Oklahoma! Swansong for Wardrobe Stalwart
When Normanhurst Uniting Church Musical Society (NUCMS) presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical Oklahoma! in October / November 2013, it will mark the end of an era with the retirement of the company’s stalwart Wardrobe coordinator.
Diana Moehead (pictured left in her element) retires after many years of incredible service. She has been involved with costume creation as far back as 1993, and has either led a small team of costumers or been the sole wardrobe provider for almost every NUCMS show since 1998.
Diana has put in many hours of work in designing, locating (and, in most cases, sewing, fitting and maintaining) multiple costumes for casts both small and large. Diana has proved more than equal to the herculean challenge of dressing two shows a year.
She nominates My Fair Lady in 2001 as her favourite show because of its wide variety of costumes covering every possible part of British society, and the 1930s as her favourite era to costume because of the elegance of the clothing despite the hard economic times.
Director of many NUCMS shows Ian Wesley is full of praise for Diana’s talents. “In the past, I have asked her to create a dog costume (for Peter Pan – A Musical Adventure), an entire cricket team (for Iolanthe) and a farmyard of ducks, chickens, geese, cats, swans and frogs (for Honk!). None of this was a problem for Diana, who bought a cleverness to her designs and to the costume construction. Her attention to detail is also amazing, she is the master of the quick change, and she is always thinking about what the actor wearing the costume will have to do on stage.”
Diana’s contribution to NUCMS productions doesn’t stop at costumes. She also manages to look after the well-being of the cast, crew and orchestra of every production with a seemingly bottomless supply of jam and cream scones.
Diana is not leaving community theatre completely. She will continue to maintain the NUCMS costume store, organise hirings to other groups, and act as a consultant and mentor for future NUCMS shows. She doesn’t have a bucket list of shows she would like to do, but she would like to do just one show with an unlimited costume budget!
Oklahoma! is directed by first-time director Mel Hogan, with choreography by Laurie Tancred and music direction by Ian Wesley.
Performances of Oklahoma! are on 25th, 26th October and 2nd, 8th, 9th November at 8pm and 26th October and 2nd and 9th November at 2pm. Bookings can be made through the website (www.nucms.org) or by telephone on 9680 1442. Tickets cost $30 for adults, $25 for concession card holders and $15 for children.
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