I grew up in a small middle class Jewish Christian town in New Jersey. Costumes and pretending to be someone else comes naturally to us all as children. As a youngster it was fun to dress up for Halloween. We are all costume designers at that age, putting on a blanket for a cape as a superhero, borrowing Moms high heels or Daddy’s Hat. My first attempt at sewing a costume was dyeing a white pillow case purple, cutting out a neckline and sleeve holes and sewing black fringe to the bottom of the case so I could be a Flapper girl. Add mom’s long costume jewelry necklaces and a head band with a black feather and I was on my way dancing the Charleston. With adulthood came marriage and children. The sewing machine came out and Halloween costumes appeared for the little ones - a skeleton, lion, rabbit and King Tut to name a few until the children started to invent their own costumes with charcoal whiskers, Dad’s pipe and fishing hat. Years pass, children grow up and all too soon the nest is empty. Being involved with various local churches in Camden, NY meant making Biblical costumes for various skits. The Pastor’s wife at Queen Village Bible Church had a vision for many years of doing a Live Nativity Scene in the town park. Christmas 2012 it came true. The cast was selected and the sewing machine hummed for several weeks as I turned out full costumes for the Mary and Joseph, the three Wiseman, Angel, and Shepard’s. The Pastor corralled local sheep, goats, and a calf from local people for the big event.
How did you get invovled with EagleTree Productions?
I came to Beit Shalom via an invite from my friend Helen. Rabbi Dr. Steven Galiley one Friday night announced that Caleb Ames and the Beit Shalom Players were going to do For Such a Time: A Story of Esther. This opened the door for me to help with the making of costumes for the play. Costume making turned into obtaining attire to go with the next two plays as Beit Shalom Players brought the play “The Chosen” to life and I scoured EBay for props and clothing including Hasidic hats and coats from NYC. Next came the play “Screwtape” based on the book by C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters. It was a major under taking by the Players. The search for 1940’s looking clothing to fit the cast insured along with creating a tail for Screwtape that grows. The cast not only looked their part but did a magnificent rendition of the play. Working with Caleb and the Players has been the culmination of finding my “Sweet Spot in Life”. I thank G-d for the opportunity of being a part of such a creative cast of young people.