“Everyone keeps asking what they can do,” says Caren, with e-mails pouring in. “I wish there were something.”
After last night’s five-alarm fire was finally put out by Cincinnati’s finest, Caren was at what was left of Cincinnati Costume until 3:30 a.m., then was back six hours later.
The big thing now: she has to fill out an insurance form for every costume, “down to the cufflinks.”
With an inventory of over 30,000 items it’s a daunting job.
So – here’s what you can do. Have a production or personal photo featuring a Cincinnati Costume rental? Even Santa Claus outfits, Halloween wear, and tuxedos all need to be documented. Send a copy of your photo – but DON’T E-MAIL CAREN!! Send to jstump3@hotmail.com.
The latest offer of costume assistance for Cincinnati Costume’s commitment to Cincinnati Young People Theatre’s “Anything Goes” (opening in two weeks) came from Michele Mascari and costumer Leslie Korbee of Theatre Xavier, who offered St. X High School’s stock and costume shop to help outfit the several hundred costume extravaganza. Almost 20 St. X students are in the production.
“While our Fine Arts wing was under construction in 2003-04 and TX had no real home,” e-mails St. X’s Mark Motz, “Caren let our kids set up shop at Cincinnati Costume where they did all the props, costumes and sets. She’s a neat lady.”
Clear Stage Cincinnati artistic director Bob Allen called, fresh from the fire site.
The theater company had its entire stock of sets, props, furniture and raw materials stored at Cincinnati Costume.
“Gone, gone, gone,” reports Allen, sounding like his heart is heavy – more for Caren Young than Clear Stage.
“She’s our dear, dear friend,” says Allen. “There’s not a nicer person in this business in this region.”
Compounding the loss, sets for Clear Stage’s upcoming season – “The Lion in Winter” in December and educational production of “Othello” in February – were “ready to go, so we could be ahead of the game.”
Allen doesn’t even know what he needs at this point. “And we can get to us later,” he says. The loss, he says, of about $12,000, “is devastating for us, but we can re-build things. What Caren lost is irreplaceable.
“I hope the entire theater community pulls together to help Caren find the strength she needs. She gives so much of herself all the time.”
Jackie Demaline
