Portfolio ReviewFrom A Gentleman’s Guide to Anastasia, Linda Cho Unpacks Her Favorite Broadway Costume DesignsThe Tony Award–winning costume designer gives Playbill an inside glimpse at her creative process.
By
Marc J. Franklin
September 02, 2020
Christy Altomare and Derek Klena
Matthew Murphy
At the beginning of every Broadway creative process, all that exists is an empty stage. Using craft, imagination, and theatre magic, theatre designers bring a production to life, transporting an audience to worlds near and far.
It’s a challenging feat for any one production, but for many Broadway designers, a life in the theatre involves re-inventing the wheel again and again, remaining inspired through a vast career. Playbill caught up with Tony Award-winning costume designer Linda Cho to unpack her approach to design, her creative process, and to explore her favorite theatre designs.
"If I could have any career in the world, it would be what I do now. Or rather, what I was doing up until March and what I hope to do again soon..." Cho explains. "That sentiment encapsulates my approach to design. I love my work: the adrenaline rush of first dress rehearsal, the puzzle of finding the perfect thing that fits into the stage picture, the mashup of interacting with interesting personalities, and the meaningful messaging of our stories. Every show is a privilege and a joy to make.
"My approach to each show varies depending on things like the era in which the story is set, the input of the actors, being faithful to, or pivoting from the original source material, the amount of lead time we have, and simply reacting to what feels right onstage."
From A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder to Anastasia, take an in-depth look at five productions from Cho's Broadway career.
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From A Gentleman’s Guide to Anastasia, Linda Cho Unpacks Her Favorite Broadway Costume Designs
From A Gentleman’s Guide to Anastasia, Linda Cho Unpacks Her Favorite Broadway Costume Designs
40 PHOTOS
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Playbill - Opening Night
Phoebe and Sibella costume sketches
Phoebe costume sketch
Sibella costume sketch
Phoebe and Sibella costume sketches
Sibella costume sketches
Sibella and Phoebe costume sketch
Sibella costume sketch
Phoebe costume sketch
Phoebe and Sibella costume sketches
Phoebe costume sketch
Sibella costume sketch
Lisa O'Hare, Bryce Pinkham, and Lauren Worsham
The Great Society Playbill - Opening Night
The Great Society costume sketches
The Great Society costume sketches
The Great Society costume sketches
The Great Society costume sketches
President Lyndon B. Johnson costume sketch
Brian Cox
Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Martin Luther King, Jr. costume sketches
Grantham Coleman and the company of The Great Society
The Lifespan of a Fact Playbill - Opening Night
Emily costume design sketches
John costume sketch
Jim costume sketch
Jim costume sketch
Daniel Radcliffe, Cherry Jones, and Bobby Cannavale
Peter Cunningham
Anastasia Playbill - Opening Night
Anya costume sketches
Christy Altomare, Derek Klena, and cast
Matthew Murphy
Anastasia costume sketch
Anya costume sketch
Anya crown sketch
Christy Altomare and Derek Klena
Matthew Murphy
Take Me Out Playbill - Opening Night
Empires uniform costume sketch
Jason Chenier costume sketch
Skipper costume sketch
Patrick J. Adams, Jesse Williams, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson
A photo journal of the actors who have played high school student Evan Hansen, the role created by Tony winner Ben Platt, full-time at the Music Box Theatre.