A Chorus Line Headlines

Broadway.com

Barbara Matera, who had a career spanning five decades making costumes for Broadway, opera and ballet, died yesterday at NYU Medical Center in New York City, a spokesperson confirmed to Broadway.com. The cause of Matera’s death was a cerebral hemorrhage, according to her husband, Arthur Matera. She was 72.

Costumes made in their shop, Barbara Matera, Ltd., can currently be seen on Broadway in Beauty and the Beast, Aida, The Lion King, Kiss Me, Kate, 42nd Street and the upcoming Mamma Mia!

Barbara Matera (nee Gray) was born on July 16, 1929 in Kent, England. She moved to the United States in 1960. Barbara Matera Ltd. was founded in 1968 by Matera and her husband Arthur and quickly became the premier costume shop in New York used by top costume designers. Matera provided the costumes for more than 100 Broadway plays and musicals including Follies, A Chorus Line, A Little Night Music, 42nd Street, La Cage Aux Folles, Dreamgirls, Sunday in the Park With George, Sugar Babies, Nine, City of Angels, Angels in America, Into the Woods, Grand Hotel, Crazy For You, Sunset Boulevard and the recent revival of Annie Get Your Gun.

Her film credits include The Great Gatsby, Death on the Nile, Something for Everyone, A Mirror Cracked, The Age of Innocence, The Addams Family, Moonstruck, The Wiz. Ironweed, Jagged Edge, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and 101 Dalmations. Matera also executed the highly acclaimed gown worn by Hillary Rodham Clinton on the occasion of her husband’s first inauguration as President.

Among the many costume designers who chose Matera to execute their designs include her mentor Irene Sharaff, Theoni V. Aldredge, Patricia Zipprodt, Tony Walton, Ann Hould-Ward, Martin Pakledinaz, Bob Crowley, Anthony Powell, Roger Kirk, Julie Taymor, William Ivey Long, Tom Rand, Willa Kim, Raoul Pene Dubois, Freddy Wittop and Desmond Healy. Matera also did extensive design work herself including work for the New York City Ballet and the costumes for David Merrick’s Broadway production of Private Lives and The Way of the World for the John Houseman Acting Company. Materas’ work was the subject of a 1996 exhibition at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts entitled Inside and Out: The Costumes of Barbara Matera.

She is survived by her husband, Arthur, her sister, Pauline Ritchie-Fallon, three nieces, one great niece and three great nephews.
© 2000 Broadway.com, Inc. (Broadway.com is a division of Hollywood.com)

Editor's note: Barbara , made all the orginal costumes for ACL which are the ones the actors are wearing in the current 2001 Tour. She was a truly talented person and her loss will be felt by many in the entertainment world. (09.17.01)

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The Attack's Impact on Broadway

According to an article in Variety it has been estimated that the financial impact on Broadway of the recent attacks is approximately $3 million. This loss is the result of performances that were canceled on September 11 and 12. Producers and union leaders met to discuss the implications of this loss. Despite the fact that the productions carry lost revenue insurance, most policies carry a two or three performance deductible, making the loss uncovered.

Paul Libin of the League of American Theaters and Producers stated, "There's a difficult road ahead." In light of the attacks large blocks of reservations have been canceled at many of the city's hotels. Many of these visitors would have attended the theater while in town.

It was not yet clear what needs to be done but the League was looking for assurances that help would be available to a show that was in trouble. Any change of rules needs to be voted on by union boards, who meet every other week. It was hoped that in light of the current situation that rules could be changed on a more immediate timetable.

Harriet Slaughter, director of labor relations for the League, indicated that a possible gala performance was being considered. Both the Twin Towers fund and New York's firefighters were discussed as potential beneficiaries of the event.She also mentioned that the league and the unions discussed a possible gala performance to benefit either the Twin Towers fund or the firemen in the theater district.

Leaders of both sides will continue to work on the issues. They have already met with representatives from a number of other theater related organizations to address the situation and explore ways that they can respond. The group was said to be planning to meet on a weekly basis to work on their response.

Variety went on to quote the League's president as saying, "This is not a seven, fourteen or sixty-day problem. The analogy could be London after the Blitz, not the Kennedy assassination. The story is unfolding."

Beginning with Thursday's performances many casts have acknowledged the crisis and have led their audiences in singing "God Bless America" or other patriotic songs at the curtain. Needless to say the audience response has been rousing and tearful.

(September 16, 2001)