Toni-Leslie James Talks Costume Design For AMAZING GRACE In New Video Featurette

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Posted by Amazing Grace Musical on Friday, May 8, 2015

Go behind the scenes of the costume design for Amazing Grace!

Brand new biomusical Amazing Grace is currently in previews on Broadway and a brand new video featurette highlighting the costume design of the show with Toni-Leslie James is now available to view.

"One of the biggest challenges in creating the detail is that there are six women and ten men in the ball... at one time, I was surrounded by so much fabric that I just looked around and had a little cry," James says with a laugh in discussing designing the elaborate ball scene in the show.

"It's basically finding the fabric and the scale to recreate the costumes, because the scale of the 18th century that we are in - early 18th century - is really completely different from the scale of the costumes from the late-18th century," James adds.

"It's also you're trying to create individuality - you don't want it to just be a gown out there; there is some individuality in the costume... you are also trying to give the women and the men that are wearing the costumes personality when they are wearing the costumes," James observes.

"Every costume designer is grateful to work in the 18th century and this is the first 18th century production that I've done, so it's just been a ball. I really appreciate the opportunity," James concludes.

Follow Amazing Grace on Facebook here.

The official description of Amazing Grace is as follows: "AMAZING GRACE is a world premiere musical based on the awe-inspiring true story behind the world's most beloved song. A captivating tale of romance, rebellion and redemption, this radiant production follows one man whose incredible journey ignited a historic wave of change. John Newton (Tony Award® nominee Josh Young), a willful and musically talented young Englishman, faces a future as uncertain as the turning tide. Coming of age as Britain sits atop an international empire of slavery, he finds himself torn between following in the footsteps of his father - a slave trader - and embracing the more compassionate views of his childhood sweetheart. But when a perilous voyage on the high seas finds John in his darkest hour, a transformative moment of self-reckoning inspires a blazing anthem of hope that will finally guide him home. Brimming with emotion and adventure, Amazing Grace is an unforgettable musical saga that captures the spirit of history's sweetest and most powerful sound: freedom."

More information on Amazing Grace is available at the official site here.

Toni-Leslie James has designed for numerous Broadway productions as well as many regional, Off-Broadway and West End musicals including THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, FINIAN'S RAINBOW, BERNARDA ALBA, DESSA ROSE, CHITA RIVERA: THE DANCER'S LIFE, ELEGIES, LITTLE FISH, MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM, KING HEDLEY II, MARIE CHRISTINE, FOOTLOOSE, A NEW BRAIN, CHRONICLE OF A DEATH FORETOLD, ANGELS IN AMERICA and more.

View the new video featurette for Amazing Grace below.

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