On View
Taking the Stage Gallery
Exhibition
Taking the Stage
Designed by
Dearing, Judy, American, 1940 - 1995
Worn by
Beverley, Trezana, American, born 1945
Subject of
Shange, Ntozake, American, 1948 - 2018
Black Fashion Museum, American, 1979 - 2007
Date
1976-1978
Medium
synthetic satin and crepe with metal closures
Dimensions
H x W x D (on form): 61 × 26 1/4 × 17 in. (154.9 × 66.7 × 43.2 cm)
Description
Sleeveless dress costume worn by Trezana Beverley for the character Lady in Red from the original Broadway production of Ntozake Shange's choreopoem "for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf." The dress is made from red satin synthetic fabric with the crepe finished wrong side facing. The bodice has a sweetheart neckline, scooped back, and front shaping with princess darts, ending at the natural waistline. The neckline and armholes are edged with the red satin, with the shiny satin side facing. There is a length of self-fabric piping around the waist, again with the shiny satin side facing. The full circle skirt falls at the knee and is hemmed with serged stitching in black thread. The dress closes at the center back with a metal zipper, with two (2) small metal hook-and-eye fasteners, one at the top of the back and the second at the waist. There is a length of black grosgrain ribbon sewn to the interior proper right waist with a large metal eye on the end, which closes with a large metal hook sewn to the interior proper left waist just inside the zipper. The bodice is lined with red synthetic satin, while the skirt is not lined.
Place used
New York City, Manhattan County, New York, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Black Fashion Museum Collection
Classification
Clothing-Costume
Type
dresses
Topic
Broadway Theatre
Clothing and dress
Costume
Costume design
Design
Poetry
Women
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Black Fashion Museum founded by Lois K. Alexander-Lane
Object number
2007.3.35
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5f9f46919-8392-4bed-9a97-622b4c38a243

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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