Category: Back Stage Blog

How did you approach designing costumes for “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” to reflect the fashion trends and styles of Carole King’s era?

I did a lot of primary research, especially since a majority of the characters are real people in music history! I mainly approached it by researching these specific people while also looking at how fashion was evolving from the late 1950s to the early 1970s. I looked at certain trends and fashion movements that were happening at the time. Styles, makeup, and hair were changing more rapidly at this time so magazines, advertisements, TV shows, and music performances were very important in shaping my
concept for the costumes!

Can you discuss any specific research you conducted to gain insight into the fashion of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, which are pivotal periods in Carole King’s life?

A lot of my research consists of photographs I can find from each decade along with fashion magazines, advertisements and clothing patterns with fashion plates. Even looking at old family photos can be helpful to get a sense of what people wore! Luckily, there are a lot of photographs of Carole King with Gerry Goffin, Cynthia Weil, and Barry Mann during the time periods the musical takes place. This was extremely helpful in shaping the silhouettes and styles of each character along with their hair and makeup.

Carole King’s personal style evolves throughout the musical. How did you reflect this evolution through her costumes?

During my research process, I realized that most people have a certain image of Carole King when they first think of her. We all generally think of her in the 1970s with her wild, curly hair and relaxed bohemian style. However, a majority of the musical takes place before 1970. When you look back at when she first started writing and producing music she dressed very of the times of the 1950s and 1960s. From what I
gathered, Carole typically dressed fairly subtle and simplistic, feminine but never very flashy or overly trendy. The musical starts off with at 16-year-old and ends with her at the age of 29, so we definitely see her mature throughout the show. So at the beginning we see her dressed very youthful and almost school girlish since she is so young even though she’s in college. She then gets married, has children, and a career at a very young age so I wanted to dress her as someone that has to mature into an adult quickly. I referenced a lot of photos of the time when she was wearing simple day dresses and as time goes on and her music progresses we see her move from dresses to pants and then when she fully discovers her confidence as a musician and comes into her own we see more of the iconic 1970s look she is well remembered by.

The musical features various iconic figures from the music industry. How did you approach designing costumes for characters such as Gerry Goffin, Cynthia Weil, and Barry Mann to capture their personalities and styles?

I first looked at photos of them taken in the 1960s. From these photos, rather than trying to recreate certain outfits I took them as inspiration for each of their personalities and styles. For the stage, I also heightened the contrast between each of them. For example, Carole dressed a little more simplistically and Cynthia was a little more trendy. Even in the script, they always reference how nicely dressed and chic Cynthia was. So I wanted to create a visual contrast with Cynthia being dressed in sharper more form fitting silhouettes, bright colors, and different textures. As the show goes on, I also wanted to embrace Cynthia’s mod 1960s styles with Carole’s more 1970s bohemian style. Gerry Goffin was very serious about writing music but also went through some tumultuous struggles and overthinking things in head throughout the show. So we see him dressed a little more straight laced but also see him in complex patterns and very cool tones. Barry Mann is the more light-hearted, charismatic character of the group so I had him dress in more playful silhouettes and patterns that were fun fashion moments for men in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Can you discuss any specific details or embellishments in the costumes that hold particular significance or symbolism in the context of the musical?

There is symbolism in the colors of certain costumes that I’m not sure the audience will pick up on but if they do I think it would make certain scenes carry an extra meaning. Throughout the show, Gerry wears purple and blue tones. There is a scene in Act 2 when Carole is recording “Natural Woman” and has difficulty recording it because it reminds her of Gerry. She performs the song beautifully while wearing a
purple blouse, to signify her love for Gerry and even though she is not with him any more, he is still a pivotal part of her history. In the finale, she wears her iconic blue dress right after talking to Gerry and he tells her she’s “going all the way” with her music as she becomes her own solo act and shines on her own.

The musical includes performances of Carole King’s iconic outfits – how did you recreate these looks while also infusing them with a theatrical flair?

In the musical, we really only see Carole King perform at Carnegie Hall. For people who have already seen “Beautiful” or know of “Beautiful”, they typically remember the blue dress she wears in the finale. I wanted to keep this iconic color but put it in a different textile to give it a different visual interest. I also wanted to reference a dress she wore in a BBC filmed performance in 1971 to fully embody her. However, there are a lot of performances by musical groups that perform the songs she wrote. For The Drifters and The Shirelles, we recreated their iconic looks of the 1960s. We actually built the dresses for the Shirelles and based the silhouette on a real performance photo of them. To make them theatrical we added certain design elements such as sequins and a romantic shade of pink fabrics to make them more dynamic and pop against the set!

Hair and makeup play integral roles in transforming actors into characters. How did you collaborate with the wig designer and team to ensure that the overall look for each character in “Beautiful” was cohesive and authentic to the time period?

Hair plays a major role in “Beautiful”! Since the show moves through almost three different decades, the wigs help show the progression of time and fashion. This show has the most amount of wigs we have ever done in a show at Charleston Stage. The wig designer, Abbie Jones, and I looked at a lot of research images for all the characters that are based on real people. We discussed how to interpret certain hairstyles and adapt them for the stage and for the characters. For the ensemble, Abbie Jones did some more research of the time period and found creative ways to style everyone slightly differently and accurately for the time periods!

What do you hope audiences will take away with them after seeing Charleston Stage’s production of “Beautiful” and experiencing your wonderful designs on stage?

I really hope people feel like they have been transported back in time, especially to a time when music and design was really evolving. I had so much fun designing this show and being inspired by the 1960s (one of my favorite decades of fashion), especially since it is a decade I have gotten to design in! The show is so vibrant and fun while also evoking the joys and heartbreaks we all experience while growing up and becoming the people we want to be. And of course, I hope people leave wanting to listen to more Carole King’s music and experience the beauty of it!

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL is running at the Historic Dock Street Theatre from April 10-28, 2024. Click HERE to book your seats.

HAYLEY O’BRIEN (Costume Designer)
Originally from South Florida, Hayley graduated from Florida State University with a Master of Fine Arts in Costume Design and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre. Her recent credits at Charleston Stage include The Trip to Bountiful, Clue and The Addams Family- A New Musical. Other credits include Kinky Boots, JFK and Inga Binga, Native Gardens and Blithe Spirit. She looks forward to future productions ahead at Charleston Stage and is thankful to be involved in the TheatreWings program. Hayley would like to thank her family and friends for all their love and support!

How did you balance honoring her original compositions while also infusing them with a fresh theatrical energy?

In some ways it is challenging to produce a piece based on real people, but it also gives you so much material to draw from. Even though the songs may be familiar to many, seeing them in historical order and realizing how many popular songs and musical groups were influenced by Carole King as a composer is surprising and then aligning it with what she was experiencing as a woman in that time period gives the audience lots to consider and enjoy.

Can you discuss the creative process behind translating her story into a visual spectacle?

One of the biggest challenges to what is basically a Jukebox Musical (A jukebox musical is a stage musical or musical film in which a majority of the songs are well-known popular music songs, rather than original music.) is that in many ways it is more a series of concerts. The Broadway set had a very specific look and many regional productions did something similar. I know this is a show that many of our patrons may have seen on Broadway or on a national tour so I wanted our production to look different from the moment the curtain rises. Our Guest Scenic Designer Seth Howard (sethhowarddesigns.com) had designed the show for another company earlier in the year and was excited to take a new approach. We played with multiple looks but settled on “Mad Men” inspired office building as the main image. The show flips from writer rooms at 1650 Broadway to full TV performances or live concerts with no time between. Our Resident Lighting Designer Caleb S. Garner  (calebsgarner.com) was quick to help find many ways for lighting design to take us in and out of the book scenes to musical performances.

What do you think it is about Carole King’s story that transcends generations and cultures?

I think familiarity is a theme that audiences always relate to. If you have never heard a single song Carole King sang or wrote, I would be very surprised BUT who can’t relate to a young person trying to follow their dream or someone struggling in love, marriage or parenthood. Her story includes strong friendships, family and career. We are reminded of various parts of our own life.

What qualities were you looking for in the actor portraying Carole King to ensure that she could capture the essence of her real-life counterpart?

Like any musical you need a well trained actor and with a beautiful voice. Portraying a real person is not about doing an impersonation but about looking for your shared truths with the character. Eliza Knode has been with Charleston Stage for two years as a Resident Actor.  I knew her first year with us she would be a great Carole and she is one of the reasons we added the show for her second season. She has read plenty about Carole King and watched interviews and performances, but ultimately she created a character that is a joy to watch and hear.

What aspects of the show resonated with you personally or artistically?

I love a moment in the opening scene when Carole is talking to the audience at Carnegie Hall about her career:

“And you know what’s so funny about life? Sometimes it goes the way you want and sometimes it doesn’t. And sometimes when it doesn’t, you find something beautiful”

I find that to be true of life and being an Artistic Director.

How did you work with the cast and creative team to ensure that the musical performances captured the essence of her music?

Charleston Stage has committed to giving many artists full-time salaried positions with us. This includes Music Director Sam Henderson. Sam has built wonderful relationships with many of Charleston’s best musicians and so our live orchestra is something many theaters do not have. He also works tirelessly with the cast to not just teach the music but the styles and finesse that make each group stand out.

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL is running at the Historic Dock Street Theatre from April 10-28, 2024. Click HERE to book your seats.

MARYBETH CLARK (Artistic Director and Director of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical)

Marybeth is in her twenty-fifth season with Charleston Stage. She was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and grew up in Tolland, CT. Marybeth has a degree in theatre/performance from the University of South Florida and was cast in her first show at an Equity theatre at 18 years of age in Tampa. She worked as an actor in professional theatres throughout the Southeast for ten years before settling in Charleston in 1994 with her husband, actor Victor Clark. She was a member of the theatre faculty at Charleston County’s School of the Arts for middle and high school students. Though she moved to Charleston planning on ‘retiring’ from theatre and starting a family, she taught and directed for Charleston Stage part-time beginning in 1997, before joining the company full-time the following year.

She and Vic are the proud parents of 2 daughters, Lila and Prentice. Lila recently graduated from Drew University and is preparing for the Doctorate program at MUSC and Prentice teaches special needs students at the Washington Center in Greenville, SC. Marybeth and Vic do not have an empty nest but share their home with Marybeth’s mother and many adopted dogs and cats.

In her time at Charleston Stage she has directed over 70 shows, favorites include: Kinky Boots, Of Mice and Men, Mamma Mia! and Elf The Musical. She began the Resident Professional Acting program her second year with the company and continues to hire, train, and supervise our young professional actors.

As an actor for Charleston Stage, Marybeth has appeared in Shakespeare in Love, Helium, You Can’t Take It With You, The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Steel Magnolias, A Christmas Carol and most recently as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit.

How did you approach designing the set for “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” to capture the essence of Carole King’s era and life?

This is my second time designing this show in the past year so I am very familiar with the material. For this version, I really wanted to focus on creating an overall environment that Carole and the other characters would have felt comfortable in. The stage at The Dock Street Theatre is small, with little wing space. So creating an environment that can quickly transform really drove the design more than anything else.

What research did you conduct to ensure the set design accurately reflects the time period and locations depicted in the musical?

I started with tons of visual research. Looking through design books to nail down the period and then moving to online research. I pulled imagery that sort of supported the visuals I saw in my head and started to build out the world from there. Luckily, the mid century modern period is an easy one to research, as it is still a common style used today. 

Carole King’s story involves various iconic locations, from recording studios to concert halls. How did you recreate these spaces on stage while maintaining a cohesive visual style?

This is a big show for this venue! We go to many locations throughout and in rapid succession. So my job as a designer is always to make sure it all flows seamlessly from one scene to another. After I knew all the locations, I started to think and plan through all the scenic elements that are needed for each scene. I then took all of that information and started to play around with how it all works within the scenic framework that I established prior. For this design, lighting plays a very crucial role in helping us establish shifts in locations. There are columns, lined with LED’s that can help us shift the color of the set quickly. Along with a few additional set piece transitions, we could move into different locations with ease. Of course it all has to be “choreographed” in a way. And that is the stuff that we worked out during tech! This design also features a lot of flying scenery and signs that help us denote location.

Can you discuss any specific challenges you faced in designing the set for “Beautiful” and how you overcame them?

Yes, this is a big show for the Dock Street stage. And we don’t have the luxuries of stage automation, which is something the Broadway design relied on and used heavily. The biggest challenge was how to make everything fit, while maintaining enough space backstage for all the set pieces to live. It was basically a very large puzzle. I spent many hours sitting and working with the ground plan, just moving and resizing items until everything we needed fit. It was a challenge, but we made it all work!

Carole King’s music has a deeply personal quality. How did you incorporate elements of her personality and journey into the set design?

The set focuses on the place where Carole got her start in the industry, 1650 Broadway. My hope is that we could further amplify her mood and love for music through the use of color. There are moments where her songs are full of joy, and the lighting is bright and fun. On the other hand, there are moments where her songs are more heartfelt and we can pull back the saturation and intensity of the lighting to match.

The set often serves as a backdrop for the musical performances. How did you ensure that the set design complemented and enhanced the musical numbers?

For these moments, there are additional set pieces that fly in to help us create those visuals. Certain parts of the set are always in use but they have little tricks and things hidden within that allow us to transform those pieces and add a little razzle dazzle for the scenes that call for it. 

What do you hope audiences will take away with them after seeing Charleston Stage’s production of “Beautiful” and experiencing your wonderful designs on stage?

I hope that audiences walk away feeling all the joy, love, and passion that Carole had for music and storytelling through song!  As with any design, my main objective was simply to support the story. If the audiences walk away with a smile and humming their favorite tune, then I consider that a job well done!

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL is running at the Historic Dock Street Theatre from April 10-28, 2024. Click HERE to book your seats.

SETH HOWARD (Guest Scenic Designer)
Seth is a freelance scenic designer based out of St. Louis, MO. He has designed many regional productions and themed experiences across the country. Some of his design credits include School of Rock and Ragtime (Columbus Children’s Theatre); The Mountaintop and Deathtrap (Constellation Stage & Screen); Jersey Boys and Come From Away (Theatre Aspen); Once on This Island (Charleston Stage); Cinderella and The Wiz Jr. (The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati); Topdog/Underdog (Palm Beach Dramaworks); The Addams Family and Beautiful:The Carole King Musical (Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre). Check out @sethhowarddesigns on social media. www.sethhowarddesigns.com

A Childhood Memory Hidden on the Set of The Trip to Bountiful
By Julian Wiles, Director and Co-scenic Designer

Directing The Trip to Bountiful brought back many memories for me. Like the 87-year-old Mrs. Watts, the central character in the play, I come from a long line of farmers myself. My grandparents were farmers, and like Mrs. Watt’s childhood home, their home fell into disrepair and eventually into ruin when Grandma and Granddaddy moved into a brand-new house my parents built for them when they were in their 80’s. It was just down the road from the two-bedroom wooden house where they had raised five children including my Mom. They did so in the midst of the great depression and though they lived in humble circumstances, my mother said they never were in want. As farmers they had fresh milk from their cows, vegetables from their massive garden and the warmth and love of each other to sustain them.
 
My mother and father were farmers too. They bought their farm and 1913 farm house in rural Calhoun County where I grew up on the day they brought me home from the hospital. As a farm boy, one of my first toys was a bright yellow and green cast iron riding John Deere tractor that my father bought for me. I plowed a lot of imaginary acres with this little tractor and remember taking my pet dogs and cats in rides around the barnyards, in the little wagon I pulled behind my tractor.
 
When Adam Jehle and I began working on the sets for The Trip to Bountiful, particularly, Mrs. Watt’s homeplace, I was looking for a way to jar the memory of Mrs. Watt’s son Ludie and to remind him of his long-ago childhood playing outside his grandparent’s old farmhouse. And so, when I visited our family farm some weeks ago, I came across my toy John Deere tractor. I found it dusty and abandoned in an old shed and I thought the memories it brings back to me might well be similar to those Ludie would feel if he came across his own childhood toy. I brought my little tractor back to the Dock Street and placed it on stage in the final scene. While this special token of my own childhood is only one small element of the overall set design, it represents the kind of special magical elements scene designers seek out to help tell a story and to give it special meaning. You can catch sight of my tractor in the final scene of The Trip To Bountiful. Like Mrs. Watts and her son Ludie, my little tractor has found its way home.

Performances of The Trip to Bountiful continue running March 7th – March 17th at the Historic Dock Street Theatre. For tickets, visit CharlestonStage.com.

Playwright, director, designer and educator, Julian Wiles, founded Charleston Stage in 1978 and led the company for 45 seasons until his retirement in 2023.
 
Wiles grew up on a farm in Fort Motte, SC, and studied history and theatre at the College of Charleston (B.A. 1974). He moved to North Carolina to pursue graduate work in theatre design receiving an M.F.A. in Dramatic Art from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1976. He returned to Charleston and in 1978 founded Charleston Stage, the resident company of the Historic Dock Street Theatre, America’s first theatre. Under Wiles’s leadership, Charleston Stage has become one of the region’s largest and most respected performing arts institutions, producing over 120 professional performances annually and including an extensive education program reaching over 25,000 young people each year.
 
During his 45 year tenure as Founder and Producing Artistic Director, Wiles designed, directed and produced over 300 plays and musicals for Charleston Stage. He has written 34 original plays, musicals, and stage adaptations, eight of which are published by The Dramatic Publishing Company. Many of his original works, such as The Seat of Justice, Gershwin at Folly, Beneath the Sweetgrass Moon, Denmark Vesey, Insurrectionand JFK & Inga Binga celebrate the Lowcountry’s rich cultural heritage and history. More than 100 productions of Wiles’s published works have been performed across the United States and internationally.
 
Wiles received the National Youth Theatre Director’s Award in 1988, Charleston’s NAACP Special Recognition Award in 2004, The South Carolina Governor’s Award for the Arts in 2010, and was inducted into the SC Theatre Association’s Hall of Fame in 2018. In 2021, he was awarded the University of North Carolina’s Distinguished Alumnus Award.
 
In April 2024, Wiles will be inducted as a member of the College of Fellows of the American Theatre. The investiture of new members is under the auspices of the Education Department of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D. C. Membership in the College of Fellows of the American Theatre is one of the highest honors bestowed on educators and professionals of America’s educational and theatre community.
 
For more information on his original works visit julianwiles.com.

Dear Friends,

I am excited to be back at Charleton Stage as a guest director for The Trip to Bountiful, one of my very favorite plays. While I think everyone knows such well known and moving dramas as To Kill A Mockingbird, The Miracle Worker, and The Sound of Music, the American Theatre is full of hidden gems, amazing plays whose titles are not as well known. The Trip to Bountiful is certainly one of these wonderful hidden gems— despite having won numerous Tony, Emmy and Academy Awards over the years. The Trip to Bountiful is certainly a show not to be missed.

And the feisty lead character of 80 something year old, Mrs. Carrie Watts is one of the great roles in the American Theatre. Award-winning actors such as Geraldine Page and Cecily Tyson won acclaim for this role and here at Charleston Stage we have the wonderful 84-year-old veteran actress, Samille Basler, in this lead role. You will remember Samille from such memorable roles in my plays Helium and Gershwin at Folly, bringing side-splitting laughter to memorable comedies such as You Can’t Take it With You and Blithe Spirit, and moving audiences with her powerful performancesin The Glass Menagerie and To Kill A Mockingbird. Samille’s performance of Mrs. Carrie Watts in The Trip to Bountiful is one not to be missed.

I urge you to get your tickets today to this marvelous play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Horton Foote, best known for his Oscar winning screenplays for To Kill A Mockingbird and Tender Mercies.

It is a joy to return to my director’s chair once more, joining Samille and her terrific casemates as they bring this award-winning hidden gem to the Dock Street Theatre stage for the first time.

Get those tickets today!

Hope to see you at the theatre!

Julian Wiles, Founder and Director Emeritus

By HORTON FOOTE
Direction by JULIAN WILES 

Associate Sponsors:
Hewitt Family Fund of Coastal Community Foundation of SC
Dr. Del and Linda Schutte

Follow 80-year-old Mama Watts as she sets off on the adventure of a lifetime, determined to run away from her son’s cramped city apartment and controlling daughter-in-law and return to her home town of Bountiful, TX one last time. But what will she do when she’s stuck at a train station in the middle of the night, finding out the last resident of Bountiful, TX died two days ago? Watch as Mrs. Watts leans on new friends, fond memories and her steadfast faith to sing and dance her way through troubling times. This heartfelt Tony award-winning classic by Horton Foote, author of the award-winning screenplay To Kill a Mockingbird, asks the age-old questions; what is home, and can you ever really go home again?

Performances run February 28th – March 17th. For tickets, visit CharlestonStage.com.

By Heather Rose Artushin • Lowcountry Parent

Walking by the historic Dock Street Theatre downtown Charleston, it’s no secret that the 215-year-old walls hold memories of sold-out performances of years past, many by Charleston Stage’s own resident actors.

But what the theater can’t hold is the community-based educational programming that Charleston Stage prides itself on offering to children in the Lowcountry.

Marybeth Clark, Artistic Director of Charleston Stage, began her work with the organization 25 years ago as the Director of Education. “I came in really to build the education program,” she said. “I think the biggest impact I had is what is now our resident actor program.”

Charleston Stage hires young actors ages 22-28 who have degrees in theater from universities all over the country. The 10 selected residents spend one year living in Charleston and working with Charleston Stage full-time, performing and teaching local youth. Residents undergo teacher training and are provided with structured lesson plans to offer the very best educational opportunities for children in the community.

“Especially during the school year, we are very process-oriented,” said Clark. “We focus more on the skills in the spring, and there’s a day when everybody performs. If you’re taking classes with us, we do have upper-level classes called troupe, and those are the kids we allow to audition for shows when it’s appropriate. They have to function like an adult in a show.”

Not every child is an aspiring actor, and no matter where life takes them, the skills they learn from their experience with Charleston Stage are invaluable

“It’s about children having a safe space where they can learn to share their thoughts, their emotions, and their stories,” shared Clark. “They also learn to receive another person’s thoughts, emotions, and stories, even if they are different from them. And that’s what art is – communicating ideas and feelings, and being able to receive them.”

Interpersonal skills, self-awareness, and organizational skills top the list of life lessons students have learned from Charleston Stage’s educational programs.

Charleston Stage’s summer class registration opens up in February, and is sure to fill up fast. “I have over 200 kids a week in classes here during the regular school year,” Clark explained. “We have a beautiful facility in West Ashley, the same studio where we rehearse our main stage shows, where we hold the classes.”

The students get to spend the last two days of the week-long camp experiencing onstage rehearsal and a final performance at the Pearl, a 130-seat theater in West Ashley.

During the pandemic, Clark and her team took the opportunity to reflect upon their educational programming, and how to reach more kids in the community.

“We’ve always had scholarships so that finances wouldn’t be an obstacle,” she said. “That was somewhat privileged on my part. The obstacle is time, transportation, and family commitment. They might not even have a car, and they can’t leave work to take their child to a 4 o’clock class, even if it is free.”

So, Charleston Stage began placing teachers in some of Charleston County School District’s Title I schools to offer the same classes during after-school programs that already exist. When some of the kids expressed curiosity about the studio in West Ashley, Charleston Stage got together funds to provide a bus to bring kids to weekend classes at the studio and back again to a central location.

Clark said in certain situations, teachers and parents are given tickets to take the bus to the theater to see a production and their children perform on stage.

The local theater group is intentional about making sure they bring on a diverse cast of resident actors to represent all the children in the audience, and the classroom.

“When we cast, I’m very mindful of finding actors that will reflect some of the children they’ll teach,” Clark said. “One of our male teachers went in to a school, and he’s African American, and one boy said, ‘Our hair matches!’ They didn’t know what theater was all about, but they started working together and fell in love with it.”

When you see the Dock Street Theatre on your next stroll through downtown, don’t forget that it is more than a historic building – it houses an organization committed to uplifting Charleston’s children through the arts.

“Our founder, who retired last year, started the company as a theater for youth, about education, and we have never let that mission go,” concluded Clark.

Visit charlestonstage.com to learn more about Charleston Stage’s educational programs.

To view article on Lowcountry Parent, CLICK HERE.

Delighted to reconnect with Aline Toloto, the creative genius behind the enchanting props in our production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Her exceptional skills shine once more at the Dock Street Theatre, offering you an exclusive peek into the artistry behind the props for this timeless Dickens’ classic.

1) What inspired you to work on the props design for A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and how do you personally connect with the themes and atmosphere of this classic story?

The colorful and rich design of the set and costumes was a significant inspiration for the world of props. I love A CHRISTMAS CAROL! My first encounter with the story was through the movie when I was a kid. The reminder that life is too short, and, at the end of the day, what really matters is the people and the relationships you were able to cultivate through life is a message that will never get old.

2)  Props are essential in creating a believable world on stage. How did you approach research and gather inspiration to ensure the props in A CHRISTMAS CAROL were authentic to the time period and setting?

Fortunately, nowadays, research is much more accessible than before, which helps with the occasional time crunch we encounter while producing many productions simultaneously in the shop. My research process involves three steps. Initially, I delve into historical research, typically spanning not just the target year but also decades preceding it. My second step involves examining movie props and props from other productions. I find this valuable as it enables the audience to connect with the story on a different level, drawing on experiences they may have had before. The final step is to employ my design intuition to strike a balance between historical accuracy and what will aesthetically complement the overall production.

Watch A CHRISTMAS CAROL’s show trailer below!

3) Collaboration is key in the production process. Can you share insights into how you collaborated with the director and other members of the creative team to ensure that the props align with the overall vision for the production?

Absolutely, collaboration is the key to a successful theater production. I had a great collaboration with the set designer, for instance, to enhance the connection between Scrooge’s bedroom backdrop and the furniture that would occupy that space—the bed and the armchair. We discussed the color palette, selected fabric samples, and engaged in numerous back-and-forths, incorporating costumes and lighting into the discussion to ensure that every design element would be cohesive.

4) Given that A CHRISTMAS CAROL is a holiday classic, did you incorporate any holiday-themed props to enhance the festive atmosphere of the production? Can you provide examples?

In our approach to the production, we infused holiday magic into various furniture pieces and hand props. While not strictly historical, these details aimed to capture the essence of Christmas that resonates with audiences. We took every opportunity to adorn spaces with festive elements—whether it was adding a touch of red and gold bows or incorporating Christmas lights. Every available corner was utilized to infuse a holiday theme throughout the production.  

5) Attention to detail is crucial in prop design. Were there specific props in A CHRISTMAS CAROL that required extra attention to detail to ensure historical accuracy or thematic significance?

Absolutely! One notable example is the armchair used in Scrooge’s bedroom. The prop demanded extensive dedication from the team, requiring days of adjustments to ensure it functioned seamlessly. While I don’t want to give away too much to preserve the magic, I can assure you that once the audience sees it, they will understand the special significance of this prop. It underscores the belief that dedicating time and attention to even the briefest on-stage moments is always worthwhile.

6) Do you have any favorite prop creations in A CHRISTMAS CAROL that you are particularly proud of or that stand out as memorable?

My favorite prop has to be the dappled horse that accompanies the toy cart. The creation process was quite challenging, and I collaborated closely with the Prop Artisan, 
Hailee Selby. The end result was incredibly rewarding—having a beautiful and timeless dappled horse that truly stands out.

Get your tickets to see A CHRISTMAS CAROL, running December 14th – December 22nd, at CharlestonStage.com.

Originally from Brazil, Aline holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre and Technology with emphasis in Scenic Design from the University of Southern Mississippi. With extensive experience as a Prop Master, Scenic Designer, and Set Decorator, Aline’s career highlights include her role as Properties Supervisor for Charleston Stage’s 45th Season, overseeing eight captivating shows including The Addams Family, A Christmas Carol, and Once On This Island. She is thrilled to continue with the company for the next year.

In an exclusive interview, we caught up with Caleb S. Garner, the mastermind behind the captivating lighting design at Dock Street Theatre for our latest rendition of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Explore the intricacies of his artistic approach as he illuminates the magic of this timeless holiday classic!

1) What attracted you to work on the lighting design for A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and how do you personally connect with the themes and atmosphere of this classic story?

A CHRISTMAS CAROL has been a part of my life for as long as I remember. It was a Christmas tradition for my family, like it is for so many others. My favorite movie adaptation is actually the 1984 version George C. Scott as Scrooge. I love how that adaptation uses light to swap from the natural and supernatural and past, present, and future. Christmas Past had a hazy, dreamlike quality. Christmas Present was at times bright and cheerful, and at times stark and serious. Christmas Future was dark and smoky.  I am still enthralled with the ability of that adaptation to tell a great story through light, and I’m very excited to put my own spin on that great storytelling. 

As a church musician, I have spent a lot of time with texts about the Advent and Christmas season. A lesson that always stood out to me is that this season is not only about birth, but also redemption. It’s easy to forget that A CHRISTMAS CAROL isn’t just “cranky old man is frightened by ghosts and now loves Christmas.” Scrooge is a complex character. I think our production does a great job showing how he adapted through the course of his life, and how reconnecting with his past allows him to reclaim his future. The story reminds me of a poem by American theologian and civil rights leader, Howard Thurman, called “The Work of Christmas.” His idea of the “work” of Christmas are the lessons that Scrooge re-learns in order to open his heart and love again.

When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the star in the sky is gone,

When the kings and princes are home,

When the shepherds are back with their flocks,

The work of Christmas begins:

      To find the lost,

      To heal the broken,

      To feed the hungry,

      To release the prisoner,

      To rebuild the nations,

      To bring peace among the people,

      To make music in the heart.

That’s this production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL: making music in the heart. I am very excited to share this Christmas gift with you all. 

2)  Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood for a production. How did you approach creating a lighting design that complements the narrative and enhances the emotional impact of a CHRISTMAS CAROL?

When we first met in 2022 to discuss this major reimagining of the production, playwright Julian Wiles talked about the need for vibrancy, color, and fun. We didn’t want to have a production that said, “this is Scrooge’s world, and everything is sad, dark, and empty.” We wanted a production that showed the audience all of the joy, compassion, and love that Scrooge was missing. 

It’s very easy to focus on Scrooge and the Ghosts and make a production that is dark and scary.  And I do use dark lighting with heavy blues and deep shadows to make the ghosts intense and impactful, but I also try to keep the colorful spirit of the production by using turquoises, deep magentas, and lavenders to give the ghosts a sense of mystery without it being bleak and depressing. I really loved this painting called “Purple Energies” by Swiss painter Fabien Bruttin as an inspiration for the ghosts – particularly Marley and Christmas Future.

It was also important to keep the feeling of celebration throughout the play. I didn’t want every scene to feel like “London at night.” I wanted some variety and some more vibrant colors, so I chose pink-lavenders, light blues, oranges, and greens to make the world feel festive and new. It was important to Julian, Sam, and I that we avoided making the production look like a Victorian Christmas card. While they do have lots of colors, they were often faded, red-heavy, and a little too old-fashioned. We wanted whimsy and a wide array of color. I took inspiration from this picture of Covent Garden. See if you can spot some of these colors coming from the lights while watching! 

3) Collaboration is key in the production process. Can you share insights into how you collaborated with the director and other members of the creative team to ensure that the lighting design aligns with the overall vision for the production?

The entire design team meets months in advance to establish and refine our world of the play so the audience gets a unified final product. We spend lots of time talking, researching, drawing, and sharing so we’re all on the same page about the vision for the production. We did do A Christmas Carol last season, but it was not as simple as unpacking it out of a box and putting it back onstage. Season 45’s production was fantastic, but each design area had several things we could improve. This included things like the placement of the backdrops, new furniture and props, new costume elements, and new magic tricks.

A new season also gives Charleston Stage new actors, which means that people with different body types, builds, and skin tones needed alterations for the existing costumes and new lighting colors that best enhanced their skin. While many things are similar this year, many things are also quite different. My lighting mentor, Craig Dettman, would say “same song, different verse.”

This production has lots of “tricks” that are associated with the Ghosts and their magic, and they all require careful coordination with the other design elements and direction to be done correctly. Scrooge’s tombstone in the graveyard sequence is one of my favorite examples. When scrooge first arrives in the graveyard, he does not realize that he is standing on his own grave; the tombstone before him is blank. Careful coordination between direction, scenery, and lights was able for us to magically reveal the word “SCROOGE” on the stone. Added sounds, fog, and gorgeous costume color-coordination help to create the incredibly powerful image of Scrooge realizing his fate. 

Now that I’ve been at Charleston Stage for several years, I’ve developed a great rapport and a kind of shorthand language with the the other staff. We’re regularly on the same page, and I really enjoy our discussions and collaborations. 

4) A CHRISTMAS CAROL has moments of both darkness and light. How did you balance the use of light and shadow to convey the various moods and themes throughout the production?

I always make sure that the lighting is fulfilling several different factors in each scene: Visibility, Mood, Revelation of Form, Punctuation, and Storytelling. 

Visibility is simply putting light where you want it, and removing light where you don’t need it. Mood is how light uses colors, angle, and textures to display emotions or atmosphere. There is always a fine balancing act of Mood and visibility, because often too much of one can harm the other. If the light is too dark, the audience struggles to understand the action onstage, but if the audience can see every single thing onstage, the atmosphere of the scene is compromised.

Revelation of form is how we light figures and objects onstage, giving us dimensionality. The way we reveal figures onstage also helps us to establish visibility and mood. For example, I light the ensemble singing “Joy To The World” in a totally different way than I light the Ghost of Christmas Future. 

Every sentence has some form of punctuation. The way that we light the end of a phrase onstage is just as important as the way the sentence ends on paper. When Marley is leaving Scrooge, the last line of the scene ends with an exclamation point – the lighting should absolutely do the same thing.  We don’t want a slow fade to black here; we want a zero-count blackout to end the scene with a bang!  

Storytelling is advancing the narrative, through use of the properties of light that we can control. These properties are intensity, distribution, angle, color, change, and movement. 

Careful consideration and combinations of these elements help us to create individual “looks” to give distinction to the various moments in the show. A lot of the balancing comes from experience and intuition. And a great relationship with the production team!

5) Were there specific scenes or moments in A CHRISTMAS CAROL where you intentionally used lighting to highlight key elements or emotions? Can you share examples of how lighting enhances the storytelling?

One of my favorite moments in the show is when we visit the song “A New Day Dawns.” This happens twice within the show, and each one is a major point in Scrooge’s life. 

The first time we experience the song, a young Scrooge is seeing his future fiancée, Belle, for the first time. I wanted the rest of the world to melt away so we can see Scrooge instantly fall in love. The lights pull down to young Scrooge and Belle as she sings the song. The presence of the other party guests is still felt because they are in a darker colored light, with a strong highlight around their silhouettes. This shows the general figures, but limits visibility on faces so the audience can focus on the love at first sight moment happening downstage. Old Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past are still dimly lit, so the audience can also see Scrooge being re-acquainted with his humanity. 

This happens a second time in the last portion of the second act. Scrooge goes to his nephew Fred’s house to make amends, and meets Fred’s wife, Caroline. Caroline is singing “A New Day Dawns,” and is in the same position as Belle. Scrooge and Caroline recreate the moment when young Scrooge and Belle first meet. The lighting has a lovely pull-down in the same manner as before. It’s a really touching moment that shows Scrooge letting himself love again. 

I hope that the lighting shows the deeply personal moments with young Scrooge and Belle, and then Caroline and Scrooge with the tight pulldowns. The lights then open up to reveal the other characters, showing that they were there to see Scrooge’s character arc. 

6) The story of A CHRISTMAS CAROL spans different settings, from Scrooge’s office to the Cratchit household. How did you adapt the lighting design to create distinct atmospheres for each location?

Each set of characters have their own special color palettes. Scenic designer Susan Crabtree and I worked closely with costume designer Janine McCabe to make sure that each location had their own special color identity in the costumes, scenery, and lighting design. 

A great example can be seen in the Cratchit family and their home. We chose a purple/lavender color scheme to give the Cratchit’s their own identifiable traits as a family unit. The scenery has elements of the colors in the backdrop, and every character has their colors in the costumes. I light the scene with blues and lavenders so I can help to make the colors in the costumes and scenery really pop.

Be on the lookout for the different color schemes in the show! Each location and family has their own special collection of colors!

7) Do you have any favorite lighting effects or techniques used in A CHRISTMAS CAROL that you are particularly proud of or that stand out as memorable?

Each year I try and incorporate a few new elements into the production to make it even more interesting. This year makes the debut of two brand new fog machines. You will never see them, but you will absolutely see the fog! These are called Ultrasonic Mist foggers, and they get the same effect as dry ice fog without the need for dry ice and 350 pounds of water. These foggers use an ultrasonic membrane that vibrates rapidly at high speeds in a tank of water.  The water is agitated apart into individual droplets with the size of approximately 3 – 5 microns, vaporizing into the air to form a thick fog. It’s very scientific, and it’s very cool. Chances are you already have this technology in your house. If you have a “cool mist humidifier,” you have the same ultrasonic technology in a smaller scale!

Get your tickets to see A CHRISTMAS CAROL, running December 7th – December 22nd, at CharlestonStage.com.

Caleb S. Garner is a lighting and sound designer based in Charleston, SC. A North Carolina native, Caleb received his B.A. and B.F.A. from Catawba College in Salisbury NC, and his M.F.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi. Garner’s designs, ranging from concerts to ballets to musicals to plays have earned him eight regional and national design awards. Caleb has been a featured designer from New York to Mississippi, designing in the Northeast, Midwest, East Coast and Deep South. Caleb enjoys turning large pieces of wood into smaller pieces of wood (sometimes mistakenly called furniture), screaming with students (often recognized as teaching), and playing with things that spark and smoke. Caleb currently serves as the Resident Lighting Designer at the Charleston Stage Company and serves as an adjunct lecturer at the College of Charleston.

Explore the intricate details of K’nique Eichelberger’s artistic approach as the Choreographer for A CHRISTMAS CAROL in this special interview. Get ready for another season of excitement as K’nique’s exceptional work takes center stage, becoming a major highlight once again in this year’s adaptation of the timeless classic!

1) A CHRISTMAS CAROL is a holiday classic. How did you approach infusing choreography with the festive spirit of the season while still conveying the deeper themes of the story?

Christmas is a holiday where families come together to express love, kindness, and joy. In my choreography you will see the joy or excitement in every move. This is not your traditional A CHRISTMAS CAROL choreography, however. While we do honor the time period with the way we talk and walk there is a contemporary element in the dances that younger and older audiences can relate to. Dance for me has always been a way to communicate things that I couldn’t verbalize, and it helped me to express myself in a creative and personal way. I wanted the movements to speak for themselves without words or singing. There are some slow movements that can convey feelings of sadness or melancholy, whereas sharp, explosive movements can express strength and joy. Throughout all of the dance numbers you can see that being demonstrated. One of the central themes of A CHRISTMAS CAROL is personal transformation and redemption. You will see that there are a lot of formation changes in the first number to convey the many changes Scrooge will go through during the show. The character of Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes a profound change from a miserly, cold-hearted, and selfish man to a generous, warm-hearted, and compassionate person. These are some dancing themes you will see at the beginning of the show that will resurface with the new and improved Scrooge.

2)  Is there a particular aspect of A CHRISTMAS CAROL that resonates with you on a personal level? How does this connection influence your creative process?

People can change but you can’t change people. You have to allow people to grow and see things for themselves. Change comes when the person understands how their attitude is formed and how it impacts their life. It’s often a lot of reflecting and healing from the past. People can change if a few requirements are met, including self-awareness and willpower. Throughout the story Scrooge gets a chance to see when his life has changed and explores why he is so angry at the thought of Christmas. This influenced my creative process by giving myself grace in others. In rehearsal I was always there to help and make it easy for the actors because you just never know what people are going through. So showing up with energy and a smile will create a safe space that we all love to work in.

3) Take us through your creative process when choreographing for a production. How did you transform the narrative into movement and dance, especially for a story as iconic as Dickens’?

First I connect with the director to understand the vision they want for this show. A CHRISTMAS CAROL is an old story but our production brings this older story to new life with a hip hop contemporary feel, while still paying respect to the time period. When choreographing I like to sit and listen to the music to give it an emotion. How did this make me feel? After I have set on what emotion I want coming out of the dance, it begins to create itself. 

4) In the choreography for A CHRISTMAS CAROL, do you have any favorite dance numbers or sequences? What makes them special to you, either in terms of artistic expression or thematic resonance?

This is a hard question because I love all of the dances. I would have to say the opening number “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” would be one of my favorites. The energy this song possesses is unmatched. I call it the stampede of joy when the cast comes rushing down at the top of the number. It sets up the story well with full energy where the audience will be immediately engaged. Sometimes you have to sit back and give yourself a pat on the back. Seeing this number come to life was a pat on the back moment for me. To see everyone enjoying the dance and vision I’ve created makes my heart warm.

5) Collaborating with the director and other members of the production team is crucial. Can you share a memorable collaboration experience and how it enhanced the overall production?

When choreographing you have to collaborate with everyone, not just the director. Sam the director and I work very well together with expressing what we want in a number. The finale is a big number that we both helped each other with to create the magical feeling we both wanted. The whole cast is on the stage for the first time and now we have to create this toy shop world which wasn’t easy to do. There is a lot that happens and without collaborating with the whole production team, the finale would not be as beautiful as it is.

6) Are there specific dance styles or holiday traditions that you find particularly inspiring or that you incorporated into the choreography to capture the holiday atmosphere?

I’ve grown up doing hip hop, modern, contemporary and musical theatre dance. I believe I incorporated all four dance styles to give you something new each time a dance number happens. A lot of it is high energy to match the Christmas spirit. You also get those moments of love and laughter.

7) Reflecting on your career, are there any performances or productions that hold a special place in your heart? What made them stand out among the rest?

I have two! My first year as an Resident Actor I played Lola in Kinky Boots and it was magical to play that dream role. That was a role I worked harder than ever on. As a person who is a dreamer, that was one of the moments where I could say my dream came true. I’m living the dream I set for myself years ago. I was lucky enough to later on perform this role again with Main Street Theatre in Pennsylvania. It was just as magical. That role will forever mean a lot to me. My second would be The Play That Goes Wrong. That was the most fun show I have ever been in. I played the butler Perkins who had no idea what he was doing in the show. It allowed me to be free and really express what type of actor I am. It was fast paced and always kept me on my toes. The love Perkins got from the audience meant so much to me. All I ever want to do on stage is impact the audience in some way, shape, or form. With a lot of stretching I could do that show for a long time. 

Get your tickets to see A CHRISTMAS CAROL, running December 6th – December 22nd, at CharlestonStage.com.

K’nique Eichelberger is originally from Columbia, South Carolina but moved to Brevard, North Carolina where he earned a B.A. in Music and Theatre. He is so excited to be performing with Charleston Stage again. He choreographed A Christmas Carol while he was an Resident Actor and is so happy to be choreographing once again. His recent credits include: Once On This Island (Daniel), The Play That Goes Wrong (Perkins), Kinky Boots (Lola), The Last Five Years (Jamie), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey II), Into The Woods (Jack), A Streetcar Named Desire (Stanley) and more. He is very thankful for his friends and family who have supported him throughout the years. K’nique is so excited to change lives through creating art at Charleston Stage! Stay tuned on Instagram @nique_tg3

In our exclusive interview, Janine McCabe, our Original Costume Designer for A CHRISTMAS CAROL, delves into the fascinating details of her artistic approach last season to crafting the costumes for this timeless classic. We’re very excited that Janine’s work will once again be a major highlight on stage in this season’s adaptation!

1) To start, could you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background as a costume designer, especially in the context of theatrical productions?

Hi. My name is Janine McCabe and I have worked as a costume designer for over 25 years. After considering engineering and math careers, I eventually found my way into theatre through a work study job sewing in the costumes shop at the College of Charleston. After completing my BA in Theatre with a concentration in Costume Design, I went on to the University of Virginia for an MFA in Costume Design and then moved to NYC where I worked for designers including Martin Pakledinaz, who was an incredible designer and mentor. In NYC I was able to work on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Opera, Dance and travel around the country to help check costumes when putting new actors into roles on National Tours like Thoroughly Modern Millie. NYC was an incredible working and learning experience and has definitely informed every aspect of my career as a designer and as a professor of costume design.

2)  What attracted you to work on the costumes for A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and how do you personally connect with the themes and characters of this classic story?

The first thing that attracted me to the work for A CHRISTMAS CAROL was the excitement that Julian Wiles presented when he asked me to work on it with him and the team. His idea to bring color and energy and present the story in a way people hadn’t seen before was attractive to me. Julian and I had worked together before and he knew that I love to work with bold colors and to vear outside the lines of what is expected. Having a young son and other family getting older, I find myself drawn into the themes of generosity, compassion and time with family and friends over work and money more than ever. The struggles the characters face in this classic story exist today so there is much to learn and be reminded of at any age from this story.

3) Each character in A CHRISTMAS CAROL has a distinct personality. How did you go about visualizing and creating costumes that not only capture the essence of the characters but also contribute to the overall visual storytelling?

My assistants, Molly Belle and Brandon Alston, and I spent a lot of time looking into the story and representations of the characters over time. We looked into different interpretations and presentations of the story and talked about the character’s individual wants, needs, beliefs and views of the world they were in. We gathered images to reflect those ideas and their individual personalities first which were primarily abstract in nature and then moved toward research for the actual clothing. Knowing that conceptually we wanted a show full of color, we took great inspiration from children’s books and illustrations for the bold lines and colors we ultimately landed on. Throughout the design process we continually checked in with the development of the scenery, lighting and sound ideas to make sure that we were all headed in a unified direction to create the visuals that supported the directorial concept to bring that to life in the best way possible while supporting the story and characters.

4) Given the period setting of A CHRISTMAS CAROL, how did you balance historical accuracy with creative interpretation in designing the costumes? Were there any contemporary influences that inspired your designs?

As a designer, one of the things I find challenging but extremely fun conceptually is looking at historical research and infusing it with contemporary influences to present something that feels period but is seen in a new way. There were a lot of contemporary influences in color and pattern and the way people combine things in fashion today that you might not think should go together…even my 8 year old was an influence in the way he puts colors together and mixes and matches sets of clothing to express himself. Through the historical research though we actually found many examples of bright clothing, bold patterns and details we were not expecting. We gathered and collaged image boards with all these influences that we then posted around us so as we drew out the individual character designs they continued to inspire ideas.

5) Collaboration is key in the production process. Can you share insights into how you collaborated with the director and other members of the creative team to ensure that the costumes align with the overall vision for the production?

Collaboration is one of the main reasons I love designing. I was lucky to have Molly and Brandon working in the design studio with me preparing for this design for several months last summer prior to the work in the shops being started. During that time the director and creative team would meet through zoom and sometimes in person to share and present new ideas and these meetings were so important to the process. Hearing someone else talk about the concept or a lighting idea that then inspires something else in the costumes or set is what it is all about. It is the fun part! Julian worked very closely with us to understand each actor’s track and exactly what was needed moment to moment to achieve the overall vision. We all kept each other updated through online folders as well so that in the times between meetings we could still collaborate and stay on top of new developments. I really value the meeting times and sharing ideas…that is how we manage to make everything come together when we get to the technical rehearsals where everything is finally in the same place on stage together, months and months of work in different areas and then it comes together…it is a lot of hard work but it is also magical.

6) Do you have any favorite costumes or specific design elements in A CHRISTMAS CAROL that you are particularly proud of or that hold a special significance? What makes them stand out?

Oh that is tough…it is hard to pick a favorite. I had a lot of fun with the ghosts! I think the Ghost of Future stands out since it is not the more typical black figure but instead is layers and layers of white, grey, silver and icey blue tattered fabrics reflecting the cold and sadness of Scrooge’s potential future. I also especially love the homeless…I guess that might seem funny as you don’t see much of their costumes but if you did you would find that they are made from piles of reused and thrifted colorful sweaters cut up, distressed and layered in various ways creating a lot of texture and interest. Molly and I had a great time creating those. The stripes on Scrooge’s servants too…oh and the whole Cratchit family….they were so unique and exciting to create with their layers and patterns and colors. Hmmm….I don’t know, it was a rewarding and immensely creative process having the opportunity to work closely with my assistants and create such a colorful, newly imagined version of this story with Julian and the creative team!

7) Looking ahead, are there any upcoming projects or styles of costume design you are excited to explore in your future work?

Well, I am currently in the process of designing Die Fledermaus as part of the CofC Stages season in collaboration with the Opera Program at the College of Charleston and I think the concept for that production is allowing the team to play a lot with style and color especially for the Act II party, so I am looking forward to where that leads. A great thing about designing costumes is that every production offers a new challenge in storytelling, distinct research, different collaborators and lots to explore, so the excitement keeps going.

Get your tickets to see A CHRISTMAS CAROL, running December 1st – December 22nd, at CharlestonStage.com.

Janine McCabe is the Chair and Costume Design Professor for the Department of Theatre & Dance at the College of Charleston where she regularly designs and mentors student costume designers for the department’s CofC Stages season, for which she also serves as Artistic Director. Recent designs for CofC Stages include VIOLET and THE MAGIC FLUTE. Janine’s work at Charleston Stage includes designs for CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, WHITE CHRISTMAS, THE UNDERPANTS and SHERLOCK HOLMES-THE FINAL ADVENTURE. She also serves as resident designer for PURE Theatre where designs include MLIMA’S TALE, HONORIA QUIETLY DRAWING STRENGTH FROM HER TRUTH, BEN BUTLER, THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY, THE CHILDREN, THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT, LAST RITES, SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS, THIS RANDOM WORLD, FUN HOME, THE ROYALE, THE (CURIOUS CASE OF THE) WATSON INTELLIGENCE, A SUDDEN SPONTANEOUS EVENT, MARIE ANTOINETTE, and more. Regional Costume Design credits include productions at Flat Rock Playhouse NC, Fringe NYC, Barrow Group NYC, and Trustus Theatre SC. Broadway Assistant Costume Design credits include: THE WEDDING SINGER, WONDERFUL TOWN, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, THE LOOK OF LOVE, A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD, KISS ME KATE. Other local designs include SALT IN THE SOIL and HOVER (Annex Dance Company), THE TRAGEDY OF CARMEN and DON GIOVANNI (Charleston Opera Theatre), the world premiere of LOVE AND SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT at the Charleston Music Hall, and most recently, the world premiere of DANIEL AND THE KINGS at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center.