Yes, this REALLY happened.

I'm completely behind on blogging.  I know, I'm horrible.  Get over it. My promises of a slower year have been for naught because I have had 5 weeks of complete insanity.  I'm recuperated(ing) though.  I figure it's time to play a little catch up on the blog so you don't think I was killed by the theatre.

Last time I told you all about Into the Woods and My Favorite Year.  As of now those are both finished, washed, dry cleaned and put away.  After a striking 2 shows in the same night, here's what my living room looked like (be thankful I can't post smells on the blog... cause it was STRONG)

 This brings us to Pajama Game.  I was honored to work with a fantastic cast and crew!  Directed by the famous Dee Dee Wood, it was truly a pleasure.  Ok, honestly almost 100% pleasure.  It was also the very first time I have ever had an actor toss a costume back at me and declare "I am NOT wearing THAT"  followed by several hours of coming into my area telling me I needed to provide this, that and the other.  That was NOT pleasure.  And I have honestly never been treated that way before, nor do I think anyone should be treated that way.  I rarely get angry but I was boiling by the time I left rehearsal that night.  I did find immense joy from making a custom dress just for her... and her cool skin tone and fat hippo body looked dreadful in the bollywood orange sparkely contraption I provided for her.  Yes, I am childish.  Yes, I don't care, and yes I still find joy in thinking about her in that hideous dress.  For those of you who don't know, there are certain rules in the theatre.  In the costume area, actors are to try on the costume and let the costumer see it.  We know if it fits or not, you don't have to point it out to us.  We will change it and provide something else if we feel it needs to change.  Most theatre costumes are made to be altered easily and fit many different shapes and sizes.  Trying on something that is too big or too small doesn't mean it is impossible.  It means it needs alterations.  Not a biggie.  When an actor is rude to the costumer, well... I know I'm not alone in making special costumes for the horrible.  Just be nice - try the costumes on, say thank you and focus on your acting.  :)

Ok, done with my soap box.  There was tons of great things about Pajama Game that I loved!  because we had so many shows set in the 50's going on at the same time we were able to build lots of fun new dresses and such for the ladies.  I also lucked out at JCPenny's and picked up a stack of men's dress shirts in awesome colors for $4 each!  DEAL!  Here's some pictures of the show:

The amazing Matravius and Kim! I LOVE working with these two!!  

Cast and crew picture.  Dee Dee Wood is int the center.  (If you don't know who she is, she is the one who choreographed Mary Poppins, Sound of Music and many, many others.)  

Once a Year Day!

Once Pajama Game was up and running, I had 2 seconds to get Halloween costumes built for the family.  And friends who I promised to build for.  (really, I do LOVE custom work - it's much more fun than building 8 of the same thing - it's just hard to squeeze in the time)

For Halloween, among other things, I made these: 

Original old school Oompa Loompa for my nephew.  (I also made a Willie Wonka for his brother, but I didn't get a picture of it...) 

Merida for my super cute red headed neighbor who was the perfect Merida! 

And our costumes... which needed some painting on the boots. (yes, it's the front yard, yes the paint marks are still there and yes the neighbors think I'm crazy)

But SERIOUSLY we had some off the chart amazing costumes!!!  We were all Mystic Force Power Rangers - except Ben - he was a Samurai Power Ranger.  

 Yup.  We were pretty awesome.  :) The kids trick-or-treating.  Rachel's boots were hurting her feet (because she refuses to wear socks...) so about a block in she took them off and Austin and I carried them for the rest of the evening.  OH MY GOODNESS!  I just remembered this!  Our kids can be shy, but mostly they're uninhibited.  Especially when they want something.  After trick-or- treating around a couple blocks, Rachel started to say she was thirsty.  She was a trooper and kept on going, but we didn't bring water and being 8 she just kept letting us know she was SOOOO thirsty.  After another block or so I told her if she's so thirsty, when she goes to the next house ask them if she can have water instead of candy.  I was pretty sure that wouldn't happen.  Ever.  I was wrong.  We were trick-or-treating with 3 other kids at the time.  The 6 went up to the home of someone we don't know.  A nice old man opened the door and proceeded to grab candy to put in their bags when Rachel asked him for water instead of candy.  Us parents were waiting on the side walk and heard her ask.  And WOW I was so embarrassed!!!  Austin and I looked at each other with huge eyes and nervously giggled.  Then to our horror ALL of the kids said they'd rather have water than candy.  The nice old man told them to wait on the porch and came back with 6 small chilled water bottles.  I need to give than man a nice thank you card for sure!  The kids were happy, I'm still recovering from the horror and next year we will bring water.

Once Halloween was done, there was the endless piles of laundry from the shop rentals (sill working on that... almost done...) and then Pajama Game strike.  Pajama Game strike was late on a Sunday, with Guys and Dolls load in the following day.  And I needed lots of the costumes for Guys and Dolls.  Thank heavens for the 1 day cheap cleaners!  In a mad rush we got Guys and Dolls up and running!  Here's some pictures:

Bushel and a Peck

The girls take the yellow chicken dresses off and have on the short jeans and little gingham tops. 

Seriously cute!!!  Amazing performance by Marisa Peck
as Adalaide!!

And that brings us to today.  Guys and Dolls strike was yesterday.  There's still about 6 loads of laundry at home that need to be washed.  I finished about 6 loads already and have it back at the shop.  Are you wondering what's next?  Because I'll tell you!  I have some wedding alterations to take care of, a wedding dress for my soon to be daughter-in-law (different wedding than the alterations one), 2 male tunics for the Nutcracker ballet, Pippin (which has a circus theme!  Yay!), Wrong Window, and Sunset Blvd.  At least they're not all going on in the same week.  And I have a little more time to get them done.  :)

Tech week after tech week after tech week.....

I always say I'm not going to do this to myself. And then I do.  I say yes, and schedule things close together and I work like a maniac - and this month is EXTRA nutty.  But it's been good!  We successfully got Into the Woods up at Desert Stages Theatre, My Favorite Year opens tomorrow night at MCC and Pajama Game opens next week at Desert Foothills Theatre.  Then, right on it's heels is Guys and Dolls for Mesa Encore Theatre.  In short, it's craziville here at the Wardrobe!  But I thought you'd like some pictures!  Because pictures are SO fun!  Here's a little peek:

Into the Woods opened last weekend to a sold out audience!  It's not the traditional play, it's got some different things going on and it's done in Steam Punk style.  It was VERY fun to make and I am happy with the finished product.  (though really, there's never enough time to get everything totally perfect - I'd need a year per show!)

Here's the Baker and his Wife.

The Ugly Witch

The Transformed Witch

Cinderella's Prince

Rapunzel's Prince

Agony! 

Here's the little boy telling the story, with the group behind him. 

Cinderella's Prince 

Cinderella, before she gets her pretty over vest.

The Mysterious Man and the Baker.

What is that Wolf doing to Little Red?!?!?  Scandalous!

On the far left is Grandmother, on the far right is the Steward, who is actually a dominatrix. 

Here's Kiko and Katelynn working on the step sisters costumes.  Sadly we don't have a picture of them, but they are super cute!  We quilted crazy fabrics and made coats out of them.  They really are amazing! 

Here are the step sisters hats.  Hee he. 

And here's Rachel, who made her own little dress while we were crazy making costumes.  She's so cute!  (and behind her you can see the step sisters coats hanging up!) 

NEXT:  My Favorite Year opens tomorrow - tonight for a preview audience!  Here's some pictures from Dress Rehearsal:

These Hobo Clowns took FOREVER to add the patches too.  Seriously.  But they're cute, huh?!

And we made Maxford House Coffee Cups... 

And I used a pool noodle to make the handles... and I don't have any pictures of them finished, but they're pretty crazy. 

And stay tuned, because Pajama Game and Guys and Dolls are up next! 

This is SO Overdue! Sorry... been super busy...

Holy smokes!  It's been far too long since I've blogged.  I'm going to have to play a little bit of catch up.

There has been so much going on at the shop - and in real life!  We've been spending lots of time building cats for the Aristocats, that just opened last night.  It was pretty horrible to work with the fur.  We tried to knock out all the fur cutting/sewing but it just lasted for a few days.  And it's still all over the place.  It's so gross....

Yah, it was super gross.  It was up our noses, in our eyelashes, stuck to us everywhere.  All over the floor, just everywhere.  And I know Kiko didn't like working with the fur because she called in sick on the days we worked with the fur... coincidence?  Um, I'm thinking not!  :)

Despite all the nasty fur, the show turned out super cute.  They were even on TV!  Here are some pictures from their promo shots:

          And then, some shots from dress rehearsal.  Not everyone had makeup on that night, and there were some missing odds and ends, but you get the gist. 

 

The geese weren't wearing the bonnets, but oh my goodness their little country geese dresses came out so cute!  All kinds of ruffles everywhere.  Robin would hate it.  She hates ruffles.  

Meanwhile, while building Aristocats I was doing paperwork at home and cut my finger... really, really badly... 

 Nasty, I know.  But it's actually almost 100% healed already!  I was able to keep it clean and it healed quickly.

And we had Robin over to stand on the street corner and drum up drive by business.  Um yah, I'm the parent that tells her daughters to stand on the street and drum up business...  Don't judge.  (and, even though she HATES ruffles, she chose to wear them! HA!)

And then ARIZONI time.  That magical time of year where we dress up and pretend we're famous.  Yah, that's the one.  :)  Well, my friend Aliana wanted to go steampunk, and she brought me some pictures, some gears and a really amazing white corset.  And I made her a skirt, embellished the corset, and she was, by far, the best dressed at the ball!  In fact, just today I had a customer tell me this was her favorite outfit she saw at the zonis.  And she didn't even know I made it!  HA!  :)

After putting this together, I made my dress and a tie for Austin.  So we matched.  We didnt' take pictures the night of the zoni's, but we took some the following week when we wore our fancies to church.  It's not the same, but you'll get the point.  

Just so you don't think we're taking bad pictures on purpose, we had a 6 year old to take our pictures.  Yah, he was a little short, but it's a picture none the less! 

Since then we've been hard at work making just about everything you can imagine.  Seriously.  The girls spent the week making Hobo Clowns for "My Favorite Year" along with some fantastic show girl headpieces.  

"Making" the hobo clowns is a little loose... because we pulled black coats and pants and added some patches.  Cute, huh?  

And this picture doesn't do this headdress justice. It's hugely feathery and fun! 

AND... I made this dress (which, by the way, looks SO much better in person!) for a cute gal who is going to the Jane Austen ball!  Exciting!!  

Aside from all of this excitement, we're building Into the Woods - STEAM PUNK style!  And wow, is that ever super fun!  Pictures next time, you'll have to wait.  :) 

Back to the sewing machine...