Becca Parker
The Hot L Baltimore is being costumed by two lovely ladies, Andrea Hermitt and Becca Parker. They are uniquely qualified for this job with Andrea being painfully familiar with the 1970’s as all of her pre-teen years were during that period, and Becca, having a perverse love for color and patterns.
Andrea Hermitt
Andrea has a background in Fine Art, earning her BA at SUNY Albany. She has a passion for making old things new again, which helps a lot since costuming on a budget means re-styling thrift store finds. In her spare time, she writes (and is working on a book) and blogs, and paints things. Andrea is also the Board Secretary at Live Arts Theatre.
Becca is the Current Artistic Director of LAT. In addition, she works as a private music teacher/accompanist/vocal coach through Sound of Music in Buford. She also substitute teaches in Gwinnett County Public schools. Becca has a BM in Musical Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory and a M.Ed from the University of Phoenix. While she has done almost every job onstage and off stage at least once, this is Becca’s first time costuming a show.
Let’s see how they answered our interview questions:
Is this your first show with Live Arts Theatre:
Becca: This is most definitely not my first show with LAT.
- Last 5 Years- Cathy/Set Design
- Don’t Drink the Water- Director/Lighting Design
- Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon- Director/Set/Lighting Design/Props/Fight Choreography
- Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know- Kathy/Pianist/Set Design
- The Foreigner- Director/Set Design
- Anne Frank and Me- Director/Set Design
- The Importance of Being Earnest- Director/Set Design
- Greater Tuna- Director/Set Design
- A Heart Divided- Director/Set Design/Projection Design
- Whistle Down the Wind- Set Design/Pianist
- Dracula- Director/Set Design/Lighting Design/Fight Choreography
- Dorothy Meets Alice- Music Director
- Complete Works of Shakespeare- Director/Fight Choreography
- Cabaret- Rosie/Set Design/Lighting Design/Fight Choreography
- ReEntry- Lighting/Projection Design
- It’s a Wonderful Life (Radio Play) Director
- High School Confidential- Box Office
- Hot L Baltimore- Costume Design
- Andrea: It’s not my first time at the Rodeo either.
- Whistle Down the Wind- Costume design (with Dawn Burke)
- Dorothy Meets Alice- Costume design
- Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged – Costume design
- Cabaret- Costume design (with Jordan Hermitt)
- Re-Entry- Costume design w/ military item procurement
- It’s a Wonderful Life- Producer (you thought I was going to say costume design didn’t you?)
- Hot L Baltimore- Costume design
Hot L Baltimore is set in the 1970’s. Name something you liked about the 1970’s.
Teeny Becca
Becca: There was only one major thing I could like about the 70’s. In the most epic event of the decade, I WAS BORN!! (August 24, 1979)
Andrea: Well, seems I beat Becca by just over 11 years, so my entire childhood was the 1970’s. I liked Sonny and Cher, The Osmond Brothers, and the Jackson 5, and I still have a thing for variety shows, when I can find one. But, I did not like one thing with a passion… gouchos. Especially my rust colored, polyester gouchos that me and my 3 sisters wore Easter of 1976. Since I was the youngest, I was stuck with hand-me-downs of that same outfit well into the 1980’s.
Andrea in Early 70’s
Name something about the 1970’s that you would bring back and why.
Becca: I sure as to hell wouldn’t bring back some of the fashion choices, however I really liked the bright colors. Also, one of my favorite musicals opened on Broadway in 1975. I think it’s about time for A Chorus Line to make a comeback.
Andrea: I’d bring back Micheal Jackson… Black Micheal Jackson, pre his Off The Wall Album. As good as he was, he was a much better entertainer and a less troubled human being before he turned 18. Ah… the innocence of youth.
Name two fun facts about you.
Becca: Two fun facts? Only 2. Ok here goes:
- I love to build giant gingerbread houses.
- I love to travel and try new things constantly so I am always up for pretty much any adventure that anyone could suggest.
Andrea: hmmm… let’s see:
- In addition to an art degree, I also earned a Paralegal degree, and spent much of my 20’s managing Real-Estate. It was my job to evict people. I kind of liked it.
- I love to learn… smart people… really smart people make me giddy.
What can audiences look forward to with Hot L Baltimore and why should they come see it?
Becca: It’s a funny show!
Andrea: It was a groundbreaking show for it’s time.
Can you give us a preview of the costume design for Hot L Baltimore?
Check out the collar on that blouse!
Becca: We are totally going back to the 70’s on this one, so people can look forward to remembering all the bad fashion choices of that decade.
Andrea: Hey! Who says the fashion was bad? Well, the gouchos were bad… but I digress. We are having quite a time looking for bold colors and patterns specific to the 1970’s. We might have to exaggerate here and there to get the point across. Think… WKRP in Cincinnati meets The Brady Bunch meets Charlie’s Angels.
Finally, What excites you the most about High Hot L Baltimore?
Becca: I am excited to be costuming my first show 🙂
Andrea: I am excited to be teaching someone who usually directs about costuming because this job is not magical… it’s actually quite organizational, and nose to the grind-stone. Ok there’s some magic, but it takes time and lots of spit and glue to make the magic happen.