Evita
Directed by Nancy Lipschlutz
Costume Design by Mary Coppenhagen
The Bonstelle Theatre, Wayne State University
2005
I was the assistant designer on this show, and had the fabulous challenge of patterning for our Eva Peron, an actress named Jennifer Sessions. If one were to look at her basic circumference measurements, she would appear to be a pattern 14, plus a little extra in the bust line. No Biggie. If one were to look closer, they would then notice that her center back measurement is only about 14˝”, and that she is about a 36DD… in a Tupperware-reinforced long line bra for the run of the show. Long story short: Shorten bodice by 3” at centre back, lengthen bodice by 1˝” at centre front, and expand bodice front by 1”, but only across the bust. Yes this is all simultaneously possible. Yes, the pattern looks really screwey. Lather, rinse, repeat… about 10 times.