The Costume Industry Coalition is putting on a benefit exhibition—Showstoppers! Spectacular Costumes from Stage & Screen—that’s being staged at 234 West 42nd Street for an eight-week limited engagement, running August 5 through September 26, 2021. Showstoppers will be open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. The 20,000 square-foot space formerly was a Modell’s sporting goods store that design firm Thinc Design transformed into an immersive maze featuring more than 100 of the industry’s most beautiful and complex garments. As guests make their way through the exhibit, they will get to see up close the detail and craftsmanship typically only seen far away on stage or screen. Here’s a video preview from the CIC:
Costume makers and experts will be on-site demonstrating their techniques and skills and interacting with guests, and multimedia elements will provide a rare opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the process. This one-of-a-kind, immersive exhibition can only be seen in New York City’s Theatre District. All proceeds from the exhibition will raise money for the Costume Industry Coalition Recovery Fund, which continues to support one of the hardest hit sectors of the entertainment industry.
Confirmed Displays
Confirmed displays include costumes from the Broadway, Off-Broadway, and national tour productions of Aladdin, Chicago, Come From Away, The Cher Show, Dear Evan Hansen, Frozen, Golden Child, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Lion King, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Phantom of the Opera, Six, A Soldier’s Play, Starlight Express, and Wicked.
In addition, costumes from American Ballet Theatre, Bard Summerscape, Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids, the Martha Graham Dance Company, New York City Ballet, Santa Fe Opera, and San Francisco Ballet will spotlight the world of dance. Outfits from Disney World, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Broadway Bares, and more will also be showcased. Represented from the world of TV will be The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Dickinson, and Saturday Night Live, along with the films Respect and No Time to Die.
“We’ve been overwhelmed with the amount of support we have received since we launched the Costume Industry Coalition in June of last year,” said Brian Blythe of John Kristiansen New York, Inc., and a founding member of the coalition. “While so many parts of the entertainment industry are announcing reopening plans, the majority of our members continue to feel the impact of being mostly dormant for more than a year. The generosity of our partners, donors and clients—who are lending us over 100 amazing costumes—will not only be a wonderful way to raise money for our Recovery Fund, but will help showcase our talented workforce of costuming experts.”
Showstoppers! Spectacular Costumes from Stage & Screen is being produced by the Costume Industry Coalition and Artisans Guild of America, in partnership with Madison International Realty, Kaplen Brothers Fund, No Guarantees, Kevin Duda Productions, and Thinc Design. Tickets are on sale now and are available at ShowstoppersNYC.com.
Further information from the CIC and Showstoppers: www.showstoppersnyc.com
