MAKING DO: AN EXAMINATION OF HISTORIC POVERTY AND CONTEMPORARY SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH THE COSTUME DESIGN OF KURT WEILL’S STREET SCENE

Abstract

This document demonstrates a case study of the process of researching, envisioning and producing the costume design for a production with an emphasis on environmental and ethical values in design. The production featured is Street Scene, an opera set in a New York tenement in 1929. The document describes the early collaboration with the director in creating the concept for the piece, how this influenced the research and design and how the design and the designer’s personal values influenced the sourcing and implementation of the design. Included are images documenting the research, renderings, fittings and finished production images. Street Scene was composed by Kurt Weill with libretto by Langston Hughes based on a 1929 play by Elmer Rice. This production was produced by the Maryland Opera Studio at the University of Maryland, April 12-20, 2019 under the direction of Professor Amanda Consol, conductor Professor Craig Kier with scenic design by Ryan Fox and lighting design by Peter Leibold.