WCU student Ann Brinkman was careful to look but not touch as she leaned in 3 inches from the costumes exhibited in “Between Taste and Travesty: Costume Designs by William Ivey Long” at Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington. More than 100 mannequins wore the “still lifes” of the five-time Tony Award-winning costume designer, and Brinkman was intrigued with the detail. Here were costumes that cost thousands of dollars to make. Here were costumes built to withstand the wear and tear of daily dancing, singing and drama. Long’s work has appeared in dozens of Broadway shows, including “The Producers,” “Cabaret,” “Chicago,” “The Music Man,” “Annie Get Your Gun” and “Seussical the Musical.”
“Seeing it was spectacular, and I was overwhelmed,” said Brinkman. That was the day before the start of Long’s symposium at the museum last fall, and it was only the warm-up. A hands-on, service-learning experience unfolded for WCU motion picture and costume design students that Leanne Deaver, a costume design student from Canton, describes as the single-most important event she has experienced. When Long arrived at the museum nine hours late to set up for his symposium, WCU students were there to help. They worked behind-the-scenes side-by-side with Long and his associates ironing, handling racks of clothing, setting up a display of “Young Frankenstein” – and listening and learning.
“We went back the next morning at 8 a.m. to continue helping them set up. That gave us a lot of one-on-one time with Mr. Long,” said Brinkman, a costume design student from Statesville. “He shared his personal insights, talked about how to get started in the business and how to approach directors. He told us one of the major faux pas that almost ended his career as a designer on Broadway – surprising the director of ‘Nine’ with a daringly different costume at dress rehearsal.”
Meanwhile, WCU students from a documentary course put their talents to the test. At Long’s invitation – an invitation sparked by a memory of WCU students recording a master class he taught in Cullowhee several years before – students captured the symposium’s lectures, master classes, exhibit tours, social breaks, interviews and impromptu moments.
Arledge Armenaki, visiting associate professor of cinematography, directed the documentary and his student crew operated sound-recording equipment, lighting and cameras. Julia Cody, a motion picture and television production major from Sylva, worked as the on-site producer, coordinated with museum staff, kept event logs and monitored supplies. “This was definitely something to remember. Hands-on projects are so interesting, and being able to film one of Broadway’s top clothing designers was an amazing opportunity,” said Cody.
There was some confrontation from people not expecting to see a camera crew, and even that was a valuable learning experience, said Armenaki. “Students saw how a filmmaker can handle difficult situations and make the most of them,” he said. “This project was a spontaneous opportunity, and we jumped in with both feet.”
Long expects to share the documentary, when complete, with universities across the state. He expressed thanks to WCU students in a speech before more than 500 college students attending the symposium, said Glenda Hensley, assistant professor of stage and screen, and key coordinator for Western’s involvement.
“Throughout the weekend, our students discovered first-hand what it means to work with professionals of the highest degree. While Arledge and his film crew worked the documentary angle, my costume students and I served as crew and assistants to Mr. Long and his associates,” she said. “Our students were in the center of experiential learning at its best.”