LUMINOUS FIELDS

I created the costume design for Luminous Fields, an interactive video installation designed by Luftwerk.

  Photos thanks to Peter Tsai

'UNNECESSARY FARCE' VIDEO

Get a sneak peak of Unnecessary Farce at First Folio Theatre - watch this video on Stage Channel!

Unnecessary Farce plays at First Folio Theatre in Oak Brook, IL February 1-March 4, 2012.

EAST OF BERLIN & THE RUSSIAN PLAY

East of Berlin and The Russian Play has been one of my favorite productions to design.  This is the first time these two one-act plays, written by Hannah Moscovitch, have been produced together on the same bill.  When Ronan Marra (director) gave me the scripts I was immediately taken with the stories' similarities.  The narrators played nearly identical story-telling roles, the three characters in both plays had complementary characteristics, and the two plays had many overlapping themes.

Since these two plays were not originally written to share billing, I wanted to use my costume design to unite the two, create visual ties between the characters and themes of the plays, and make a cohesive production.

East of Berlin is set in Paraguay and then Germany, also moving in time from the 1960s to 1970s.  The Russian Play takes place in 1920's Russia.  Using these constraints of time and place, I designed costumes for each one-act that would "mirror" the corresponding characters in the other.  This is much easier to explain visually:

East of Berlin and The Russian Play have been extended at Signal Ensemble Theatre, and now close on December 18th. 

...more production photos to come!

Sarah and Rudi in East of Berlin

Sonya and Piotr in The Russian Play

BE A GOOD LITTLE WIDOW

Some production photos from Be A Good Little Widow by Bekah Brunstetter at Collaboraction. 

'AFTERMATH' Reviewed by VARIETY

Signal Ensemble's Aftermath was reviewed in Variety earlier this week!

Aftermath is currently running at Signal Ensemble through January 23, 2011.  For my post on the show when it first opened in May, click here!

And here are some more reviews of the fall remount:
Review: Aftermath/Signal Ensemble by Brian Hieggelke for NewCity
Review: 'Aftermath': Internal Implosion Results in a Super Nova! by Kate Walsh for TheFourthWalsh.com

ALGORITHMS - THE DANCE CENTER

I designed costumes for Algorithms, a piece devised by Paige Cunningham and Erin Feiler at Columbia College Chicago's Dance Center in May.

Algorithms focused on the mutual influence humans and technology have upon each other and the tension that arises from that relationship.  I designed costumes made of clear vinyl with accents of El Wire.

Photos by William Frederking

PROJECT SUBWAY PRESS

In July I designed 8 runway looks made out of Subway materials like sandwich wrappers and cookie bags, and my designs have gotten a lot of press!

Check out the press release that Subway released, and here are a few links:

Subway Sandwich Wrapper Dresses at 'Project Subway' Show in Chicago on Stylelist.com

Recycled Wrapper Dresses on Trendhunter.com


Subway Recycles Its Packaging Into High Fashion on The Consumerist

'1001'

1001, written by Jason Grote, opens at Collaboraction September 12th.

Based on the stories of the Arabian Nights, 1001 is an intriguing mix of ancient storytelling, conflicts in the Middle East, and modern pop culture.

Publicity photos by Saverio Truglia 
Special thanks to my assistant Kristen Ahern!


Updated 9/24/2010:
Reviews are out for 1001!

Scheherazade Conspiracy at Play, by Katy Walsh for TheForthWalsh.com
"Dressing it up, Elsa Hiltner designed costumes to convert time periods by discarding or adding a layer."

Collaboraction Basks in the Glow of 'Arabian Nights,' by Hedy Weiss for The Chicago Sun-Times

'1001' By Collaboraction Theatre: Keep Your Heads, Storytellers, by Chris Jones for The Chicago Tribune

Review: 1001/Collaboraction, by Monica Westin for NewCity 
"It’s also an incredibly hip production, with deconstructive metatheater, a strong Hitchcock influence, and striking stage pictures..."

1001, by Kris Vire for TimeOut Chicago

A Breathtaking Testament to the Power of Storytelling, by Oliver Sava for ChicagoTheaterBlog.com


1001 - Collaboraction, by Beverly Friend for ChicagoCritic.com

1001, by John Dalton for CenterStage

PROJECT SUBWAY

I designed 8 runway looks for Subway's Annual Franchise Meeting all created from Subway materials - sandwich wrappers, branded tote bags, soup cups, cookie bags... and to-go salad plates, like the dress above!

Many thanks to my wonderful assistants - Amy Hilber, Kelly Coll, Kelsey Rhodes, and Stephanie McNair!

'TWELFTH NIGHT' - Jeff Recommended

Twelfth Night opened last weekend at First Folio Theatre in Oak Brook, IL.

Director Michael Goldberg set the production during the British Raj in India. I was really excited to design costumes for this concept. It was very similar to a design concept I developed for a college paper-project in 2005. (I set A Midsummer Night's Dream in 18th century India - the "human" world was the insulated/isolated British government and the "fairy" world was the real world of India outside the government buildings.)

I took costume inspiration from historical research ranging between 1880-1900 for my designs of Twelfth Night. I used a range of years because I felt that strict historical accuracy was far less important that creating the right mood for each character for this production. This range allowed me to use the garment details, silhouettes, and styles that fit each individual character and scene; and that flexibility lent a lot to the design.

Duke Orsino costume sketch

I was very careful to be culturally sensitive while designing and creating these costumes. This sensitivity began with using accurate historical research to backup each design choice, seeking out individuals with personal experience wrapping and wearing saris in a variety of styles, and drafting many patterns used for most of the garments worn on stage for the production.

I also used the two cultures' clothing styles to further the story of the play and give some extra depth to the characters. The most noticeable example of this is my design for Olivia's costumes. Her first costume was a very traditional English mourning gown - high collar, stiffly buttoned up, in the deep purple color of 'Western' mourning. As she falls in love with an Indian, Cesario, and comes out of mourning, she begins to wear clothing that is less rigorously British and hints at Indian style until she has completely melded the two styles into one ensemble.

Olivia costume sketch - her final look

Twins Sebastian and Viola (dresses as 'Cesario') with Olivia and Orsino

Here are some reviews of the production:

Colonial India is the Setting for a Skilled and Sensitive 'Twelfth Night' by Kerry Reid for the Chicago Tribune:

"Keller's Olivia moves from constricted Victorian mourner to a woman set free by unexpected passion, expressed by the sarilike costume she dons in the second act (Elsa Hiltner's threads are a highlight)..."

A Few Flaws Mar Bard's Playful 'Twelfth Night,' by Barbara Vitello for the Daily Herald:

"It's a pretty, pleasant production and the credit rests in part with Goldberg and First Folio's talented artistic team."
"...the setting does showcase the most ethnically diverse cast I've seen on this Oak Brook stage, as well as Elsa Hiltner's comely period costumes. "

'Twelfth Night' by Joe Stead for SteadStyle Chicago:

"...exotic and colorful costumes by Elsa Hiltner..."

Review: 'Twelfth Night'/First Folio, by Oliver Sava for Chicago Theater Blog:

"From a design perspective, Twelfth Night is spectacular, with the Eastern-inspired costumes and sets creating a beautiful environment for Shakespeare’s comedy to unfold in. "

Review: 'Twelfth Night'/First Folio, by Dennis Polkow for NewCity Stage

'Twelfth Night' by Keith Griffith for The Chicago Reader

Special thanks to my incredibly helpful assistants Jessica Trier and Page Domikaitis!

Production photos thanks to David Rice.

'AFTERMATH'

Aftermath is a new play about founder of the Rolling Stones Brian Jones' life, work, and early death written and directed by Signal Ensemble's Ronan Marra.

I designed costumes for the show, including portrayals of George Harrison, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Anita Pallenberg, and, of course, Brian Jones.

The play is narrated by Brian Jones and seems to come from his memories. I wanted to limit costume changes, especially for Brian. I often feel that too many costume changes in memory plays can be distracting to the story. I chose key scenes and moments for the characters to change costume based on how necessary the costume was to the storytelling.

Costume designs for Brian Jones

One set of costumes that I felt was very important to the storytelling was Anita Pallenberg's ensembles. Costume was the perfect way to underscore Anita's relationships with Brian Jones and Keith Richards.

Anita Pallenberg's while seeing Brian Jones (left) and while with Keith Richards (right)

Costume designs for Keith Richards

Aftermath sold out the entire run just three days after opening! Luckily, we're remounting the production in November- so if you missed it you can get your tickets here.

Reviews:

"The lighting by Mark Hurni, costumes by Elsa Hiltner, sound by Anthony Ingram, props by Mary O'Dowd and videos by Jack Newell are just the icing on the cake of a production that has every detail covered." -Aftermath by Alan Bresloff for SteadStyle Chicago

'Aftermath' by Signal Ensemble: They've Got The Rolling Stones Under Their Thumbs by Chris Jones for The Chicago Tribune

'Aftermath' is Signal Ensemble's Jukebox Musical That Nails a Tricky Genre by Chris Jones for The Chicago Tribune

Review: 'Aftermath'/Signal Ensemble by Neal Ryan Shaw for Theatre for Newcity

'Aftermath' by Tom Williams for Chicago Critic

'Aftermath' at Signal Ensemble Theatre by John Beer for TimeOut Chicago

Life of Brian - A Rolling Visionary by Scotty Zacher for The Chicago Theatre Blog

Signal Ensemble Shows the 'Aftermath' of Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll by Jonathan Grabinsky for The Maroon

MANIFEST 2010 STREET TEAM

Photo by Christopher Smith for the RedEye

I created the Spectacle Street Team for Manifest 2010 at Columbia College Chicago, and they were featured in the RedEye today!

Aside from designing their costumes, I created the Spectacle Street Team Ensemble, auditioned the performers, and, with the help of director Ann Boyd and the Spectacle Shop, planned their performances.

For more photos click here!

'JEEVES IN BLOOM' - Jeff Recommended!

Jeeves In Bloom opened last night at First Folio Theatre in Oak Brook, and has been Jeff Recommended!

Jeeves looks over Gussie Finknottle and Bertie Wooster

Check back for more photos and sketches soon!

AFTER DARK AT THE ART INSTITUTE - KONSTANTIN GRCIC - DECISIVE DESIGN

I've designed costumes for Collaboraction at the Art Institute of Chicago's After Dark at the Art Institute - Konstantin Grcic - Decisive Design coming up on Friday, December 11th.




The event was featured on Time Out Chicago's blog. Check out the photos.

'GIFT'

GIFT, a new devised work by Sam Porretta, opens November 16th at Collaboraction. Previews begin tonight!

Use promo code 130 to get tickets at Collaboraction.org

Photos by Saverio Truglia