The
(Wo)Man Behind the Curtain
Fifty eight years ago at St. Mary’s Hospital here in
Tucson, a Costume Shop Manager was born, her name: Barbara
Otto. I married Michael Tanzillo so the name on my driver’s
license is Barbara Otto Tanzillo. Most people are surprised
to learn that I am a fifth-generation Tucsonan. My family
has been here since the Presidio. I came to work at ATC as
a volunteer in the costume shop in 1983, helping to put a
petticoat together for Uncle Vanya. After one day
as a volunteer, Bobbi Culbert hired me as a stitcher for the
rest of the build of Uncle Vanya and then she hired
me to help with A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The
Forum. And so a career was born. By then I had had my
two children, Alana and Jason. My father’s mother was
a professional seamstress for Cele Peterson and I have always
felt that her spirit watches over my work.
When I first started working in the costume shop I had favorite
garments (especially the showy period dresses) but as I got
more involved in the productions I realized that individual
costumes were only a part of the play as a whole. I became
more interested in how all of the components of each production
are important and I have developed a profound respect for
designers who have the ability to picture not only how one
costume will look but how all of the costumes in a scene will
look on the set. It is a talent I do not have but I love being
a part of the process. I also have learned to appreciate the
painting and distressing that we sometimes are asked to do.
I particularly remember being amazed that we had to make two
wedding dresses for Miss Haversham in Great Expectations
because she died in a house fire in the play. We still have
that dress in our stock room.
Over the years I have helped move into the Temple and moved
costume stock twice. I have worked with two Artistic Directors
and at least four Managing Directors. Many costume designers
and actors have come through, most of them incredibly talented
and dedicated professionals. There were some difficult personalities
in the mix - like the actor who insisted on having period
underwear made so he could “get a feel for his part.”
Or the woman who almost passed out when we laced her into
her corset. Unfortunately, she couldn’t remember her
lines and was replaced before we got to dress rehearsals.
Bar none, the biggest fiasco I ever had to deal with was
the Candide train wreck. In those days we opened
some shows in Phoenix instead of Tucson. The shop was way
behind and I, and several other costume shop folks, worked
from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. the next day in a desperate
attempt to get things done before they had to get sent to
Phoenix. It was not pretty and we have never done that again!
My favorite memories are the plays that have moved me. I won’t
bore you with the list but I will say that I think my favorite
was M Butterfly, an incredible evening of theater.
The reason my longevity in this job is no big secret. I love
the atmosphere, the people and the freedom. I can think of
no other work that offers me the exposure to so much art and
the freedom to be myself on a daily basis. I also have the
benefit of being off in the summer which makes it possible
to travel. I especially like packing the Rodeo and driving
the back roads of the great American West. My two granddaughters,
Bailey and Luna, also are a big part of my life. I am hoping
to take them to Yellowstone National Park in the next couple
of years. My “places to go” list: Alaska, Tahiti,
the Swiss Alps, Norway (I want to see the Northern Lights),
Iceland, Prague, and if you give me the time I could think
of lots more.
Sometimes I wonder if there is something else I should be
doing to make the world a better place but, truthfully, I
can never come up with anything that is as right for me as
working here at ATC.
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