Phantom’s Opulent Costumes & Makeup

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The costumes for Phantom are unbelievable, beautiful, functional, and period specific.  We were able to see behind the red curtain and learn how these beautiful pieces came to be.

Sam Fleming is the Associate Costume Designer, and she explained to us about the Phantom’s Opulent Costumes & Makeup.

Sam introduced us, by way of a slide presentation, to the hard working people behind the scenes.  This included people in the Wig Department, the Wardrobe Run Crew, the Wardrobe Day Crew, Dressmakers, people who worked with Men’s Top Hats and Ladies Headdresses.  We also were able to learn about the Artisans… there were one hundred and seventy three.  These included dressmakers, tailors, wig makers, knitters, jewelers, cobblers, milliners, glovers, mannequin makers, and mask makers.

As the slideshow progressed, we were told about each piece.  The special features of the fabric, and how it enhanced that particular costume.  The slideshow showed various parts of the costumes and who the designer / company was… including Bodies, Gloves, Knitting, Millinery / Masks / Crowns, Footwear, Wigs, Specialty Costumes / Mannequins, and Dressmaking / Tailoring.

Sam continued the slideshow with the various costumes.  From the original sketch, to what the costume became.  The various types of fabric were explained, as well as the reason it was used.  Some of the fabric is very hard to attain, as it custom designed just for the Phantom.  To wait six weeks for a small bit of fabric is not unreasonable.  A lot of the fabric comes from Europe, and France seemed to a very popular location for numerous pieces of fabric.

The Eternal Audience are the ones who grace the side boxes of the theatre.  They are watching over the Opera Goers (OG, which is a play on the Opera Ghost).  The eternal audience is comprised of fifty two ladies, thirty three gentlemen, and seven children.  In total there are ninety costumes complete with wigs and the accessories.  An interesting fact is that none of the eternal audience wears shoes…

We were also treated to stats and figures, which are almost hard to imagine.  The budget for this production’s original costumes was extensive.  But, it was used very wisely and has been beautifully used in this production.

A few of the characters graced us with their beautiful costumes, complete with makeup, as they would be in the actual evening performance.  They were very happy to show us their costume, and even strolled the width of the stage, allowing everyone a glimpse of  their beauty.  Each piece was explained, and the fabric that was hard to get or had a special purpose was explained.  It was a fascinating experience.

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Deep in the bowels of the theater, two Phantom Phans, were being transformed into the Phantom and Christine.  These two lucky Phans were chosen from all who were in attendance.  They had been whisked away at the beginning of the slideshow.  Makeup artists and designers, worked quickly to transform these two Phans complete with the costumes.

Once the slideshow was over, we waited patiently under the dimmed house lights.  The heavy red curtain quickly rose to reveal the Phantom’s lair complete with Phantom and Christine.  Our two Phantom Phans had become stars in less than an hour.  The transformation was complete, and although the vocal talent was still a work in progress.  It was amazing to watch, as they picked up in the Phantom’s Lair and did a short performance where the Phantom and Christine have just begun to embrace their passion for music.

The Phantom and Christine as Phantom Phans had truly undergone a transformation.  It was an unforgettable and very magical moment.

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