Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 2013 - 41

are stitched end to end with staggered spaces in each row. They
extend to the appliqués at the bottom of the cape.
On the back of the cape, a band of gold lamé and trapunto
appliqués is accented with metallic-brown machine stippling
and continues to the hem. The appliqués cover the shoulder
areas and meet the eagles' wings. As on the front of the cape,
they are embellished with and surrounded by rim-set, crystal
AB rhinestones. The largest of the surrounding ones are, again,
framed with a gold metal beaded rim.
The back of the stand-up collar repeats the gold lamé trapunto appliqués, metallic-brown stippling, rim-set crystal AB
rhinestones, and lochrosens. Honey-brown sable fur trims the
front and bottom edges of the cape and lines the collar.
The inside of the cape is worked entirely in gold lamé trapunto appliqués. Its metallic-brown stippling creates an overall
pattern of rows of overlapping feathers.

Fabergé Costume
The Fabergé costume was worn by Liberace during all twentyone of his Radio City Music Hall performances in 1985. He

would make his entrance in this flamboyant costume, emerging from a twelve-foot replica of a Fabergé Easter egg that was
specially constructed when Liberace was asked to be part of
Radio City Music Hall's Easter show. It became one of his most
spectacular and memorable shows and costumes.
Underneath a fabulous cape, the costume, constructed
from pink gabardine and silk, consists of a tailcoat, jumpsuit,
ruffled cuffs, ruffled jabot, bow tie, broach, and matching boots.
It is encrusted with silk satin appliqués, pastel seed and bugle
beads, AB crystal sewn-on stones, hanging AB crystal pennant
jewels, AB-finished clear paillettes, and pearls.
The cutaway coat begins with an underlayer of silver bugle
beads embroidered in a moiré pattern. On this are appliquéd
flowers in peach, rose, and red lamé and red silk satin. These
are enhanced with rocaille and seed beads in the same colors
with the addition of lavender and aqua. The jacket is further
embellished with silver bugle beads surrounding large AB crystal, pear -shaped, sewn-on jewels and rhinestones. Pearls and
hanging AB crystal pennant jewels complete the design.
Pink silk satin lapels are embellished with a matching
beaded and appliquéd pattern using the same stones, beads,
and pearls, but on a smaller level. The ruffled cuffs and jabot
are accentuated with sewn-on AB crystal rhinestones. An oversize pink bow tie and band collar hold a rhinestone, heartshaped broach. Interior shirt sleeves are attached to the coat's
lining, but are removable.
The vest is worked overall in a loose paisley pattern of silver
bugle beads surrounding large AB crystal, pear-shaped, sewn-on
jewels, and rhinestones. The pattern is accented with pearls. The
separation between "vest" and "pants" is created with two rows
of silver bugle beads and a row of sewn-on AB crystal rhinestones.
The pants also have silver bugle beads in a moiré pattern. Down
the side of each leg are bugle bead, rhinestone, and appliqué patterns, which match those found on the jacket.
Matching boots by Di Fabrizio were constructed from the
same pink gabardine as the jumpsuit and feature the same embroidered and rhinestoned pattern.
The cape is made predominately of three shades of pink
turkey feather boas stitched onto a heavy pink cotton duck fabric and lined in shiny pink lamé. Clear paillettes with an AB finish are scattered over it. From center back, the cape measures
nine feet long and twenty-six feet wide. The cape's back yoke
has the same appliqué and beading patterns as the coat. Its
large, detachable collar is embroidered in a leaf motif comprising silver bugle beads and crystal rocaille beads. The rest of the
collar is filled in with the same bugle-bead moiré pattern, AB
crystal rhinestones, and pearls. The collar is edged in several
rows of long coque feathers in three shades of pink.

Christmas Suit and Cape

Liberace first wore this festive red-and-white costume in
1980 at the Las Vegas Hilton during Christmas season. It
was worn again during his performances in 1985 at Radio
City Music Hall and his last performance ever, which was
in 1986 at Radio City Music Hall. The costume can also be
seen on his 1981 Christmas card.
w i n t e r 2013

theatre design

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 2013