In Appreciation.....

New hardware to be enshrined in my home, as of Jan. 23, 2010. Enshrined among the scraps of fabric, unused costume pieces, sewing patterns, etc., etc., etc!

My name on "Special Award" trophies given for Stepping Out and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!



Last night, the Hawthorne Players hosted their annual awards banquet. Members of the group get to vote on those people who have done outstanding work through the past season. It is sort of like our own Oscar party. Awards are given to the best actor, actress, supporting actor, supporting actress, cameo role. Directors and best show of the season are given awards, as well as the technical aspects of lighting design, set design, sound design. I think the list is complete..oh, oh, did I miss something? Like costume design? Let me check the list, no it isn't one of the categories.

I have costumed every show that this theatre group did (regular season shows, not their "best of Hawthorne" show, which is self-costumed by the participants) since they did "A Christmas Carol" in Dec. 2007. I guess they like my work because they keep asking me to do more. Either that, or they know I'm a sucker and will do it when no one else wants to do it! I've had a lot of fun doing this. You know from this blog that sometimes it gets tedious, sometimes I'm not liking it, sometimes it is hectic, sometimes I wish I would have never said yes to doing it. But, for the most part, I really enjoy costuming, and I take the good with the bad.

An actor or actress gets their kicks from "the smell of the greasepaint, the roar of the crowd". You are performing and entertaining, and that is your reward. If you are lucky enough to turn pro, you get some bucks in addition to the other rewards. We're community theatre, so that isn't the pay-off.

As a costumer, you don't quite get that kind of buzz from what you have done. If you make the director happy, or even just yourself happy with what you have created, then there is your reward. But it is nice to be honored for your work, appreciated for what you have done, when you've poured your heart and soul, and many hundreds of hours into your work. You make the actors and actresses look good, and they are for the most part appreciative, you help them portray their part in the show. And most actresses and actors love to dress up and look good, or silly, or poor and ragged, whatever the part demands. The clothing can motivate--I've seen that more than once! Someone who just wasn't getting it changed the moment he or she put on the costume. That's why I continue to do it.

Last night, two of the three directors who I worked with this past year, decided to honor me and my work with them and their shows by giving me the "special award" for their show. Not one but two! The third one, tongue in cheek said, as he praised my work, "No Jean, you aren't getting the award!" Everybody roared! He gave his award to a very deserving new member, who came in and shared his extraordinary talents to create exquisite set pieces for that show. We all know his value to our group!

I am so appreciative of recieving these awards from two directors who I love working with and whose work I respect greatly. The first director said, "Jean and I have bonded by sharing the sadness of losing our spouses in the same month". That is so true. And we bonded one day in early 2007, when I was costuming a show she was in, we bonded by sharing our stories of our losses in the back of Hancock Fabrics! A fitting place for beginning a wonderful friendship that I cherish deeply.

The second director, who herself was given awards for being the best director of the year, as well as her show being chosen best show (Joseph....Amazing Dreamcoat--it truly was amazing!) She deserved much praise because the original director for this show had to drop out just 10 days before auditions because of a family loss, and Renee stepped in and took over without a hiccup! The production staff for the most part agreed to stay on, and I was a part of that group. She was so supportive, giving of her very miniscule free time to come over to my house to help with the costumes. We tie-dyed together, she "be-jeweled" the Egyptian collars with hot-glue gun in hand, helped me hand sew 50+ snaps on the breakaway coat of many colors. I appreciated her help so much, plus I got to know her better, and we shared some "visions" for the play as we worked on costume pieces.

So, thank you, Hawthorne Players. I appreciate that fact that my work is appreciated. I hope to spend many more years as a costumer for your theatre group. The trophys are just a little added extra bonus for me besides the fun and satisfaction I get from making/providing costumes for your group's plays!