Legendary Broadway Costume Designer is Wicked Good
The seventh annual Backstage Legends and Masters Award will honor theatre legend Alyce Gilbert on Monday, April 23 at 7pm.
The award is part of the Broadway Technical Theatre History Project.
Legend 40 Years in the Making
Gilbert is currently the Production Wardrobe Supervisor for the Broadway production of Wicked, where she oversees more than 300 costumes, including their maintenance, repair, and cleaning.
In her role, she assists in preserving the integrity of the costume design, a particular challenge in a long running production. She also works with the company’s dressers to ensure that the complicated quick changes are made smoothly at each performance.
Long interested in costumes, Gilbert’s Broadway career began in 1975 as the Production Wardrobe Supervisor of A Chorus Line, having supervised it at the Public Theater prior to its historic run on Broadway.
Since then, she has worked on a number of Broadway productions, including Dreamgirls, Grand Hotel, Will Rogers Follies, Passion, and the revivals of Kiss Me, Kate and Into The Woods.
She is the recipient of the 2007 Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre—the first wardrobe person honored.
Gilbert joins previous Backstage Legends and Masters honorees Artie Siccardi (2012), Arnold Abramson (2013), Fred Gallo (2014), Gene O’Donovan (2015), Pete Feller, Sr. (2016), and Joe Forbes (2017).
“To say that Alyce is a backstage legend is an understatement,” says Dan Hanessian, associate professor of theatre design/technology. “When this award was first created in 2011 the goal was to focus on the people backstage making Broadway productions work. Alyce is one of the very best at what she does, and it’s an honor for us to have her receive this award.”
The event is free and takes place at The Performing Arts Center.
Backstage Legends and Masters and the Broadway Technical Theatre History Project
Backstage Legends and Masters, founded by Hanessian, is an annual public presentation spotlighting individuals who have been central to the realization of Broadway productions for many years, but are not typically provided recognition through the Tony or Drama Desk awards.
Each year an individual is selected by a panel of distinguished professionals who represent a variety of Broadway production specialties.
Presentations are videotaped and archived for future viewing on the Broadway Technical Theatre History Project website.
Future plans for the project include providing information to the public in a centralized database and a visual history and timeline of the shops.
For more information, contact Dan Hanessian at dan.hanessian@purchase.edu or (914) 251-6854.
Theatre Design/Technology Program
Emphasizing studio and classroom training, the professional training program in Theatre Design/Technology gives students the guidance and support of established and theatre industry professionals.
Many Purchase alumni are recognized at the top of their field, and have received Tony, Emmy, Obie, and Drama Desk Awards, among other honors. Purchase grads are working in or have worked in every theatre on Broadway, in all tri-state venues, and with countless touring productions.