The Miracle Worker: The Use of Historical Research in Theatrical Design

This paper chronicles the research, creative process, and design choices behind the costumes I created for the Rhode Island College production of the play, The Miracle Worker, by William Gibson. It is the culmination of my Individualized Master of Arts Program at Rhode Island College. The program I created focused on the intersection of historiographical procedure with theatrical design practices to create a final design based on a scholarly synthesis of research. My aim was to create a design that was both historically accurate to Boston and Alabama in the 1890s, as well as fulfilling all of the principles necessary for an effective theatrical design. The challenges involved in this project besides strength of design were time management, budget constraints, and the creation of garments that appeared period-appropriate while also functioning in the logistics of live theatre