself person. It'll be interesting to see a teenager try and portray this character.

Due to the nature of this storyline I'm still intrigued as to how it's been adapted for a school production, how much is necessary to change for parents to allow their children to perform in this show.

Cabaret

Last year I had a lot of work experience at the Theatre Royal in Bath helping out in the wardrobe and props department, and now being back in Bath I'd like to pick this up again.

I saw an advertisement about the role of wardrobe assistant for a production of Cabaret at King Edwards school in Bath and even though I didn't get the job (as a lot of the work would be going back and forth from Bristol costume services and without a car that would be a difficulty!) I'm still going to volunteer my time when it comes to TECH and then show week, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the costume designer interprets the show in her own way.

I'm no walking canvas

Carolw Waller is one of my tutors and uni and recently she held an exhibition and fashion show of her painted clothes along with the work of Shirin Guild. For this show and exhibition she called on students to help out. I've never really been a fashion person, there's a huge difference between costume and fashion which most people don't see. However this was an oppotunity to help out with something different. I looked at it as a different type of show, since it wasn't a catwalk fashion show, more of a performance art piece.

The models had different characters they had to portray they were either dreamers of people on the red carpets so there was a great difference of look between them. Since I was a dresser helping with the quick changes I never actually got to see the show, however there were many photos being taken and video being shot of the show, so I hope to see these soon.

It was interesting to see how a fashion show gets put on and to me it seemed quite similar to a theatre show, the rush and panic backstage, getting everyone's hair and make up done in time for the rehearsals, the quick changes, it just made me feel like I was back at the theatre. Which just made me think I can't wait till I'm back where I feel I belong, side stage of a theatre, in the workrooms making the costumes, then seeing them on stage, I'm hoping to get more work experience back at the Theatre Royal, Bath this year, so I've just got to wait to hear back!

Highs and lows of Musicals

I personally think that the short musical shows at Disney World work because everyone's seen the films, they feel like singing along, they enjoy themselves feeling like they're at the theatre, but then they get to continue playing in the parks, able to fit in the rides and other shows that they'd like to fill their day with.

However Finding Nemo the musical just didn't work in my opinion, mostly because there aren't any songs in Finding Nemo for the audience to relate to, I think that the concept is quite a good idea because it is different, but when you see more of the actors than the characters they're holding you focus on them rather the fish they are.

So when you see scenes like this the actors are well behind their characters so it works well, but it's still not on my list must see Disney, as I would not need to spend 4minutes of my day watching this again!

Be our Guest

I'm now a fan of Beauty and the Beast it has to be said, Belle belting out the songs is more than enough to get anyone hooked, and want to 1/2hour long show to last longer. It is slightly annoying that these shows at the different parks are always shortened but of course can see why, they can't have 90 minute shows 6 times a day while giving the actors time to breathe and cool down from the heat, but also the main point being that guests coming to the park want to experience as much as possible in a day not to come and watch a musical.

Stage shows like with a lot of theatre the costumes aren't that detailed and some can be seen as quite basic, like Belle here is in her stranded Belle costume, so it's made to the simple design but using bright colours and the colour blue (unlike the rest of the dancers who are all wearing pastel colours) to still keep her standing out as she is the main character.


To make quite a contrast when we move onto one of the more theatrical songs of 'Be our guest' all the crockery and pieces of furniture are dancers as they have come to life, and here as an ice-cream sundae. I love seeing costumes like this, When she first appears on stage, the skirt is lifted up in and grey/blue colour to look like the vase of the ice-cream, then it drops and out come all the colours!

This is the Disney difference with the thought behind the quick changes some of which seem obvious but then again it is only a half hour show and it's probably just me not being able to sit back and enjoy a show, but looking for the scene changes and trickery.
Then the big one, Belles yellow dress which wasn't as spectacular as I was expecting but again you only see her where it for about 60seconds.

What I would really like to go and see now is a full length theatre show of Beauty and the Beast, and see how many more scenes, costumes there are, and compare them to a Disney show.

I am Lion hear me roar

Never having seen the Lion King in a London theatre on Broadway or anything I wasn't sure what to expect from a 1/2hr version at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. But now I know it’s a musical I have to go and see, not only because it’s such a good film but they go all out with these costumes.

When watching this show the atmosphere of the theatre it’s self plays a huge part, it’s an all round stage with audience on every side so I think that’s what pulls you in even more that there’s so much going on every side there’s always something new to notice every time you watch it (especially if you went four times and watched from a different angle each time) 

Being quite far from the centre stage myself I couldn’t see the costume very close up but it meant I got to see the overall effect and great is an understatement. Just being surrounded by it all you’re pulled into your own Lion King world for 30minutes, which just go way too quickly. What I like about it is that they’re so cleverly designed; it’s not just full of the character costumes (that you see walking round the park) but individually they all have different markings because all animals’ patterns like themselves are different.

Also another thing I also notice when watching any show is the set up of the stage itself, seeing how they do the quick changes, and what was good is that the characters themselves changed the scenes instead of dressed all in black backstage people (because with this scenery they’d stand out more than blend in without being seen. So overall another great show by Disney, that I am seeing again before I leave. 

You're always be a princess to me!

 ‘Minnie you’re always be a Princess to me’ are Mickey’s words in the dream along with Mickey show which takes place in front of the castle in Magic Kingdom every day. There are many shows which take place in Magic Kingdom and all of the parks however this is the only one where the characters such as Mickey, Minnie and the rest of the animal gang actually talk. I didn’t even notice this till a friend pointed it out to me, because while watching you take it for granted that they’re mouths are moving, it just seems the norm, but it’s the only time you see it happen.So in addition to the animal characters there are also some of princess in this show. I don’t think anyone can understand the slight obsession there is with the princess’ until they have been to Bibbity Bobbity Boutique and seen the makeovers they do there. Or go to Castle Couture and been sprinkled with pixie dust.

You can't go anywhere in Magic Kingdom without seeing a little princess. They are everywhere. They have their hair done, gowns and sometimes matching shoes and tiaras as well. And the 3 main princesses' are Aurora, Belle and Cinderella. There's a reason that you visit them in Mickey's Town square theatre as well as the main mouse himself.

Getting your photo taken with the them and getting their autographs is high in demand. In addition to them there’s Snow White and Ariel, then Tiana and Rapunzal have recently arrived at Magic Kingdom. And so when any of them arrive on stage the little princess get very excited about seeing their idols.

 Everyday when i walk to my locker i walk past the wardrobe workroom, this is where all the the dress' that need touch ups live and all I ever want to do is go in there and have a look. How detailed are all these dresses? And accurate are they to the film versions? All I want to do is to be working in there and on the parades and shows now so I can't stop watching them when I get the chance even if it means that I'm starting to learn the script I can't help myself, being here has made me realise how much I want to work in Theatre and be able to watch these shows every day and work up close with the costumes. And I think if I were able to work in Disney on any of the shows that would be an invaluable experience that I would never forget and help in any theatre or film career I may have in the future.

The costumes we wear

Disney World prides itself on old fashioned values and traditions; one example of this is the costumes that all cast members wear. (Note the term costumes instead of uniforms, and cast members, not employees)

When you visit Disney World or in fact any of the parks around the world it’s like you’re stepping into another world, sort of a Disney bubble and you don’t realise it while you’re walking round as a guest but there are examples of show everywhere once you start to look. Everyone has a smile on their face (granted it’s rather impossible not too you are in Disney!!) But everyone is welcoming and it’s not just because this is their job, they’re being paid to be welcoming but because all cast members genially enjoy their jobs. Obviously there are bad days, but that’s just life. However when you step on stage you are part of the show and the costumes really do help you get into character. The whole point of them being quite dated is that it’s not something you’d want to wear anywhere else but when you put it on for work it gets you started for the day. Also if you looked back to when Disney World opened nearly 40 years ago you would see that the costumes are very similar in style, and help set the show for (example where I work) Magic kingdom.

I actually like the costume I wear, because it does help you get into the mood of working in this magical place and because everyone else is dressed the same, you could hardly feel embarrassed.

 However as much as I’d like to call my uniform a costume it’s nothing compared to what the princesses wear. Their dresses are beautiful and I can’t wait to try and get a closer look at them.

It all started with a mouse.

The first week is called Traditions where you're told about the history of Walt Disney himself, the different parks, you get to explore the specific park where you're were working (what other job do you go round Magic Kingdom and go straight to the front of a queue to go on rides on your orientation day?)


So learning briefly about the history of the parks starting with Disneyland in California then Disney world Florida and so on. How even before Disneyland was finished Walt was planning for something bigger. But there just wasn't the space to expand in California so he needed somewhere where there was plenty of space to expand then and in the future for further developments.


Under many different names and business's Walt started buying up land in Orlando Florida, It's swamp land so wasn't very expensive so it was still a secret that he was planned to build another park hence the buying the land under different names so that people wouldn't suspect. But of course eventually the cat or rather the mouse came out of the bag and Walt announced his plans for the Florida project. The park has the same set up as California's Disneyland  as in the park layout however the differences that make Disney World stand out are defiantly the castle standing at over 180feet. Then Walt saw a Cowboy in tomorrowland walking towards his work station and he thought that's not right, it wasn't the cast members fault he was just on his way to work but Walt wanting to find a way around this came up with the tunnelling system.

Florida being made up of mostly swamp land can't be dug into so then it's not technically a tunnel rather the ground floor of the Park and then the parks on the first floor, which I'd heard before I came to Florida but there's something about hearing something then seeing it in real life that makes you think, Walt knew exactly what he was doing and his vision is so clear for the theme, entertainment, family park whatever you wish to call Disney World it is that, as long as you use the word magical that's what it is.


While I'm here I would like to look into the old fashioned values that are so strong and clear here at Disney, the culture and the presence of show that surrounds the place. And of course into the costumes that clothe the nearly 60,000 cast members that work at just Walt Disney World.