OUR LADY OF 121ST STREET

UNCSA School of Drama, Catawba Theatre Spring 2021

Directed by Carl Forseman

Scene Design by Lizbeth Ramirez

Lighting Design by Maggie Turoff

Wig and Make-Up Design by Cassie Richardson

Cinematographer Jeremiah McLamb

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this show was filmed and later streamed. The creative and production teams worked well together and collaborated to ensure that the safety and filming needs were met while enabling the story to be told.

This dark comedy was set in the relatively recent time period of 2002. It tells the story of a group of former students reuniting in their Harlem neighborhood to pay respects to their beloved and feared teacher, Sister Rose. Together for the first time in decades, passions and grievances are reignited and old wounds reopened, sending the characters on a roller coaster ride of emotions where the sacred and profane collide.

The design showed everyday fashions that existed in New York City. Most of the students came properly dressed for Sister Rose’s wake, but we see some who are grunge and lack a sense of style.

In addition to my usual duties as a Costume Designer for live theatre, my skillsets expanded to include establishing looks on camera, last looks, resetting the costumes for multiple takes/shots, and tracking continuity. The inclusion of two separate filming sets/crews and the inability to be able to work with guest actor who were shot out in L.A, opened new problems for costume fittings and shooting.