Costume Design for Palazzo Manor

Abstract

Palazzo Manor, a play written by Duane Olsen, follows the story of a bastard child, Lucky The Clown, who was abandoned by his parents, a harlequin and a strong man, inside a circus big top. He plots to wreak havoc on anyone who enters the circus big top, in response to his isolation and abandonment. After some time, a haunted house is built in the big top and uses the "myth" of Lucky The Clown to bring in customers. The actors involved in the haunted house, along with the security team, all become susceptible to the real Lucky The Clown's horrors as they all start to realize this "myth" may not be a myth after all. The production was immersive, with the audience in the actual big top and with live security footage incorporated into the show so the audience experienced what the characters did. I was the costume designer for the show and designed them to be detailed and tailored specifically to each character. I studied the circus world and the periods and worked specific colors and designs into the costumes. With my costume designs, I attempted to embody the tone of the play and really scare the audience.