Alumni
Theatre Costume Design Student Prepares for DEBUT 2019
Lorraine Ely is currently working on her Theatre Costume Design collection for DEBUT 2019. She’s spent most of her life connected with the stage and has worked with musical theatre companies in the UK, her home country. She recently worked on Hairspray at Musical Theatre Orange County and spent the morning at the KTLA studios where TV host Mar Yvette wore one of her Tracy Turnblad wigs for Good Day LA. We caught up with her to get to know this talented designer.
How are your costumes coming along for DEBUT 2019? A beautiful opera written by a genius composer is the root behind our show. After reading the libretto, I was ready to start designing my four costumes, the Prince, Chief Slave, the Spirit of Nature, and one of Queen’s ladies. I have almost completed my first costume in final fabric and have built the mock-up for my second, awaiting a model fitting. All four designs are sketched and the final fabrics, accessories, wigs and jewelry are ready. Every inch of these costumes have been designed with your visual experience in mind. Silhouette, texture, sheen and movement are the basis behind what will be presented on stage.
The show will be choreographed to exhibit all twenty-four costumes constructed by myself and my amazing classmates. As a group, we have worked collaboratively to ensure our DEBUT show is ‘MAGNIFICENT’ for all attending. This is ONE show you cannot miss!
Tell us a little about your background: I have worked full-time for a global skin care company as an instructor and trainer while completing the 2-year Advanced Associates Degree in Fashion Design at FIDM. I have spent most of my life connected with stage and theater and have worked with a musical theater company in Orange County and in the UK, which is my original home. This was a great foundation for me and helped with my application for the Theater Costume Design Advanced program at FIDM.
Why did you choose FIDM for Theatre Costume Design? Having researched FIDM for several years, I was greatly impressed by the educational resources available to us including the FIDM Museum, the historical costume reference wardrobe and Library facilities. The DEBUT Runway Show became a dream, a goal... and now a reality for me as I prepare for the 2019 runway.
What are your career goals and how is FIDM helping you get there? My ultimate goal is to design costumes for film and TV with a sound understanding in construction. I am inspired by Colleen Atwood, an Oscar-winning costume designer, and my dream is to learn from her each day. I will also continue my experience as wig and make-up director for theatrical productions. I have uploaded progress images of costume work prior to and during my time at FIDM, into the Career Portal and continue to make connections via LinkedIn.
Anything else you’d like to share? My favorite quote is: “Love what you do and do what you love.” I am doing just that!
Follow Theatre Costume Design Student Lorraine Ely on Instagram @lely_in_la and don't miss her interview on the costumes in the Philip Glass opera, Satyagraha, at the LA Opera.
Categories: Theatre Costume Design Alumni Student
