Designing Costumes For Joseph

by Barbara Young, Costume Designer

Designing costumes for Joseph lead to many different places, but it was important to always keep in mind that the ancient story be interwoven thru the entire show. Designing the historical costumes was less difficult than adding the hundreds of other pieces that make up the complete costume plot. The time between scenes was so short that everything needed to be easily changed, added, or removed. Each different location required its own specific design and color represented each location. Various locations included a ranch with cowboys and angels, black and white Go-Go dancers, beret wearing Frenchmen and a mime, and of course, Egypt with its turquoise and gold.

The way the costumes were used presented their own set of problems. Somersaulting, flipping, and toe kicking dancers required specific costumes that would stand up to rough usage. The color palette had to work with the various colors in the coat. So many different fabrics were used to create a picture of belonging. Even though traveling to so many places was required, the ancient theme is constantly seen in some way. The volunteer elves of the costume shop were up to the task and Joseph is truly a Technicolored Dream Show!

OneMoreAngel

(Musical number “One More Angel In Heaven”, featuring cowboy costumes)

 

GoGoGoJoe

(Musical number “Go, Go, Go Joseph”, featuring Go-Go dancer costumes)