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Monday, October 15, 2018
30 Designers Unite to Transform the Iconic Mask of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
www.broadwayworld.com: The Phantom of the Opera, The Council of Fashion Designers of America and Bank of America have partnered to commemorate Broadway's longest-running musical with a unique project in support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
5 comments:
Reesha A.
said...
The headline alone of this article was enough to make me super excited to read what the article had to offer. And indeed, the content of the material is promising and inspiring and exciting as much as it possibly can be. Phantom of the Opera is an enigma of a play. The way the play functions, its characters and its plot all contribute to create a never- seen before experience. The play is a favorite for almost every person on the face of this world and that makes complete sense because of the aforementioned characteristics. Amidst such celebration and enthusiasm about the play, it gets all the more exciting to learn that thirty designers, all of different creative caliber and reach are going to collaborate to recreate the iconic phantom of the opera mask. The mask is so important to the aesthetic of the play that it is almost fascinating to learn that in some time the audiences are going to see a different mask that essentially shows the same vibe and plot for the story.
Icons are present in a multitude of theatrical productions. Many musicals have made an impact on popular culture that the public can instantly recognize key symbols. Some examples include Annie’s red dress to match her curly red locks, or Maria’s pristine white dress that she wears to the dance. In the case of Phantom, the mask is most definitely the icon. I love this article because it shows that classics are famous for a reason, but that does not mean they need to be done exactly the same way each time. In fact, productions should be redesigned to fit the age in which we live. This often occurs with political messages that a show sends—which must be researched and understood before propagating a moral. Overall, I enjoyed this idea of “mask transformation” because it also allowed designers, and not necessarily theatrical designers, to rediscover the quintessential white mask that will forever be famous on Broadway.
I have never been a huge fan of Phantom of the Opera, but like most people in today's age, I would recognize the half white mask that the Phantom wears anywhere. However, my opinion on this mask has always been: What's the big deal? It's a white mask that covers the rougher side of the Phantom's face. It's a simple costume piece that somehow represents an entire show and its legacy. For that reason specifically I'm glad that this mask is getting a chance to shine. The simplicity of the mask reimagined by thirty designers is incredibly interesting. The reason I find this so interesting is because while I may not find the show that intriguing, Phantom remains one of the worlds favorite shows. It came out in the 80's and has been performed continuously since then, all over the world. The article talks about the influence of fashion within New York, and yes perhaps the original sleek, slim, white design does it for some people, but giving designers a chance to rediscover what the mask means, and represents to them, based on their own creativity, their background or their relationship with the show. I'm excited for photos of the released masks to come out, and I have no doubt that they'll make people sit and question their own relationship with the mask.
What an amazing way of honoring the 30th anniversary of Phantom of the Opera. It’s amazing that it’s lasted so long on its original run. I remember seeing it and being amazed by its ability to withstand time and still be as popular now as it was when it first opened. These are really amazing designers who have chosen to be a part of this celebration. I think that it would be a once in a lifetime experience to go and see the auction and would be a great opportunity to visit the masks in the Museum of New York City. BroadwayCares is always finding new and unique ways to raise money for such an important cause. I know that if I had the resources, I would be there in the front row. Hopefully they will publish photos and we’ll be able to see them at some point.
A Broadway musical lasting 30 years is incredible, especially how it’s popularity doesn’t appear to be on the decline whatsoever. I saw it a few years ago and was absolutely mesmerized by the set, costumes, and incredible talent of the performers. At this point, anyone who’s involved with theatre, and many who aren’t have either seen Phantom of the Opera, or at the very least could recognize the iconic mask in an instant. I think it’s a really wonderful idea to take something so iconic and well known and let other designers and artists take their own spin on it; especially since the original mask itself is such a clean and untouched surface. It’ll really get people to stop and think. If I could, I’d go to this auction just to be able to see everything for myself. It’s also amazing that the proceeds from this auction goes to benefit the Broadway Cares and Equity Fights AIDS. This is an amazing way to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the Phantom of the Opera, and give back to the community.
5 comments:
The headline alone of this article was enough to make me super excited to read what the article had to offer. And indeed, the content of the material is promising and inspiring and exciting as much as it possibly can be.
Phantom of the Opera is an enigma of a play. The way the play functions, its characters and its plot all contribute to create a never- seen before experience. The play is a favorite for almost every person on the face of this world and that makes complete sense because of the aforementioned characteristics.
Amidst such celebration and enthusiasm about the play, it gets all the more exciting to learn that thirty designers, all of different creative caliber and reach are going to collaborate to recreate the iconic phantom of the opera mask. The mask is so important to the aesthetic of the play that it is almost fascinating to learn that in some time the audiences are going to see a different mask that essentially shows the same vibe and plot for the story.
Icons are present in a multitude of theatrical productions. Many musicals have made an impact on popular culture that the public can instantly recognize key symbols. Some examples include Annie’s red dress to match her curly red locks, or Maria’s pristine white dress that she wears to the dance. In the case of Phantom, the mask is most definitely the icon. I love this article because it shows that classics are famous for a reason, but that does not mean they need to be done exactly the same way each time. In fact, productions should be redesigned to fit the age in which we live. This often occurs with political messages that a show sends—which must be researched and understood before propagating a moral. Overall, I enjoyed this idea of “mask transformation” because it also allowed designers, and not necessarily theatrical designers, to rediscover the quintessential white mask that will forever be famous on Broadway.
I have never been a huge fan of Phantom of the Opera, but like most people in today's age, I would recognize the half white mask that the Phantom wears anywhere. However, my opinion on this mask has always been: What's the big deal? It's a white mask that covers the rougher side of the Phantom's face. It's a simple costume piece that somehow represents an entire show and its legacy. For that reason specifically I'm glad that this mask is getting a chance to shine. The simplicity of the mask reimagined by thirty designers is incredibly interesting. The reason I find this so interesting is because while I may not find the show that intriguing, Phantom remains one of the worlds favorite shows. It came out in the 80's and has been performed continuously since then, all over the world. The article talks about the influence of fashion within New York, and yes perhaps the original sleek, slim, white design does it for some people, but giving designers a chance to rediscover what the mask means, and represents to them, based on their own creativity, their background or their relationship with the show. I'm excited for photos of the released masks to come out, and I have no doubt that they'll make people sit and question their own relationship with the mask.
What an amazing way of honoring the 30th anniversary of Phantom of the Opera. It’s amazing that it’s lasted so long on its original run. I remember seeing it and being amazed by its ability to withstand time and still be as popular now as it was when it first opened. These are really amazing designers who have chosen to be a part of this celebration. I think that it would be a once in a lifetime experience to go and see the auction and would be a great opportunity to visit the masks in the Museum of New York City. BroadwayCares is always finding new and unique ways to raise money for such an important cause. I know that if I had the resources, I would be there in the front row. Hopefully they will publish photos and we’ll be able to see them at some point.
A Broadway musical lasting 30 years is incredible, especially how it’s popularity doesn’t appear to be on the decline whatsoever. I saw it a few years ago and was absolutely mesmerized by the set, costumes, and incredible talent of the performers. At this point, anyone who’s involved with theatre, and many who aren’t have either seen Phantom of the Opera, or at the very least could recognize the iconic mask in an instant. I think it’s a really wonderful idea to take something so iconic and well known and let other designers and artists take their own spin on it; especially since the original mask itself is such a clean and untouched surface. It’ll really get people to stop and think. If I could, I’d go to this auction just to be able to see everything for myself. It’s also amazing that the proceeds from this auction goes to benefit the Broadway Cares and Equity Fights AIDS. This is an amazing way to celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the Phantom of the Opera, and give back to the community.
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