For Broadway’s costume designers, a well-made garment will never go out of style. Sometimes, that means utilizing the most tried-and-true methods, while other times, that means leaning into new tactics.
“We still use some of the most ancient techniques — almost everything we touch is a craft that humans have been holding on to for centuries,” said Susan Hilferty, the Tony Award-winning costume designer of “Wicked.” “What’s exciting is that we have access to new technology in terms of how we get to, what I call, the finer details.”
As technology evolves, costume designers become increasingly equipped to bring their most ambitious creations to the stage. With such freedoms come more alterations to their usual processes and new variables to keep in mind. In the third of a four-part series, Broadway News spoke with three Tony Award-winning costume designers — Hilferty, Paloma Young and Qween Jean — about some notable technological advancements that have made parts of their jobs easier, less time-consuming, more fun and, ultimately, better for both audiences and performers.
