Lori
Carnival of Masks presents Alabama based costume designer, Lori Goodrich, as part of our Beyond the Carnival: Interviews with Costume Folks Around the World series.
White Rabbit, "Alice In Wonderland". This was my first big project for the high school and the first time I had really created something like this. I made the hat from an old marching band hat and also created the ears. For the jacket, I hand-painted all the clocks onto fabric and attached them separately. Definitely one of my favorite creations.
CoM: Lori, tell us about what you do.
LG: For the past 6 years, I was the costumer for my daughter's high school theatre department. I also helped with sets, props, and photography. But primarily costumes. I sourced, altered, and sometimes made them from scratch.
Glinda, "The Wizard of Oz". When my daughter was cast in this production, I knew I wanted her to have something fabulous. The costume department at this Playhouse had nothing in their racks to fit her, so the head costumer allowed me to do what I wanted, provided it fit the show. This was a plain pink gown when I purchased it. I added the sleeves, the underskirt, the volume, and hand-placed every single rhinestone. Every time she stepped onstage, you could hear the audience gasp. She was breathtaking in this role.
CoM: What inspires you?
LG: Honestly, the kids are what inspired me. My main goal was to always make sure they loved what they were wearing onstage. Even if I had to buy the materials from my own pocket, which I did a lot of the time (public school arts budgets stink).
They all called me Drama Mama, or Mama Lori. And I made sure each one knew they were important, supported, and loved. I can’t tell you how many confided their fears in me, celebrated wins with me. I nursed their broken hearts. Some even came out for the first time to me. Those years were some of the most fulfilling of my life, even if a bit hectic most of the time.
Tinkerbell, "Peter Pan". This costume is another favorite of mine. The director, a high school senior, wanted Tink to be true to her Tinker Fairy roots with a Steampunk vibe. I ordered the corset top, as it was outside my skill set at the time, but I created everything else by hand. The skirt is all handmade, as well as the wings. I also hand-painted and embellished the boots. I crafted this look specifically for this young lady to help make her senior show a lasting positive memory, as her parents weren't very supportive of her theatrical pursuits. I spent over $300 of my own money to create this for her, and I don't regret one cent of it.
CoM: How did your life in costumes begin??
LG: I started out making very detailed cosplays for my daughter when she was a young child. She would wear them to comic/pop culture conventions and for Halloween. When she began doing musical theatre at age 11, we quickly realized that the youth theatre groups didn't have any costumes to fit her as she was already very tall and mature for her age. So I began making them for her so she could feel good about what she was wearing onstage.
When she entered middle school, I mentioned to the theatre teacher that I wanted to help her brand new department as a parent volunteer. And from 2021 until my daughter graduated in 2026, I costumed every production the school had. I watched a lot of kids grow up through those years, including my own. I'll miss them terribly.
Lucy Van Pelt, "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown". A favorite I created especially for my daughter. This was my first adventure into creating my own pattern, and what a learning experience it was! I searched for months to find the perfect dress to embellish or alter, but I found nothing close to usable for this iconic character. So, I had to pivot and make my own. I patterned and sewed this dress 100% from start to finish, and we still have it in our "costume closet." Lucy was a dream role for her, and I hope she gets to play her again someday.
CoM: Are there costumed events you make sure to never miss? And if so, what do you love about them?
LG: My family and I still love to build cosplays and attend conventions, but intermittently as funds allow.
CoM: What's your favorite thing about costumes?
LG: I loved watching the kids’ faces light up when they got to see their costumes for the first time, or see how their characters came to life with the right piece and the right fit.
CoM: Since your daughter graduated, are you working on anything now?
LG: I am a photographer by trade and actually specialize in theatre/dance/live performance. You can view my work on Facebook.
Various characters, Circus of Spectacles. This was an original play written by a high school senior for her senior project. I created these looks from sketch to completion to fit the director's vision. The red and purple clown costume was created from old prom dresses salvaged from thrift stores. The pastel-colored costume on my daughter in the center of the photo was designed and created completely by me, with every ruffle hand-pleated and attached in rows. The classic Pierrot clown costume was also an adventure in patterning and my first time making pants! I made the pleated collar, and even the pom-poms were handmade. If you look closely, you can see they are square, as requested by the director to fit the character.
CoM: Who do you want to shoutout in the costume world?
LG: I look up to a lot of theatrical costumers. Paul Tazewell and Colleen Atwood, of course. There's also historical costumer Asta Darling! She's amazing.
CoM: Anything else you’d like to share?
LG: As you can see, so much of my work with these kids was a labor of love and some of the most fulfilling of my life. Hopefully, I can find another school to work with now that my daughter has entered college.
Thank you for the opportunity to share my costuming story!
CoM: Aw, well, we hope this spotlight on your passion and talents will help with that. Thanks so much, Lori!
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