Passing Strange
Pittsburgh Playhouse - March 2021
Costume Designer
— CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19 —
Director: Monteze Freeland - Assoc. Director: LaTrea Remert - Set: Kamil James & Nina Stumpf - Lighting: Cat Wilson - Sound: Steve Shapiro
Passing Strange is a rock musical about the coming of age story about a young man’s journey of self-discovery. It explores what it means to be an artist and how that relates to every day life.
This version of the show set the very real characters in the world of a rock concert. The three different cities - Los Angeles, Amsterdam, and Berlin - were different acts in the concert.
Prior to the total cancellation of the show, the designers and technicians were able to safely get pictures of the hard work done to that point. Any show pictures were achieved with all safety protocols and social distancing in mind.
Los Angeles - Early 1970s
Los Angeles was our “opening act” or of the “practices in Mom’s garage” ilk. It was meant to feel very familiar and nostalgic. It was also intended as a critique on consumerism and fast-fashion in the spirit of the main character. I drew on a lot of primary research for my designs here.
Amsterdam - Late 1970s
Amsterdam thought it was the main act, but it was set up as a second opening act. Where as Los Angeles was supposed to feel comfortable and familiar - like an old tee-shirt and jeans - Amsterdam felt sexier and looser. I used Amsterdam’s hedonistic reputation to my advantage, and also drew inspiration from Woodstock 1969.
Berlin - Early 1980s
Berlin was the centerpiece of our show. This was our main act. For my design, I drew inspiration from the early punk and grunge movements and from the graffiti on the Berlin Wall. Hours of research were spent on looking at the wall itself and in tracing its origins back to World War Two.
My research on the Berlin Wall informed how the troop of wandering artists looked. The long coat for the character of Mr. Venus was the start of my whole concept. See the pictures below for how the idea evolved from my first concept sketch to the details of the finished coat.
