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Her work began by meeting with director Jerry Gomis to gain an understanding of his vision for the productions. Then she finds inspiration from a single piece of fabric that “speaks to her,” with all of the costumes in each show built around it. “We like beautiful costumes at Door Shakespeare,” she said, “and that means they are not always exactly accurate to the period.” But they are in keeping with those aesthetic values unique to the company. Because Portinga is in her ninth season with Door Shakespeare, she has created an inventory of costumes. But rather than reuse a garment from a previous show, she prefers to work with bolts of new fabric along with bits and pieces recycled from past costumes to create an entirely new wardrobe for the cast. For Pride and Prejudice, she used a visual concept of the play’s flow to design costumes. Because the dialogue runs like a movie script, costume changes happen frequently, quickly, and smoothly. Subsequently many are built with snaps for rapid changes.
One of the most memorable Door Shakespeare shows she has costumed was the 2008 production of Cyrano De Bergerac, “a huge challenge as the cast and costume needs were the largest ever tackled by the company,” the designer remembers. A native of the Twin Cities in Minnesota, Barb Portinga learned her craft as an apprentice at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. Her design work has been seen throughout the Midwest, and locally at American Folklore Theatre. She is the proprietor of Portable Costumes. Lee Conrads, who attends Carlton College, is this season’s costume intern at Door Shakespeare. Sage Conrad, a student from Gibraltar High School, is a volunteer assistant costumer. Door Shakespeare presents Pride and Prejudice Monday, Thursday, Saturday; and Twelfth Night Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday. For tickets or more information, call the Door Shakespeare Box Office at 920.839.1500 or visit www.doorshakespeare.com.
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