8 Designers Receive 2023 Henry Hewes Awards

This year’s recipients include design team dots, costume designer Brenda Abbandandolo, lighting designer Barbara Samuels, sound designer Tei Blow, media designer Kameron Neal, and puppetry designer James Ortiz. link

From Greenwich Village to Broadway

Brenda Abbandandolo Talks Costume Design for ‘The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window’ link

Perhaps that’s why the period-nailing costumes by Brenda Abbandandolo are so successful.

Review: In Hansberry’s Prescient ‘Sign,’ the Sin of Apathy link

Director Series: Coda’s Siân Heder on Making This Year’s Crowd-Pleasing Sundance Hit

When Siân Heder’s Coda (an acronym for Child of Deaf Adults) premiered at this year’s virtual Sundance Film Festival, it took the venerable festival by storm, really blowing away everyone who saw it due to its originality and creative vision. Link

Sundance: ‘CODA’ Costume Designer Stresses Authenticity While Styling for Deaf Community

Veteran costume designer Brenda Abbandandolo reflects on communication and non-verbal storytelling after her experience working on ‘CODA, Child of Deaf Adults.’ Link

Apple’s “CODA” wins historic Oscar for Best Picture at the Academy Awards

“CODA” becomes the first film with a predominantly Deaf cast to win Best Picture, star Troy Kotsur is the first Deaf male actor to win an Oscar, Siân Heder wins Best Adapted Screenplay, and Apple becomes the first streaming service honored with Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Link

Lorraine Hansberry Saw It Coming

Her nearly forgotten play resurfaces at BAM, current as ever. Link

Review: In Hansberry's Prescient 'Sign,' the Sin of Apathy

Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan star as Village bohemians in a rare revival of Lorraine Hansberry’s indictment of liberal inertia. Link

Sundance Awards: 'CODA' Wins Grand Jury Prize

CODA has won the top award at the Sundance Film Festival, taking this year’s U.S. Grand Jury prize. Link

'CODA': Film Review | Sundance 2021

Sian Heder’s film revolves around the tensions that arise when the sole hearing member of a deaf New England family discovers she has a talent for singing. Link

‘CODA’ Review: Sian Heder’s Family Drama Kicks Off Sundance on a Note of Enthralling Emotion

A Gig at SNL Changed How This Costume Designer Works

Meet Brenda Abbandandolo, who designed the clothes for The Disaster Artist and American Pickle. Link

How a Costume Designer Dressed Two Seth Rogens in American Pickle

Brenda Abbandandolo, who also worked on The Disaster Artist and SNL, is no stranger to creative challenges. Link

James Franco’s ‘Disaster Artist’ Production Crew Lovingly Worked to Recreate ‘The Room’

Tommy Wiseau’s film “The Room,” released in 2003, depicts a bizarre love triangle involving a banker named Johnny (Wiseau), his fiancée, Lisa (Juliette Danielle), and his best friend Mark (Greg Sestero). Wiseau wrote, produced and directed what everyone acknowledged was a melodramatic mess with shoddy production values. Nonetheless, the film developed a cult following, with fans laughing at its unintentional humor. Link

“the disaster artist” costume designer on making the first 2000s period film

“This can’t be what he’s making,’” Brenda Abbandandolo thought after her inaugural viewing of The Room. James Franco had just approached the costume designer about a new movie based on Tommy Wiseau’s legendary cinematic atrocity. “At that time,” Brenda recalls, “James was directing his Faulkner film and translations of poetry.” Link

Elliot Norton Awards - The Boston Theater Critics Association 2020

Outstanding Design, Large Theater
“Moby-Dick,” American Repertory Theater
Scenic design by Mimi Lien; costume design by Brenda Abbandandolo; lighting design by Bradley King; sound design by Hidenori Nakajo; puppet design by Eric F. Avery; wig, hair and make-up design by Rachel Padula-Shufelt. Link

Moby-Dick Musical, Billy Porter-Helmed The Purists, More Earn 2020 Elliot Norton Award Nominations

The Boston Theater Critics Association, under the direction of President Joyce Kulhawik, has revealed the nominations for the 2020 Elliot Norton Awards. The 38th annual ceremony, set for May 11, will take place virtually due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Among the front-runners is Dave Malloy’s musical adaptation of Moby-Dick, which made its world premiere at Cambridge’s American Repertory Theater last year, with seven nominations. Link

How ‘The Disaster Artist’ Recreated the Low-Budget Costumes of ‘The Room’

There’s something a little, well, off about the costumes currently on display in New York’s Regal Union Square multiplex to herald the coming of James Franco’s new comedy The Disaster Artist. In one glass case, there’s a bulky shirt with a big stain. In another, a flimsy red gown hangs oddly on the mannequin. Link