The Phantom Of All Operas

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View from the stage in POTO Oberhausen. Photo by Milan van Weelden

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Phantom Of The Opera ‏@PhantomOpera

Behind the scenes @NadimNaaman entrance for the managers scene

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I love this pic for some reason.....

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Current and recent West End “Slavegirl” tiaras. DA BLING!

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hi! do you have any idea what the closure in the back of the degas corset is? and is it boned?

The bodices are usually boned, by “pockets” with boning stitched to the top of the inside seams. My guess is that they use spiral metal boning, which is very flexible. It can be bent in all directions. This goes for a lot of the Degas versions out there, if not all of them. The ballerinas don’t need boning per se, it’s mostly done to give the bodices a defined shape and a longer life.

As for closure, I’ve seen two main types. The US swears by sturdy, rough zippers in the back. The benefit of this is quick changes:

Most productions do however go by hooks and bars, as this Hamburg one:

The benefit of this is easier alternations of the size, and also that each dancer can have additional bars to alter the size from performance to performance if needed (women bloating up during their period is often happy about this).

Note too the sweatpads inserted to the inside, under the arms. These are attached with snap buttons and washed after each performance. That, plus some ballerinas wearing a singlet or bra under the bodice means that the bodice itself will need less dry cleaning. Here’s another photo, from Broadway:

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Hi there. I keep seeing different names for phantom-looking shows, like prince of Broadway and the Las Vegas spectacular or whatever. Are these still replica phantom shows? What's the deal with the names?

Well, a quick google search would have answered your questions faster than I did… But anyway, “Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular” was a special edition of the replica show. It was shortened to become a one-act show, while the sets were expanded on. An own unique theatre was built, with false boxes with mannequins, a quite different chandelier, and grander sets. But the basis was Maria Bjørnson’s original design. It was her design on steroids, one might say. I loved it.

“Prince of Broadway” is not a Phantom show. It’s a collage of all the shows Hal Prince has been involved in thoughout his career, Phantom being one of them. That is why there is a Phantom segment in the musical.

I hope that made things clearer. :)

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Serafimo back and fundament: planning the final stages of my replica!

So the general consensus seems that the bow in the back is black with or without trims, while the netting/tulle/silk fundament is white. That’s do-able.

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A closer look at Christine’s red scarf, especially the fringes.

There really is huge differences in length, width, pattern/non-pattern and in the exact look of the fringe trim, and I love it. This photoset only shows a small bit of the variations seen. Credit in captions.

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European “Think of Me” scarves: one of these is not like the others…

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Hannibal “Slavegirl” formation without Meg and Christine

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The “Think of Me” scarf from around the world:

Top: Newer Japan (the elder ones were European in style)

Middle: Australia/World Tour

Bottom: Toronto and Canadian Tour

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The “Think of Me” scarf, US edition

Fully handpainted silk, and red/green/gold fringe trim at the ends.

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Partlet for Carlotta’s red 2nd Managers dress in making + finished.

From Ceris Donovan’s Twitter

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Hi Anea, thank you for maintaining this wonderful blog and sharing your passion of POTO with us! I have learned so much about costumes and construction techniques through your blog. Do you mind sharing any easy petticoat tutorials? Thinking of making a 'star princess-ish' skirt for a photo shoot project. Thanks!

I’m not sure I’m up for a tutorial. Making a circle skirt, adding a short ruffle on the hem, then a longer one, then a longer one, then a longer one (repeat as many times as needed), and then two more circle layers on top will give you a nice, full, fluffy skirt. It’s how many of the European Star Princess skirts are made. You just have to plan which layer gets which colour:

Royal blue in the circle skirt fundament

Maybe a royal blue ruffle layer, or a slightly more sky blue tone

Then bright blue

Then pale blue

Then greyish blue

Then a silvery patterned one for the new circle skirt layer

Then finally a pink layer on top

Here’s a photo of a skirt from Hamburg, from inside to outside:

(this version has a fine tulle layer on top of the pink, and an additional layer around the hips in the mid layers to give it oomph - that’s optional)

Also, your very very nice words is much appreciated!

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Serafimo skirt belt/basque VS breeches belt/basque

Essen (Anne Görner)

Oberhausen (Daniela Braun/Elizabeth Welch)

West End (Katy Treharne)

World Tour (Claire Lyon/Emilie Lynn)

Toronto (Melissa Dye/Patti Cohenour)

Las Vegas (Amanda Huddleston/Sierra Boggess)

Nagoya (Sae Yamamoto/unknown)

Moscow (Tamara Kotova)

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Q: Is it basically a bra sewn onto a corset?

A: Yes it is. It used to be power net until a few years ago but we found that’s not very supportive of large busts! The design is bare breasts with rows of beads on and we usually go up a few cup sizes and pad bra

(from Ceris Donovan’s Twitter)

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The elder US Rooftop dresses. Because they were glittering marvels! An effect achieved by putting a fully sequined/beaded lace fabric over a contrasting colour. That created both depth and an amazing sparkle and colour effect.

In newer versions they have instead gone for metallic multi-coloured brocades, and one layer instead of two. It probably holds up better during cleaning and through wear and tear, but I do have a softer spot for the beaded ones.

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More stunning photos from Kieran Brown! ( x )