Here Comes the Dress Parade...

Ashley Hernandez as Beatrice, Nick Jenkins as Benedick, and Shine Kim as Hero in CSUSB University Theatre's "Much Ado About Nothing".

After sitting in several production meetings I was anxious to see other aspects of the production. The next step in the production of Much Ado About Nothing was the dress Parade.

Dress Parade (noun)-formal parade of sufficient ceremonial importance for the wearing of dress uniform...

This is the definition of the term Dress Parade. I attended the production's dress parade unaware of what to expect. "What is the one rule about my costumes?" shouts Cat Erickson to an excited dressing room full of actors and actresses..."They are FABULOUS!" shouts the entire dressing room in near unison. Cat Erickson, the production's Costume Technician, is a very vocal, blunt, and fascinating character. If she is displeased with something she will not hesitate to let you know and most of the time she is talking to you, she is walking away...not being rude...but for the sake of time. Costume Designer, Andre Harrington is also present in the dressing room and briefs the actors on how the dress parade will work. It is evident in Andre's tone of voice that he is excited and anxious to see his designs walking around on the stage.
As I wait inside for the actors, the seats of the theater fill up with crew members and other production members. The crew members are students from specific theater classes that aid the theater department backstage, in makeup, set construction, and costumes.
Terry (being funny; doing Irish accents) and Andre sit at a table in front of the talking theater and the crew members chit chat about their class and upcoming assignments.
The actors finally enter the room in full attire and it was an excited feeling to say the least. I think it was the anticipation and the waiting that made me feel that way but I sat there in back of the theater in awe. Terry’s face lit up with joy as they entered the theater and immediately starting to take pictures of the actors. Andre watched the actors settle in their seat with the face that a proud parent would make watching their children on stage.
Cat, the sentinel, in a stern voice, ordered the actors dress as soldiers to the stage. Then the female characters. Then the main characters.
The actors stand on stage in full costume and are picked apart by Andre and Terry while Cat tugs and tucks their as she saw fit. The costumes must be picked at until they are near perfect before the performance. The colors, garments, and accessories must be near perfect. Now in any other circumstance this would seem degrading but this is theater my friends. Just another step in the production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Catty-Cat quotes:

"Its not about you! It is about who you are becoming...Your body is your instrument. Your tool..."

"Tits up ladies, this is a tits up show!"

"Quiet Please!"

"You know where your costumes are, lets get to work!"