As we prepare to bring Broadside the Musical to life onstage, every detail matters, from the press that spreads the word to the coats that define our characters. This season, our costume department is taking a deep dive into Revolutionary War fashion, balancing historical authenticity with modern comfort for our summer performances.
Finding the Perfect Pattern: |
| Butterick Pattern #3072, from their Making History collection |
We were thrilled to discover Butterick Pattern #3072, part of their Making History collection, as the foundation for our colonial costumes. The design captures the essence of 18th-century men’s attire with its long front-flapped coat, waistcoat, breeches, and tricorn hat. It’s the kind of look you might imagine on Paul Revere himself, ready to print a broadside or ride through the night shouting news of liberty.
Choosing Fabrics that Breathe and Belong:
While wool, velvet, and heavy gabardine were period-accurate choices, they don’t exactly lend themselves to the summer heat of a stage production—or the packed venues of a festival run. Instead, we’re using modern natural fibers that mimic the historical textures while allowing airflow and flexibility.
- For coats: lightweight cotton twill or linen-blend suiting in muted Revolutionary reds and indigo blues.
- For waistcoats: breathable woven cotton or linen with subtle textures to evoke hand-loomed fabrics.
- For shirts: soft muslin or fine cotton voile for that classic, billowy colonial sleeve.
These substitutions let our actors move freely under the stage lights while keeping that authentic “hand-stitched revolution” look audiences expect.
Color as Character:
In the 18th century, color was more than fashion, it was identity. British red, colonial blue, and the ivory whites of fife and drum corps helped distinguish rank and regiment. Our Broadside palette will mirror that tradition, using deeper reds and ocean blues for the main cast, and lighter hues for musicians and ensemble members who carry the “rhythms of rebellion.” The contrast onstage will help audiences read social and political divisions at a glance, just as people did 250 years ago.
Sewing Toward America’s 250th Birthday:
These costumes will do more than dress our characters—they’ll help tell the story of a nation in rehearsal. As we approach the United States’ 250th anniversary, Broadsidecelebrates the artists, printers, and everyday dreamers who built a new world from ink, paper, and courage. Our colonial coats, stitched by modern hands, will walk through both history and satire—reminding audiences how rebellion can still look sharp in the summer heat.
