Sue Hill, the costume designer for “Menopause the Musical,” which plays at Providence Performing Arts Center May 30 and 31, got her start in the world of clothing as a student at Rhode Island School of Design in the early ’80s. The textile major, now based in Cleveland, Ohio, shares what it’s like to outfit characters for the stage:
Q: What does your job entail?
A: We produce contemporary shows, so most of the costumes are purchased by me. Then I’ll do alterations or adjustments.
I have to think about a lot of things. I have to consider the wearability of what I pick out, the practicality of how it’s going to hold up through laundering and things, [and] if the actors can move in it comfortably while performing.
Q: Sometimes, with musicals, audience members focus on singing and dancing and the costumes may get overlooked. What role do they play in a production?
A: They’re a very big part. They define who the characters are and set the stage for the time period. Our show has four characters and they’re all stereotypes: the Housewife, the Professional, the Soap Star and the Earth Mother. I’m looking for costumes that will represent who the character is in a big, immediate way, but also have to make sure that no single character stands out too much.
Costumes are also important for the actors. I’ve seen many instances when an actor was really struggling to get a grasp of their role through the rehearsal period. Then, all of a sudden, they put on their costume and they were able to internalize that and their character came to life.
Q:“Menopause the Musical” has been running for about 13 years. Have the costumes changed or evolved during that time?
A: Styles have changed a lot in 13 years, so we’ve altered what the characters wear a little bit to make it look modern. When I first started doing this 10 years ago, I used to actually go and shop in person in the mall. Now I do everything online. It has saved me a lot of time.
