Portfolio

Mary Reilly, Costume Designer

Essential Process of Costume Design: Study the text

Know the audience

Research: saturation in the subject

Conceive and visualize: Tearsheets

Discussion and Decision - The Director’s Vision Clarified: Textures, tones, colors, forms, action, meaning & communication

Create ideas: Sketches, swatches, planning

Actualization - resources: staff & materials, construction, functional execution of creative inspiration and intent

Practice pragmatism & open-mindedness

• Homer’s Odyssey finds Odysseus and his men adrift and at the mercy of the gods , sirens & Circes–as in the original- but now they are also lost in a cyber-world of the 21st century.

• In this tale, the Olympians are present alongside “igods”, who personify computer components and circuitry interconnected with their chief, father and mother igod and even the underworld from ancient myth and legend.

• Athena aids Telemachus in searching for Odysseus.

• Research for this project included Classical Antiquity side by side with contemporary trends and technology - The historical references informed contemporary costume concepts .

Odysseus and his men meet the “cyber-Cyclops”

Selected research images for the Olympians

Zeus – Dionysius – Aphrodite – Athena – Apollo - from Ancient Greece

Character: Athena – in disguise for the 21st c.She comes to the aid of Telemachus in his search for his father.

Shown above are selected research and sketches, as well as sample embroidery design for contemporary denim jacket.

The classical costume for Athena was used for live video feed during the onstage performances

Selected sketches - the Olympians

Zeus – Dionysius – Aphrodite – Athena

Video shoots were a key feature for the entire production and used for projection during the live performances. Shown here are Olympians “flying” These costumes were created on site the day of shooting. Yardage was used to create the colors of each god and to promote the success of the special effects.

Zeus Dionysius Apollo –

The forgotten soldiers: Odysseus’ men

Odysseus and his men were costumed for still photos that were shot in advance (shown here), and then the photos were used for on-stage projections in live performances of the musical.

Live Video Feed incorporated into the live stage dialog exchange in performance (projection of on-camera actor)

Left: concept sketch for Calypso

Center and Right: Sirens

Siren “tattoos” were custom made- sleeves/gauntlets with hand painted motifs on power-mesh fabric.

Character: HadesThe shimmering lycra fabric was essential to the character’s notion of himself as precious.

The suit was custom made with a purchased,pre-formed chest piece, then quilt-stitched to the fabric.

(Photos show work in progress ).

Characters: igod Chief & igods

Character: Igods malfunctionShown right is a costume change for the igod dancers - from the “circuitry “ inspired mylar embossed black lycra unitards to the tie-died grey unitards with “tentacled” hoods and gauntlets

End section two portfolio Mary Reilly

This material is intended for private review and consideration only.

All creative content, images and text contained in this presentation may not be used without the express and explicit permission of the playwright, photographers, scenic designer,

lighting designer, costume designer and other originators of this work.

M. Reilly 2011