Even the most famous people have stay-home-and-work days, and Newsies! Medda Larkin is no exception. Director Bobby Tschoepe and I decided Medda’s work that day was at her desk, paying bills and working on paperwork, and that she still dressed for success, knowing her important customers could drop by. I stumbled across a $7 thrift gown, and knew we had found our dress base! (This dress had the tags on it, and had never been worn!)
I don’t have a full shot of the original dress by itself. Here’s a picture of our darling actress posing in the original dress and showing us Medda’s scrumptious boots. At this fitting, I pinned the bodice to fit her shape, and played around with the organza overlay. The original dress had three skirt layers – petticoat, lining, and organza overlay. I added a fourth layer underneath the organza, a beautiful soft lace fabric, and gathered the organza into a soft drape at the front that cascades down the sides to the back. I left the lace long in the back, to serve as a train for the dress.
I hand-stitched beaded, sequined, lace trim at the top and bottom of the bodice and added a bertha at the bodice top to give her sleeves and be more appropriate for the period. I attached the bertha to the bodice with sweet pearl accents.
Here’s our bold, caring Medda with her cute boots, and one backstage in her wig (Bobby Tschoepe), gloves, and jewels (Chloe Ambs). Perfection!
