This spring, The Unsinkable Molly Brown was the last musical I, and other seniors, participated in. While I was assigned as the quick changer for senior Mahalet, who played Molly Brown, I helped overall behind the scenes with choosing costumes and fittings. Mali Shrader and I were lucky to have the help of former BT theater teacher Jennifer Morgan with costumes for this deceivingly straightforward show. It takes place from the 1890s-1919, therefore including several different decades of fashion for both men and women that shifted between scenes. A major, and the most prominent, example of this is the opening scene.
The above images depict two scenes (the left first, followed by the right) separated by a light blackout that lasted around a minute. Between these scenes, every actor on stage had a quick change. I was tasked on Mahalet’s, wherein I had to come on stage during the blackout. The senators in the first scene had to change to minors, a change that mostly consisted of taking off a jacket and tossing it behind the set into containers that were removed during intermission by Mali Shrader.
The miners’ costumes were fairly straightforward, with the addition of an accent color handkerchief for the characters of Vincenzo, played by senior Ahaan Gulati; Arthur, played by senior Aaron Adkins; and Erich, played by senior Jarvis Gushard. These hankerchiefs were kept on their character throughout the entire show, being incorporated even in formal wear.
In an oddly poetic fashion, this is where I was unable to continue my drawings. Not for lack of time, but because my highlighters ran out of ink. I could probably wax poetic about how this experience has shaped me because it truly has. Instead, with this story published late, I encourage you to explore new creative endeavors. The fine arts at Brownell Talbot have truly been one of the largest parts of my high school experience and a reason for the growth I had. Hopefully, this continues for others as well.
