Assistant Costume Supervisor

El Misterio

Directed by Luna Izpisua de Kissel

Costume Design by Danica Martino

El Misterio was adapted from a 13th century Catalonian play El Misterio de Elche (or Misteri d'Elx en valenciano) by our director Luna Izpisua de Kissel. Telling the story of the Virgin Mary’s Dormition and Assumption after the death of Christ, this mystery play is traditionally performed in the Basilica de Santa María in Elche in a yearly ritual or pageant that isn’t usually performed outside of Elche. Our version is a devised piece depicting the struggle between Mary as a person and the Blessed Virgin Mary the figure. Working as Assistant Supervisor to Ashley Snyder, we worked to bring the phenomenal costumes Danica Martino Designed to life. Many of the costumes were very big and extravagant using a lot of cheap and found to pay homage to the pageant in Elche which is kept and made within the community with great pride. I spent a lot of time before the show went up helping perfect the costumes in different ways, including painting flower garlands and arranging metal embellishments on the Virgin Mary’s ceremonial headdress, sewing more trash onto the Stations, and varying other tasks over the course of a few weeks which were a joy to work on. I was tasked with dressing Karolina Kwaśniak, who plays the angel, in her fairly elaborate costume. I was so happy to be given an opportunity to someone in the moment and to dress a figure that is such a centerpiece at the end of the show. I had a wonderful time collaborating with everyone on the team to put on such a large scale production and I feel that this was really a vital learning opportunity.

Photo credit: Rafael Hernandez-Ispache