Tonight I'm boiling some chicken leg bones for my opera costume. WHAT? You read that right. The Pearl Fishers is set in ancient Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Our director wants us to look very primitive. We are wearing Thai fisherman's pants with a loose fitting top. The men will be bare chested and wearing turbans. We women need to wear wigs or frightful looking hair. We are all supposed to accessorize ourselves appropriately. I decided to use chicken leg bones for jewelry or hair ornaments. I have not figured this all out yet but I've invented some pretty unique looks for myself in previous operas.
This was my gypsy look for Il Trovatore
Believe it or not the Easter Basket was for Otello (an updated version) Our director says this is his favorite. 
This was for the Mardi Gras scene in Mefistofele. My concept was Carmen Miranda meets Marge Simpson. It was rather heavy to wear but I had fun making and performing in it. 
This was for Madama Butterfly. I made the kimono myself. The fabric was authentic Japanese. I wish the wig had been fuller so I could have done more ornamentation.
The necessity for doing my own costumes was evident in my first opera when the costumer didn't have much to fit me. We sometimes rent costumes but there isn't much that I could wear. The only exception was the two times we were nuns so I could wear what everyone else wore. This time, being much thinner, I did not have to do any alterations to make room.
Busy times for the next two weeks.
Love to all,
Marlena of Mohegan.
You make awesome costumes. They are wonderful.
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