They said they created the costumes to fit the personalities of the characters.
Madamba made an evening dress for the character Maggie Saunders, the daughter of the owner of the Cleveland Grand Opera House. The look was alluring and mature, sophisticated and beautiful. A black fabric with a pink ribbon flower pattern was used for Maggie’s dress.
Lleva designed opera singer Tito Morelli and Max Garber’s Otello costumes. The doublet was made from remnants of the fabric used by the Thespians of the Western Pacific Islands while quilt batting was utilized for the breastplate to add stiffness and bulkiness. For easy and quick changes, the garment was fastened with Velcro. Puffy short pants, made from bicycle shorts and strips of fabric, were also part of Otello’s costume.
Monton designed Tito Morelli’s traveling outfit. She said the play described Morelli as a popular tenor who was world renowned and Italian. In her notes, she said she “thought of a ‘Godfather’ look,” which she has seen in the movies and on television. She used a classic version of the trench coat, added white pants, spats as well as a white fedora.
Kim designed the costume of the bellhop. A red jacket was used with gold braid trim on its sleeves. The gold trim was also put on the pants. A hat was also made from red fabric.
Choi designed Diana’s day suit. She is the ambitious soprano in the play. Choi chose the color purple for the suit because it was a color royalty used to wear.
Dimapilis designed Maggie’s day dress. She wanted Maggie to appear like an innocent girl. “I think that meeting with the actress helped me to consider the purpose and look of the whole design,” she said in her notes.
Bunao designed Diana’s evening gown. “I designed her gown to be a form-fitting dress with skinny straps and a plunging neckline,” she said in her notes.
The students submitted their costume sketches and designs in the thespian competitions in the CNMI in Dec. 2009.
