I've Been Saying it Wrong

and how do you throw a birthday party for an instrument? 🎈

Hello!

Welcome to The Flying P, a weekly newsletter covering your Phipps Center for the Arts and anything else I might want to throw your way.

You guys…the peace lily has a SEVENTH BLOOM. This thing is going nuts. I should probably take it on the road soon.

Tonight Show Singing GIF by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

This issue has…

  • 😎 Bridget Stuff
    she’s our costume shop manager and she’s GREAT

  • 🩰 Mirror Stuff
    they’ll never be cleaner than they are now

  • 🎃 Scenic Stuff
    we make the best sets and that’s the damn truth

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PEOPLE

Bridget makes the costume shop go

It’s time to toss a little love at Bridget Lentz, our costume shop manager here at the Phipps.

Bridget came on board earlier this year, and has been an absolute godsend. She helps designers when they’re searching our costume stock, she makes repairs, she handles rentals…the list is LONG, y’all.

She was nice enough to take some time out of her busy day to answer a few questions. To summarize: Bridget rocks.

What’s your typical day like in the costume shop?
It depends…usually it's me organizing or putting away costumes listening to the best of Broadway. When we have designers working on shows it can be fun as we bounce ideas off each other, help each other look for costume items and I occasionally help sew on a button.

What are the most challenging things you run up against as the Phipps costume shop manager?
Keeping the shop organized when we have multiple designers and rentals all happening at once. It’s challenging and rewarding at the same time. My ever-growing to do list is like the book If You Give a Pig a Pancake. There’s always something that takes you in a new direction.

What do you find most fun and/or interesting about working in the costume shop?
Every time I'm there I find new or different costume pieces. It’s so fun to see all the great stuff we have. The people I meet — other designers, volunteers, and people coming in for rentals. I also just enjoy the alone time hanging in the basement among all the fun clothes.

Do you have any fun costume shop facts you can share?
Our most popular production rental is Sister Act.
The children's theater shows are 100% designed by volunteers using costumes the Phipps has in stock.
Arsenic and Old Lace was designed by a new designer that only used or repurposed items from the Phipps.
If someone says, "I don't know if this is a prop or costume" the answer is always "a prop."
Oh…and we keep the mermaids in the basement. 🧜‍♀️

PHIPPS TOP 10
best-selling upcoming events this season by tickets sold…

1. Prancer (previously: 1)
2. Transyl-Mania (previously: 2)
3. I Am Woman…. presented by Lori Dokken (previously: 3)
4. Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society (previously: 4)
5. Colleen Raye’s NYE (previously: 6)
6. The Andrews Sisters Onstage: a Jen Burleigh-Bentz production (previously: 5)
7. A Brass & Organ Holiday (previously: 9)
8. Silent Sky (previously: 7)
9. Underneath the Lintel, or: The Mystery of the Abandoned Trousers (previously: 8; 2nd SHOW ADDED)
10. Muted Mystery (unlisted)

BETTER HURRY LIST
best-selling upcoming events this season by percent sold
(i.e., closest to being sold out)…

1. I Am Woman…. presented by Lori Dokken (SOLD OUT)
2. Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society (previously: 2)
3. The Andrews Sisters Onstage: a Jen Burleigh-Bentz production (previously: 3)
4. A Brass & Organ Holiday (previously: 5)
5. Underneath the Lintel, or: The Mystery of the Abandoned Trousers (previously: 4; 2nd SHOW ADDED)

as of 10/14/24
FACILITIES

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall…

a photo of some mirrors on the wall with Ben giving a thumbs up in the reflection

me wholeheartedly thumbs-upping

Hey, remember a while back when I told you about adding a dance floor to the Music Room to increase its usability? Well, this week we added mirrors to complete the look.

✅ Music Room Upgrade

Sidenote: If you want to be the most annoying person at the party, remember this little nugget: the original quote is “magic mirror on the wall” not “mirror, mirror on the wall.” Don’t believe me? Proof is below. 👇😎👍

artist: Kathleen Kvern

👆
my favorite gallery piece of the week
Get to Gallery 2 for Kathleen’s work. It’s very cool.

PEOPLE

Doing spooky season correctly

a photo of a Halloween theatrical set with ornate lighting

the preshow look for Transyl-Mania

Look. At. This. Set.
Mark, Kassi, scene shop volunteers, and a big assist from Shannon Elliott (lighting designer) have put together the absolute cutest Halloween set. Can you imagine being a middle schooler and getting to play on this thing? My inner kid is freaking out. Lucky us for being able to work with such amazing theatre artists.

Transyl-Mania is super kid-friendly and opens this Friday. Load up the minivan and get everyone down to the Phipps.

Check This Out Cookie Monster GIF by Sesame Street

Three quick things before you play the crossword:

  1. Is there anything Phipps-related that you’ve been curious about? Questions you’ve always wanted answered? Something that’s always annoyed you? If so, hit reply and let me know. We’ll figure it out in a future Flying P.

  2. Next year is the 100th birthday of our beloved theatre organ. How would you like the Phipps to celebrate? Hit reply and send me your best ideas. I will give you all the credit.

  3. I’m out of the office this week, so there will be no Flying P on Oct 21st. â˜šď¸ If you miss it, feel free to listen to that weird robot podcast again. The P will be back on the 28th!

Are you the greatest Phipps mind of all time?
Prove it by completing The Flying C(rossword).
👇

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Talk to you on the 28th!

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