My Favorite Costumes In Five Acts, with Costume Director Scott Rött

Posted February 5, 2024

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Celebrate 45 years of American Players Theatre with a look back on some of our all-time favorite memories. This week, the costumes we can't forget.


Our new blog series In Five Acts asks our in-house experts to curate a list of five significant moments or items that have stood the test of time and continue to make their best-of list year after year. To kick off this series, our incomparable Costume Director Scott Rött takes us back in time to explore his top five jaw-dropping costumes (and productions) made for the APT stages.

Love's Labour's Lost (1983)

Costume Design by Budd Hill

The cast of Love's Labour's Lost, 1983. Photos by Zane Williams.

Scott says, "Love’s Labour’s Lost was one of the first shows I saw at APT before I started working here in 1984. The costumes were stunning! Every time a new character appeared it was a visual delight. I actually had to come back a second time to understand the show because I kept focusing only on these magnificent costumes!”

Hamlet (1986)

Costume Design by Budd Hill

William Schlaht poses as the Ghost of Hamlet's Father, 1986. Rendering by Bud Hill.

Scott says, "An amazing costume in this show was the Ghost of Hamlet’s Father, appearing in smoked blue armor head to foot with a winged helmet. We still have the armor, but I actually store it to keep it out of harm's way.” We asked him to tell us where it is. He would not.

The Tempest (2003)

Costume Design by Bob Morgan

Above: Colleen Madden, Patricia Finn-Morris & Kimberly Lucius. Below: Kimberly Irion, Christopher Marshall, Colleen Madden, Jonathan Gillard Daly & Matt Schwader, The Tempest, 2003. Photos by Zane Williams.

Scott Says, "The three goddesses! Elaborate Elizabethan gowns made from Sari fabric embroidered with bullion and encrusted in large rhinestones.” Need we say more?

All's Well That Ends Well (2010)

Costume Design by Bob Morgan

The cast of All's Well That Ends Well, 2010. Photos by Zane Williams.

Scott says “The stage was filled with men in matching Hussar uniforms. The structure of the blue jackets were actually created from Civil War reenactor coats which we then spruced up with golden medals and accessories.” You can see one of these uniform jackets on display now in the Touchstone Theatre during our Winter Words readings.

Les Liaisons Dangereuses (2013)

Costume Design by Rachel Anne Healy

Above: Melisa Pereyra, Christopher Sheard & Tracy Michelle Arnold. Below: Melisa Pereyra & Tracy Michelle Arnold, Tracy Michelle Arnold & Christopher Sheard, Jim DeVita & Laura Rook, and Sarah Day & Tracy Michelle Arnold, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, 2013. Photos by Carissa Dixon.

Scott says “One of the first big period shows we did in the Touchstone. Corsets, gowns, knee breeches and wigs all were memorable.” It’s all just got that certain je ne sais quoi about them...

Thank you to Costume Director Scott Rött for his expert input and for years of exceptional vision.

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