Behind the Seams - Poudre High School Theatre Stage Mag

Behind the Seams
a costume retrospective
at Poudre High School Theatre


Created by Kari Armstrong	Directed by Carter Larsen	Stage Manager Skylar Lamoreaux

Costume Crew

Gabe Gonzalez	Carter Larsen	Sebastian Fuentes

Models

Models

Betsy Bain
Savannah Casady
Luci Aberle
Jacque Forrest
David Harris
Grace Kunzie
Calen Clapp
Joey Beck
Lennon Shipton
Beau Barrett
Summer Snider
Hannah Testa
Marlie Clark
Michael Abramowitz
Lucia Cruz-Rodenbeck
Harriet Marcus-Bause
Micah Moore
Enid Croak
Harper Skjerseth
Zinnia Poor
Ethan Boggs
Tsunami Thomas
Lexi Hapner
Victoria Levick
Emmie Jackson
Lily VanZant
Wrenna Orion
Adrian Gonzales
Zyana Wilson
Emily Sherpa
Violet McDonough
Grace Wheeler
Suzie Matlock
Zoe Anderson
Mira Pinnella
Bella Gammage
Berlin Beadle
Marian Balderramo
Mira Reilmann
Jenna Sandifer
Sofia Campos

Guest Alumni Models

Sandra Lundt
Ian Green
Lexi Reese

Costumer Snippets

During a production planning session—which often takes place in December at a coffee shop during our State Thespian Conference in Denver—Joel Smith, Laura Lenczycki and I were chatting about designs for a runway spanning out into the audience for “Six” our spring Musical (opening next week! April 24-27).

On a whim, I suggested that since we were already building a runway—what if we also used it for a costume runway show? Joel said, “Well, that’s a no-brainer!”

And so began the plans for “Behind the Seams”. A celebration of Poudre Theatre and 20 years of costuming.

It has been a challenge to work on two shows at once—which are to be presented a week apart!

A few people deserve profuse thanks for helping with this huge undertaking.

Carter Larsen is a senior and a member of our current student costume crew. He took on the challenge of finding our 45 student models, offered to direct, scheduled fittings, and helped figure out the giant timing puzzle for costume changes.

My dear friend Mary Ann Michels kept me in check, and convinced me that costumes from even half our 60-something productions would take HOURS to send down the runway. She was right of course, and I have (reluctantly) pared it down to 15 shows. Plus she has been helping with sewing repairs (and bringing us delicious cookies)!

Garret Faillaci from Estes Park High School was simply returning some borrowed costumes and soon found herself at a sewing machine in our shop working on giant octopus legs, and taking home a giant bird claw to duplicate.

Carol Ann and Gary Hixon let us drop by their home to chat about their fashion show experience and expertise—and we came away with so many helpful suggestions!

Joel Smith, Laura Lenczycki, the student tech and costume crews, my patient family and all the enthusiasm from people everywhere have played a part in making this one-time event happen.

Any large theatrical production is an enormous collaboration. Each piece, from acting, set design/building, lighting, costume design and construction, sound, stage management and direction is just as important to the whole of any production.

We could celebrate any of those individual and imperative parts.

But tonight is dedicated to you, dear fabulous alumni and current costumers!

You, the behind the scenes magic-makers who have visually enthralled audiences here for the past 20 years. Your costumes have enhanced the stories we tell here. Sometimes costumes shout with color, joy and whimsy, and sometimes they whisper with authenticity and thoughtful subtlety to create a mood and place.

What a joy it has been to unbox, rejuvenate and rediscover costume treasures and so many memories from the past two decades!

These costumes have been made by the talented and loving hands of many of you here tonight.

There have been hundreds of you costumers over the 20 years I have been here. Not to mention hundreds of hard-working parent volunteers who brought meals, worked concessions, taxied you back and forth, and came to every show.

Former and current costumers—some of your names and shows remain on the autograph post and other surfaces down in the costume shop. Your loving and hilarious notes and quotes are in memory books. I grin at your smiling faces in hundreds of photographs. Many of you are scattered around this country or way out there in the world. Others are close by and you have families of your own! Some of you are working with costumes in college, or professionally. Many are just now leaning into wherever your lives will take you.

All of you have filled our creatively cluttered costume shop with artsy brilliance, raucous laughter, loud music, lasting friendships, incredible dedication, sad/happy/frustrated tears, a few boxes of band-aids, (and a few stories never to be repeated)!

I have loved every minute of these past and present 20 years with you. You have filled my heart with gratitude and joy. Tonight is a celebration of you.

You make me beam.

With love,

Ms. Kari