By WALTER ANG
June 13, 2016 Inquirer.net (breaking)
June 14, 2016 Philippine Daily Inquirer (page one)
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| Clint Ramos |
"I just want to say thank you to everybody, to a group of women who are unbelievable," he said in his acceptance speech, referring to the playwright, director and cast of the play, who are all women. Part of his speech was included in the broadcast of the ceremonies held at Beacon Theater in New York.
In an e-mail message to the Inquirer after receiving the Tony Award, he said: "So grateful and thankful, especially for the support back home from everyone in the Philippines. Thank you!"
Ramos' work has been described by critics as "meticulously detailed" (Variety), "evocative" (Hollywood Reporter), "[takes] much research, labor, and talent to pull off," (Vanityfair.com) and "essential" (Vogue.com).
In an Instagram post, Ramos wrote that the nomination means, "Work like this is valid. That design dealing with contemporary themes is worthy of rewarding. That powerful, modern costumes are just as complex as the pretty period ones."
The play is about five women during the second Liberian Civil War, written by Danai Gurira and directed by Liesl Tommy.
Process
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| Photo by Joan Marcus; from ClintRamos.com |
He researched photographs of the war and sourced shirts and fabrics in vintage clothing shops and African merchandise stores in New York.
Copies of ready-to-wear tops and bottoms that were chosen for the production were recreated from scratch: shirts were silkscreened and jeans were tailored to accommodate being used multiple shows a week and for different cast members.
The costumes were then distressed, treated with dyes to mimic sweat or blood stains that could not be washed off when the costumes were laundered.
Cebu to New York
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| From Lupita Nyong'o Facebook page. |
He has since designed costumes and sets for over a hundred productions in New York, across the US and internationally.
Ramos' most recent costume design work is for "Frozen: Live at the Hyperion," a musical based on Disney's animated film showing at Disney California Adventure Park. (A separate Broadway production of "Frozen" with a different artistic team is scheduled to open in 2018.)
Other credits include costume designs for the Broadway production of "The Elephant Man" featuring Bradley Cooper and the Off-Broadway staging of "Here Lies Love." Both these productions were also staged on the West End.
"Here Lies Love," a musical about Imelda Marcos, will be staged by American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco next year.
Ramos is multi-awarded, previously receiving the 2013 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence of Costume Design, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts' 2014 Ani ng Dangal Award for Dramatic Arts, and the 2014 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Costume Design for his work on "Here Lies Love," among others.
For productions in Manila, he's designed the sets of Tanghalang Pilipino's "Mga Gerilya sa Powell Street" and DUP's "Mary Stuart/Maria Stuarda," "The Duchess of Malfi/Ang Dukesa ng Malfi" and "The Country Wife/Ang Misis Kong Promdi."
Other Filipino awardees
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| Photo by Joan Marcus; from ClintRamos.com |
Investors to Broadway productions receive awards along with lead producers if productions win Best Play or Musical. As an investing producer with business partner Joan Raffe, Iloilo-born Jhett Tolentino has received Tonys for Best Revival of a Play for "A Raisin in the Sun" and Best Musical for "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder," both 2014, and Best Play for "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike," 2013.
Composer Robert Lopez, winner of the 2004 Best Original Score award for "Avenue Q," is of partial Filipino descent; his paternal grandfather is Filipino and his paternal grandmother is Filipino-Scottish American.
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre honors theater professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway. It was founded by the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, after whose cofounder the award is named after.
Youtube video of Clint Ramos' statement backstage.
Visit ClintRamos.com.
"Eclipsed" runs until June 19 at Golden Theatre, 252 West 45th St. (between Broadway and 8th Ave.), New York, New York. Visit EclipsedBroadway.com.
"Frozen: Live at the Hyperion," runs at Hyperion Theater, Disney California Adventure Park, Anaheim, California. Visit Disneyland.com.
Inquirer.net links:
June 13, 2016 Inquirer.net (breaking; online only)
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/230680/dulaang-up-alumni-clint-ramos-wins-2016-tony-award-for-costume-design
June 14, 2016 Philippine Daily Inquirer (front page; print and online; slightly different version)
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/230730/dulaang-ups-clint-ramos-wins-tony-costume-design
