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I've Been Saying it Wrong
and how do you throw a birthday party for an instrument? đ
Ben Thietje
October 14, 2024 ⢠Est. Reading Time: 8 minutes
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 guysâŚthe peace lily has a SEVENTH BLOOM. This thing is going nuts. I should probably take it on the road soon.
This issue hasâŚ
đ Bridget Stuff
sheâs our costume shop manager and sheâs GREAT𩰠Mirror Stuff
theyâll never be cleaner than they are nowđ Scenic Stuff
we make the best sets and thatâs the damn truth
PEOPLE
Bridget makes the costume shop go
Itâs 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 theyâre searching our costume stock, she makes repairs, she handles rentalsâŚthe list is LONG, yâall.
She was nice enough to take some time out of her busy day to answer a few questions. To summarize: Bridget rocks.
Whatâs your typical day like in the costume shop?
It dependsâŚusually 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. Itâs challenging and rewarding at the same time. My ever-growing to do list is like the book If You Give a Pig a Pancake. Thereâs 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. Itâs so fun to see all the great stuff we have. The people I meet â 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."
OhâŚand we keep the mermaids in the basement. đ§ââď¸
PHIPPS TOP 10
best-selling upcoming events this season by tickets soldâŚ
1. Prancer (previously: 1)
2. Transyl-Mania (previously: 2)
3. I Am WomanâŚ. presented by Lori Dokken (previously: 3)
4. Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society (previously: 4)
5. Colleen Rayeâs 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)âŚ
1. I Am WomanâŚ. 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)
FACILITIES
Mirror, Mirror, on the wallâŚ
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.
â Music Room Upgrade
Sidenote: If you want to be the most annoying person at the party, remember this little nugget: the original quote is âmagic mirror on the wallâ not âmirror, mirror on the wall.â Donât believe me? Proof is below. đđđ
artist: Kathleen Kvern
đ
my favorite gallery piece of the week
Get to Gallery 2 for Kathleenâs work. Itâs very cool.
PEOPLE
Doing spooky season correctly
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.
Three quick things before you play the crossword:
Is there anything Phipps-related that youâve been curious about? Questions youâve always wanted answered? Something thatâs always annoyed you? If so, hit reply and let me know. Weâll figure it out in a future Flying P.
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.
Iâm out of the office this week, so there will be no Flying P on Oct 21st. âšď¸ 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).
đ
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Talk to you on the 28th!
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