I have been in Hartford, Connecticut for the past ten days doing pre-production wardrobe work for Greater Tuna, a hilarious comedy which will feature Neal Mayer and Brian Mathis, in the roles created by Jaston Williams and Joe Sears. It is being produced by and performed at the historic Bushnell Performing Arts Center, a beautiful Art Deco theatre built in 1929.
Among the many talented stars who have graced Bushnell’s Mortenson Stage over its 75 year history is one of my all-time favorite actresses, Katherine Hepburn. Kate Hepburn was a remarkable woman for her time, known for her casual grace and stubborn independence. While her style was more functional than feminine (she wore pants on stage and off), I did find several film stills of Ms. Hepburn sporting some fabulous millinery from the 1940’s and thought I’d share:
"Under Current" 1946
I think it’s interesting that each of these hats tie under the chin. Probably so the notoriously athletic and enthusiastic Kate wouldn’t lose her hat. More often than not, Kate is pictured without a hat (just that fabulous mane of hair) or perhaps a kerchief, tied under her chin. Katherine Hepburn is buried in Hartford, but I did not get a chance to visit the site.
I did visit a few other sites around Hartford, though, including the Mark Twain House, built in 1874 with one of the very first interiors by Associated Artists & Louis Comfort Tiffany.
I also saw a fascinating exhibit on The Ballets Russes (who performed at the Bushnell in 1935 and 1937) which is at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum through June 21. The exhibit features original illustrations and paintings of costume and set designs, as well as extant costumes. The Ballets Russes had an enormous impact on art, fashion, and culture after it premiered in Paris in 1909. The exotic color palette and modern choreography both shocked and intrigued audiences. Founder Serge Diaghilev introduced the famed Anna Pavlova and Vaslav Nijinsky to the West, but also many emerging modern artists, such as Leon Bakst, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso, whom he employed as set and costume designers.
"Le Soleil de Nuit" 1915
Some of the most beautiful exhibit objects were the costumes designed by Matisse for “Le Rossignol” . Hand-painted silks and metallic hand-embroidery that embody the Orientalism and historicism typical of The Ballets Russes.
And the gold-leaf embellished costume illustrations by Bakst:
L'Apres-Midi d'un Faune 1912
I am a HUGE fan of historic costume and textiles, so it was a treat to spend a lunch hour gazing upon such beautiful examples of theatrical handiwork. Then back to work training the dressers on all the quick change choreography for Greater Tuna (2 actors, 38 costume changes, some in as little as 4 seconds!) Backstage fun and magic (well, velcro).