T O O T S I E

Diamond Head Theatre

2024

A comedy of disguise and reinvention, Tootsie placed costume rigging and rapid transformation at the heart of the storytelling. The production demanded split-second quick changes that highlighted both the humor and the high stakes of Michael Dorsey’s double life.

D e s i g n A p p r o a c h

Costumes for Tootsie were engineered for transformation, with magnets, snaps, and layered padding enabling split second switches between Michael and Dorothy. A 28 second change into a sequined gown featured an integrated chest and hips, while ten Shakespearean looks were rigged to reveal sleek 1950s Italian chic. The palette balanced contemporary realism with theatrical spectacle, ensuring each reveal served both comedy and credibility.

Red Sequin Gown: A 28 second quick change from man into full drag.

Shakespearean to 1950s Chic: Eight Elizabethan style costumes built for a group reveal into sleek 1950s Italian looks.
Dorothy’s Nurse Reveal: Rigged costume allowing a shift from 1950s nurse uniform into 1950s chic in one seamless moment.
Quick-Change Engineering: Extensive use of magnets, snaps, and layered rigging to support the production’s constant transformations.