Theoni V. Aldredge Essay by Calwriter

Theoni V. Aldredge is considered one of America's most gifted costume designers. To date, her stage credits have included "I Can get It For You Wholesale," "Mr. President," "Anyone can Whistle," "A Chorus Line," "Annie," "42nd Street," "Dreamgirls," "Chess," and "The Secret Garden." When designing costumes for a period piece, it is not unusual for Aldredge to alter original fashions to make her designs more palatable for modern audiences. To determine how Aldredge achieves this goal, this paper provides a background and overview of the designer, followed by relevant biographical information. A discussion concerning Aldredge's alteration of original fashions for contemporary audiences is followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.