Cincinnati Ballet wardrobe supervisor Noelle Wedig-Johnston says she gets one question a lot: “How long does it take to build a tutu?”
More than likely, people ask her how long it takes to make a tutu. But after being part of the ballet for a decade, she knows it’s more of a construction job than a simple sewing project. That’s especially true when you’re talking about a ballet as iconic as this month’s “Nutcracker.”
The answer? “To build a singular tutu it’s 80-100 hours,” she explains. “There’s 15 yards of tulle, and 10-14 layers, depending on the tutu.”
More:Nutcracker ballet returns in full to Cincinnati with special guests
Now, imagine her concern when that carefully crafted costume gets snagged on something as a dancer is seconds away from going on stage.
“They could entirely tear the whole piece on their way to the stage and we'll have to do something like stitch it in a matter of seconds to get them out there,” she says.
Bringing characters to life
Creating the costumes that bring Clara, Drosselmeyer and the Nutcracker to life requires precision, vision and teamwork.
Wedig-Johnston works with a team in the wardrobe department on Nutcracker costumes. “We begin the process five weeks out,” she says. “We’re talking five weeks with 3 to 4 people sewing 40-plus hour weeks. So it’s significant.”
Yes, I’d say so.
Once the production gets to Music Hall, the wardrobe team expands to about 15 people who work together to outfit almost 200 characters each year for “The Nutcracker.” They are responsible for 260 costumes in all, from Clara’s party dress to Drosselmeyer’s cape to the giant dancing bear, and for more quick changes backstage than you can count.
Before any costume makes it to stage, Wedig-Johnston is there for every costume fitting and makes notes for any alterations needed. “Even with a show like this that’s been ongoing, there’s more work than you would think,” she says.
Another character in the ballet
The tale of the Nutcracker is familiar. So is Tchaikovsky’s score, which we’ve heard everywhere from Barbie movies to cereal commercials. But Wedig-Johnston sees her costumes as another character in that story, one that’s unique to Cincinnati – and helps bridge the music and the story to bring the entire story to life, much like the Nutcracker himself.
“I’ll watch rehearsals without the costumes and when we add them, it changes the dancer entirely,” Wedig-Johnston says. “They start moving differently.”
In the meantime, as dancers take the stage as opulent flowers and full-bellied mice, Wedig-Johnston is ready just offstage – in her own costume of sorts. She’s armed with threaded needles, scissors, band-aids and a headlamp, ready for whatever comes her way.
Cincinnati Ballet performs “The Nutcracker” Dec. 16-26 at Music Hall. For ticket information, go to cballet.org.
Source link
