• Tue. Nov 5th, 2024

As part of its celebration of Black History Month and the Free Expressions Series, Sinclair will be
putting on two free performances of Peter Manos’s one-act play “Jackie Robinson Steals
Home.”

While the production takes place over a single day in Jackie Robinson’s life, audience members
will get to see several flashbacks and learn more about the renowned baseball player.
Costume designer Kamryn Wise says that while there is a “lot of back and forth” within the
course of the play, there is also insight into “how he got to where he was.”

Wise is a theatre technology major at Sinclair. This production is her first as a costume designer
and has been a learning experience for her. She recalls the difficulty of scheduling fittings with
the cast members, planning and balancing several quick changes, and simply navigating the
role. Despite these challenges, Wise has learned a number of important skills, including keeping
track of finances for the department.

When asked about the significance of costuming to the production, Wise stated that she
thought costumes were an integral part of it.

“They tell the time period,” she said, adding that the costumes also give details about the
characters’ occupations and social classes.

Surprisingly for some, Wise found Jackie Robinson’s costume to be the easiest to put together,
seeing as a Dodgers jersey was a main component. As for the quick changes, Wise found Velcro
to be the best solution as opposed to buttons or zippers.

Related article: Sinclair Theatre Presents “The Meeting” – a Fictional Conversation Between MLK and Malcolm X

The cast and crew began working on the production in November, and Wise has high hopes for
how it will turn out. She spoke highly of the way in which the stage is designed – something she
described as similar to a “home plate.”

Graphic source: Canva

“Jackie Robinson Steals Home” will be at the Building 2 Blair Hall Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 16
at 7 p.m. There will be additional performances on Friday, Feb. 17 at noon and 7 p.m. Doors will
open half an hour prior to the show. Groups of 20 or more should make a reservation by
emailing patti.celek@sinclair.edu.

Carly Webster

Reporter