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Broadway's Greatest Fashions Come Alive With "Keeping Up With The Costumes"

Why be Frankenstein for Halloween when you could be Evita or Dolly Levi?

Ever wonder what becomes of a Broadway show's gorgeous costumes after the curtain comes down for the last time?

Well, we've found them.

The Theatre Development Fund's Costume Collection houses more than 80,000 items of clothing and accessories donated from Broadway and off-Broadway shows, operas, films and other productions.

If venturing to the TDF warehouse in Astoria and rifling through thousands of garments in the hopes of finding Eva Peron's "Buenos Aires" dress isn't high on your to-do list, Keeping Up With The Costumes is an expertly curated Tumblr of some of the collection's greatest pieces.

The site has catalogued a dress a day since 2013, and each post includes wry commentary and notes about the garment's role in theater history.

Take a look at some highlights below.

"The magic of the Costume Collection is that sometimes costumes can look one way, but they are meant to be used for another period. I do believe this came from a show set in the '20s, but to me it looks very '80s."

"Picture it: It’s the '70s and you're on the dance floor at Studio 54! The reason you got in was because of this top. The beads and sequins move wonderfully to the music. However, you have to take many rest breaks because it weighs about 15lbs. But it moves to magically under the stage lights!"

Frances Conroy got cinched into this dress in a 2000 production of The Rehearsal

"Take a moment and relax. Why not take a yacht trip around the Mediterranean? While you do that make sure you’re wearing something relaxing and flashy. Oh you don’t have anything to wear? Here, throw on this and no one will question you. I love this print, it’s so tropical!"

This dress was worn by Heidi Blickenstaff in the not-so-warmly received Addams Family. musical.

"I love the daffodil print and the feel of the fabric is very fragile and soft. The character is supposed to be very modest and uptight and I feel the high collar and long sleeves definitely achieve this feeling."

Kelly Bishop, a Tony winner for her portrayal of Sheila in the original A Chorus Line, wore this Elsa Schiaparelli dress in a Papermill Playhouse production of Mame.

And this number was actually worn by Rosalind Russell in the film version.

"In Follies, when Sally says to Ben 'I should have worn green, I wore green the last time.' I imagine this is the dress Sally would have worn to the reunion.

I know it’s a touch older than Sally may want, but how could Ben NOT notice Sally in this dress? There is so much to notice about this dress! The beading and the flower patterns! The ending of Follies may have been different, I am just saying."

"If The Jetsons ever gets a stage version, Judy Jetson would definitely wear this."

Just about everything in the costume collection is for rent, but check with the TDF staff to find out how.

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