By Joanna Miller, Staff Writer 

Plays, in part, are about transporting viewers to a specific time, setting, era or imaginary land. While actors convey the characters in these places, the staging becomes one gateway for viewers to grasp the context for the plot.

Prior Lake High School costume designers help actors and the audience to envision each play’s unique theme.This fall, junior Taylor Olesen of Prior Lake led a group of six students in costume design for the fall play, “Flowers for Algernon.”Junior Taylor Olesen of Prior Lake
quickly repairs a costume during
a dress rehearsal. 

Olesen said costuming helped the audience and cast tune in to the setting for the play.

“We have symbolic sweaters,” Olesen said of the costuming that links three actors together as one character in his childhood, teens and adulthood.The sweater was selected also for its symbolism of home in the play.

“It kind of represents family,” Olesen said. Costume team members include Olesen, seniors Kayla Selvig and Teresa Turner, junior Jen Aura,  and freshmen Kaylee Archibald and Becca Gesme, all of Prior Lake.

Selvig, who has helped create costumes for multiple plays, said she fell into the role after volunteering to work with sets and technical crew items.

“We find costumes for people and help with makeup and hair styling,” Selvig said. “I’ve been in theater since I was a freshman and [working on] costumes since 10th grade.”

“When I first started out, I wanted to be on running crew. I found out it was a lot of fun to be back here, to hang out with the actors as well as the techies,” Selvig said.

Selvig said the transition between plays has been fun. She’s tackled costumes from the Shakespeare production “Twelfth Night” to more modern-day pieces.

Olesen became enthralled with costuming after participating in a production of “Grease.” She said this fall’s challenge was to turn back the clock to 1960.

“The whole play is a ’60s theme, except for a flashback that’s [in the] ’40s,” Olesen said.To select costumes, Olesen didn’t need to do much research since she was familiar with iconic ’60s style.The design team, from left:
Kayla Selvig, Teresa Turner,
Taylor Olesen, Jen Aura,
Kaylee Archibald and Becca Gesme. 

“It’s kind of the Jackie O style for the girls and big blazers for the guys,” she said. “Basically, I looked at a lot of things online.”

After they had a concept, the team raided the school’s costume closets. Then, the sewing began.The team ranges from accomplished seamstresses to beginners.

This fall, they only tackled small projects – aprons for some of the costumes.Yet, as the cast prepared for dress rehearsal, the costuming team stepped up the pace, matching characters with materials.

Olesen swiftly repaired a torn dress for one actress before she had to take the stage.The reward is seeing a great play on the stage, they agreed.

“I love looking for clothes. I love fashion,” Olesen said. “It’s stressful, but very, very fun in the end. It’s great to see all the actors on stage when they’re in the dress.” 

Joanna Miller can be reached at (952) 345-6375 or jmiller@swpub.com.