The Magic Garment: Principles of Costume Design - Hardcover

Rebecca Cunningham

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0801300622 ISBN 13: 9780801300622

Publisher: Longman Inc., 1989

Synopsis

Comprehensive, clear, well-illustrated, and concise! This outstanding volume provides a systematic overview of the process of costume design for the stage, presenting beginning designers with the fundamentals upon which to build their costume skills. From styles of visual presentation and the use of fabric and materials, to developing skills in research, conceptualization, interpretation, and organization of budgeting, shopping and scheduling, The Magic Garment enables readers to develop an understanding of and appreciation for the process of costuming a production. Readers are exposed to a broad range of theatrical literature through illustrations, references in the text, and pertinent quotes from plays. They are also taught how to analyze plays from the costume designer's perspective. In addition, readers learn how to draw and render costume sketches and how to apply different design principles to specific types of costumes. The costume designer's art lies in effective interpretation, collaboration, and execution. The Magic Garment makes this process accessible and, with lively detail and a wealth of illustrations, brings the exciting world of costume design to life.

About this title

From the Publisher

Among this exciting volume's outstanding features, it (1) incorporates research resources, bibliography, checklists, and organizational aids for designers; (2) includes synopses of all plays mentioned in the text and an historical costume outline tracing the development of dress through those periods and cultures most commonly required in Western European and American Drama; and (3) emphasizes the creative thought process of the designer as well as the practical get-it-on-stage aspects of costume design. Titles of related interest from Waveland Press: Brackelsberg-Marshall, Unit Method of Clothing Construction, Seventh Edition (ISBN 9781577660545); Catron, Playwriting: Writing, Producing, and Selling Your Play (ISBN 9780881335644); Cunningham, Basic Sewing for Costume Construction: A Handbook (ISBN 9781577664086); Strand-Evans, Costume Construction (ISBN 9781577660750); and Yordon, Experimental Theatre: Creating and Staging Texts (ISBN 9780881339079).

From the Back Cover

"I am very impressed with how much information is packed into such a discrete text, and yet without significant sacrifice of clarity. The drawings and supplementary illustrations are quite helpful, as are the appendices. I think the technical sections on fabric and construction are very good, and the photographs of costumes under construction are well executed and really serve the text." -- Stephen C. Judd, Alfred University

"Nicely balanced between design and implementation." -- Harvey Johnson, Geneva College

"A well-organized, first-rate text." -- Konrad Winters, Old Dominion University

"Cunningham's approach to costume design is straight forward and complete. It makes an exceptional source for beginning design students." -- Judy Adamson, University of North Carolina

"The broad range of material covered in a distilled form is the most appealing aspect of this text. Generally, I need to pull from several sources to get the job done." -- Patricia D. Wilson, Florida Atlantic University

"A great text with a comprehensive information system that is easy to understand. Really, it is one of the best texts for undergraduate costume classes." -- Tina Campbell, Marquette University

"Best of all, Ms. Cunningham imparts to her readers an excitement in the process of theater and in the collaborative nature of the art." -- Willene Mangham, College of St. Benedict

"This is the only text I have found that outlines the way to come up with a concise concept statement. This is a difficult idea for young designers to grasp and Ms. Cunningham has outlined the process beautifully!" -- Kerri S. Packard, University of Missouri

"An exceptionally clear text with a fine balance of textual information and graphics." -- Thomas Heiman, Northeast Louisiana University

Edition details

• Publisher: Longman Inc.
• Publication date: 1989
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0801300622
• ISBN 13: 9780801300622
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 395