Hi everyone!  I am doing costumes for Oliver and am (finally) ready to start fitting you for costumes.

1.     Who & and in what order:  While EVERYONE needs to come and be fitted, I’d like to start with the lead players.  The Workhouse kids and Fagin’s Gang members will be much easier to dress, and unless they will be coming with a family member who is a lead, I will not see them until after next Monday 17 Nov.  (And yes, Tracy, you and Ben are done but I have found your boots!). 

2.     When:  by appointment between 2:30 and 9pm weekdays and 0900 – 1700 on weekends.  I will take families together if that is more convenient for you.  My first available appointment is for Monday 10 Nov at 2pm. 

3.     Time needed:  30 to 45 minutes each for leads.  This will give me enough time to adjust my plans when things don’t fit, plus for you to try on a series of shoes, etc.  Kids with one costume will take only 30 minutes; 45 if you are in both the Workhouse and Fagin’s Gang.  I will take families together, and two kids with the same roles will probably take the same time as just one.

4.     How to make an appointment:  Email me at bjdiller@suscom-maine.net with your schedule and top choices for timeslots.  Or call me at home 729-0197 or when I’m not home, I’m at 751-6856.

5.     Where:  Fittings will take place over in the old barracks where MYT has some storage space.  The building is opposite the main entrance to the Mt. Ararat Middle School (where the office is, not the Orion Theatre entrance).  To get there from Mt. Ararat High School, take the small road that goes off to the left from the ring road around the high school itself.  Go to the end of that road (thru the stop sign, into the Middle School area, past the parking lot on the right) until you reach a brick building on your right.  This is the barracks, and our space is on the second floor.  I will leave the main door ajar but closed to keep the cold out.  The other entrance uses outside metal stairs, and I will unlock this door if you bang on it!  

6.     Bring:  Please bring anything that you feel would be useful for the show or for your character.  Any hand-me-downs that you have that could be used on Workhouse Children or Fagin’s Gang members would be greatly appreciated.  These should be in dark, dull colors like black, grey, navy, grey-blue, forest, olive, khaki, ocher, rust, brown, mustard, etc.  Plain or plaid button-style shirts in these colors are needed, as well as pants that do not have cargo pockets (or whose pockets could be torn off and not leave the wearer exposed!).  Sweaters or sweater-vests, mittens, gloves, caps and scarves, even socks are needed, as long as they are dull-colored and have no real design on them: no flowers or embroidery, tho a scattering of dots or a plaid or stripe would be fine.  Also needed are hand-me-down shoes, as no barefoot urchins are allowed on stage!  If you have shoes in a dark color that look like plain leather oxfords, bring them along.  We do have some shoes and booties, but maybe not enough for everyone.  For girls in the Workhouse or tavern, plain Mary Janes or ballet flats would work too.

7.     Also needed:  I have been reorganizing the props and costumes, which is a lot of work.  If you would like to try to bribe me into giving you a nicer or more comfortable costume, bring some office paper boxes with lids or splurge on a medium-sized 54 or 66 qt. Sterlite clear plastic storage bin with a locking lid (Walmart or Target, etc.).

8.     For rehearsal/show week: You will also need a smaller bin/box to use during our show to store your non-hanging costume pieces till the next show, as well as hold your street clothing during performances.  These will hold your shoes, sox, hat, scarf, tie, sash, apron, petticoat, etc.  Please do not bring anything too big, as we will need to store these on the stage during the school day during all of dress rehearsal/show week.

9.     Bear in mind: 

·         The building is not heated, tho I do have a portable heater that I can use for whatever good it does!  So dress appropriately.  Wear a camisole or undershirt since you will have to change into your costume.

·         There is no water in the building, so there are no, uhm, facilities.  If the middle school is open, you can run across the street, but it’s not open late or on weekends usually.

·         I will be over there to meet you.  So if you cannot make your appointment, please call and save me from freezing!  Conversely, I may be there if you want to call and see if “now” is a good time.  My home phone is 729-0197 and my cell is 751-6856 when I am not home.

Thanks for all your hard work and cooperation,

Bev Diller

Home:  729-0197

Cell:      751-6856