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  • 1.  Costume Source for Dark Road (concentration camp, guards)?

    Posted 08-14-2022 13:09
    Hello Everyone:
    I am directing Dark Road and I am having a difficult time finding costumes.  I understand why.  I am wondering if anyone that has directed a holocaust play can let me know where they got their costumes for the German guards, etc.
    Thank you,
    Tracey

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    Tracey Buot
    Director of Theatre
    St. Pius X Catholic High School
    Atlanta, Georgia
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  • 2.  RE: Costume Source for Dark Road (concentration camp, guards)?

    Posted 08-16-2022 15:52
    Thanks for bringing this up, Tracey! If anyone has any insights into sources for costumes that would pass as WWII German guard uniforms, that would be super helpful. Perhaps someone has produced Anne Frank or similar plays?

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    Matt Curtis
    Content & Marketing Director
    Educational Theatre Association
    OH
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  • 3.  RE: Costume Source for Dark Road (concentration camp, guards)?

    Posted 08-17-2022 05:25
    When we did this show three years ago we did all the "past" scenes dressed in black,white and gray.  Like the ashes of the past that brought her to where she is now.  It worked well and we could recreate what we needed without having to find modem colorful equivalents and just sewed nazi armbands for the guards.

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    Jason Lehman
    Jackson High School
    GA
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  • 4.  RE: Costume Source for Dark Road (concentration camp, guards)?

    Posted 08-17-2022 05:29
    Just a thought here:  You could try a local military supply store.  They often have old uniforms from all time periods and colors.  I have used them before for M*A*S*H and for Letters to Sala.  Sometimes they will let you borrow them for your production in exchange for a program ad.  If you can find the right color and style you want for the German soldiers it might work.  You could create patches to affix temporarily, tuck the pants into boots and you get the general look.  I hope that helps!

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    Jeana Whitaker
    Retired Theatre Teacher
    EdTA Alumni
    www.jeanawhitaker.com
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  • 5.  RE: Costume Source for Dark Road (concentration camp, guards)?

    Posted 08-17-2022 06:43
    Thank you everyone!  I appreciate the tips!

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    Tracey Buot
    Director of Theatre
    St. Pius X Catholic High School
    Atlanta, Georgia
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  • 6.  RE: Costume Source for Dark Road (concentration camp, guards)?

    Posted 08-17-2022 08:07
    Hi Tracey,
    We've done several plays about WWII and the Holocaust (never Anne Frank, though ... mmm).  I use a source very close to you whenever I need specific, period, and/or very well-made costumes.  Norcostco has an office in Atlanta and the folks there are sooooo wonderful.  

    They usually have costumes pulled and shipped from their main warehouses in Minneapolis, so a good 2-3 week lead time is necessary.  When I needed German and Nazi Uniforms, they helped me get the right look and helped me keep the budget manageable.

    Break a leg!

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    Josh Ruben, M. Ed.
    Fine Arts Head
    Northwest Whitfield HS (dba, The Northwest Theatre Co.)
    Tunnel Hill, GA
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  • 7.  RE: Costume Source for Dark Road (concentration camp, guards)?

    Posted 08-17-2022 11:02
    When I did Sound of Music I used black long-sleeved dress shirts and black slacks with red armbands for SS. You could also use khaki the same way for SA. I found Duluth traders had olive shirts that worked well for field uniforms.

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    Ellen Di Filippo
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