When we first starting discussing the play, the team became really intrigued by the idea of setting our version of this story in the cobwebbed, dusty, neglected palace of the Beast. This inspired me to find research images of formerly grand Roccoco household objects, items with gilt scrollwork and detail, tarnished, but still beautiful.  Further research allowed me to find the overlap between the look and style of these objects and the kinds of clothing the characters would have worn before they started to transform.  Then it was just a matter of figuring out how to translate all that research into costumes that can live and dance and fit all the different personalities of these wonderful characters.  

 

For Belle and the Beast, I looked for inspiration images that nodded to the period, but more importantly, spoke to our interpretations of these iconic characters.  Belle is beautiful, intelligent and fiercely independent, and I found images of people that seemed ready for adventure.  The Beast is withdrawn, and a little scary, but I also found myself drawn to an images where his humanity shined through.  

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--Ivania Stack, Costume Designer