Costume Design and Production for O Pioneers!, by Darrah Cloud THESIS Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Fine Arts in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Elisa Dianne Bierschenk Graduate Program in Theatre The Ohio State University 2010 Master's Examination Committee: Professor Kristine Kearney, Advisor Professor Mark Shanda Professor Jeanine Thompson Copyright by Elisa Dianne Bierschenk 2010 Abstract The purpose of this paper is to document the costume design and costume production process for Darrah Cloud’s O Pioneers!, as produced by the Department of Theatre at The Ohio State University and directed by Associate Professor Jeanine Thompson. The play was presented in the Thurber Theatre at Ohio State, February 25 through March 6, 2010. O Pioneers!, based on the novel of the same name by American writer Willa Cather, tells the story of a community of European immigrants as they settle in Hanover, Nebraska at the turn of the twentieth century. Research and designs for the production were derived from photographs, historical resources and illustrations of immigrants, both in the costumes of their native countries and in American frontier clothing. The scenic design was an abstracted and stylized interpretation of the prairie, necessitating that the costume design be accurate to the time period in order to create a realistic world for this historical drama. ii Acknowledgments I would like to thank my advisor, Kristine Kearney, for mentoring me during my graduate career. I would like to thank my former professors at Texas Tech University, Melissa Merz and Fred Christoffel, for guiding me as a new designer. I would like to thank costume studio manager, Jan Woods, for her work in completing this production. I would like to thank all the students who worked in the costume studio for their time and good spirits. I wish to thank fellow graduate students, Catherine Schmeal-Swope and Shiree Houf, for their friendship, support and work, not only during this production but for the past two years. I would like to thank my family for their tireless support and encouragement. I would like to thank my committee for their time and advice. iii Vita May 2002 .......................................................Nacogdoches High School 2006................................................................B.F.A. Theatre Design and Technology, Texas Tech University 2007 to present ..............................................Graduate Teaching Associate, Department of Theatre, The Ohio State University Production History CHECK ORDER 2004…………………………………………Millie’s War Costume Designer- TTU 2005…………………………………………The House of Yes Costume Designer- TTU 2005…………………………………………The Unexpected Guest Costume Designer- TTU 2005…………………………………………The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) Costume Designer- TTU 2006…………………………………………BecauseHeCan Costume Designer- TTU 2006…………………………………………Three By Charms Costume Designer- TTU 2006…………………………………………The Servant of Two Masters Costume Designer- TTU iv 2008…………………………………………Wild Stages: Kabarett MFA! Costume Designer- OSU 2008…………………………………………Pangea Costume Designer- OSU 2009…………………………………………Godspell Costume Designer- OSU 2009…………………………………………Palmer Park Costume Designer- OSU 2010…………………………………………O Pioneers! Costume Designer- OSU Fields of Study Major Field: Theatre v Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. iii Vita ..................................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures .................................................................................................................... ix List of Plates ..................................................................................................................... ixi Chapter 1: The Producing Situation ................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2: The Production Concept and Design Scheme ................................................... 4 Chapter 3: Character Analysis .......................................................................................... 11 Chapter 4: The Process ..................................................................................................... 32 Chapter 5: An Evaluation of the Design ........................................................................... 47 References ......................................................................................................................... 51 Selected Bibliography ....................................................................................................... 52 Appendix A: Director’s Concept ...................................................................................... 53 Appendix B: Columbus Dispatch Review ........................................................................ 59 Appendix C: The Other Paper Review ............................................................................. 62 vi Appendix D: Tables .......................................................................................................... 65 Appendix E: Figures ......................................................................................................... 77 Appendix F: Plates .......................................................................................................... 100 vii List of Tables Table 1. Costume Plot ...................................................................................................... 66 Table 2. Action Chart ....................................................................................................... 70 Table 3. Budget ................................................................................................................ 72 Table 4. Rental List .......................................................................................................... 73 Table 5. Purchasing List .................................................................................................. 74 Table 6. Fabric Sourcing .................................................................................................. 75 Table 7. Build List ........................................................................................................... 76 viii List of Figures Figure 1. Research for Swedish Folk-wear ....................................................................... 78 Figure 2. Research for Norwegian Folk-wear .................................................................. 79 Figure 3. Research for Czech Folk-wear ......................................................................... 80 Figure 4. Research for Pioneers ....................................................................................... 81 Figure 5. Research for Farm Families.............................................................................. 82 Figure 6. Research for Young Pioneers ........................................................................... 83 Figure 7. Research for Laborers ....................................................................................... 84 Figure 8. Research for Women at Work .......................................................................... 85 Figure 9. Research for Winter Clothing ............................................................................ 86 Figure 10. Research for Textures ..................................................................................... 87 Figure 11. Research for Alexandra ................................................................................... 88 Figure 12. Research for Marie .......................................................................................... 89 Figure 13. Research for Frank ......................................................................................... 90 Figure 14. Research for Clergy ........................................................................................ 91 Figure 15. Prelim for Emil III .......................................................................................... 92 Figure 16. Prelim for Lou/Oscar III ................................................................................. 93 Figure 17. Prelim for Frank I ........................................................................................... 94 Figure 18. Prelim for Emil II ........................................................................................... 95 ix Figure 19. Prelim for Mother ............................................................................................ 96 Figure 20. Prelim for Old Mrs. Lee .................................................................................. 97 Figure 21. Prelim for Ivar ................................................................................................. 98 Figure 22. Prelim for Ensemble I ...................................................................................... 99 x List of Plates Plate 1. Rendering of Alexandra I ................................................................................... 101 Plate 2. Rendering