Hey, Stella!

In the costume shop of the Edith Mortenson Theatre, there is a list of tasks to be done before Tennessee William's A Streetcar Named Desire opens on Thursday night, Feb. 24. The list includes shortening the green dress and hemming the khakis pants. The waistline of the red skirt isn't done yet either, since the lining needs to be tacked in.

Senior Katharine Demke, costume designer for the show, kneels on the floor, pinning the hem of the green dress while sophomore Megan McDonald, who plays Stella Kowalski, tries to stand straight.

The night before had been the shows first dress rehearsal and McDonald was excited to finally wear her character's clothes.

"All the clothes are very exciting," McDonald said. "They're cute and flattering too. Katharine knows how to dress people."

Besides their appearance, McDonald notices a difference that costumes make in her acting, especially when she interacts with Blanche DuBois, played by junior Kayla Straub.

"When I'm talking to Blanche it changes my demeanor toward her," McDonald said. "Her fancy hats help me see her as more sophisticated—like it's not just Kayla on stage in her work clothes."

Director Dan Workman agreed to seeing this throughout the cast.

"Costumes absolutely help actors get into character," Workman said. "A costume designer does an immense service to the actor by putting them into the costumes, especially in a period piece. Even period shoes feel different."

A drama set in New Orleans in the 1940s, Streetcar calls for the distinctive clothing of the time period, and clothing to fit characters ranging from an aging Southern belle to a tough working-class man.

"Costumes do quite a bit when it comes to telling the audience what time period you're in," senior Aimee Knutson said. "And you can show emotion, true personalities, and even a character's favorite color."

Knutson, currently working on hemming the khaki pants, volunteers her time in the costume shop to help prepare for the show.

"Sometimes there's one color that speaks to a certain character, or you can tell a color story within a character," Demke said. She mumbled through the pin she held in her mouth, while she placed another in the hem of the green dress.

As Demke designed it, the main characters Blanche and Stella move backward through each others color stories, with Blanche moving from vibrant colors to neutrals, while Stella does the opposite.

The costumes also demonstrate a character's relationship to the rest of the cast and their struggles within the plot.

"It's clear through her clothing that Blanche doesn't fit in," Demke said.

The plot of Streetcar revolves around Blanche, Stella's sister who comes to stay with her and her new husband Stanley, played by senior Casey Ring. Conflict arises when Blanche and Stanley do not get along.