A CHORUS LINE, LA CAGE, DREAMGIRLS Costumer Theoni V. Aldredge Dies at 78

By: Jan. 21, 2011
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Theoni V. Alredge, the costume designer for such Broadway stage hits as A Chorus Line, the original production of La Cage Aux Folles and Annie, has passed away after suffering from an infection. She was 78 years old.

Ms. Aldredge was the mind behind some of Broadway's most recognizable costumes: little orphan Annie's famous red dress, the gold top hats and dancers' outfits in the 1975 and 2006 productions of A Chorus Line, the lush dresses worn by the Dreamgirls, and the fabulously glamorous outfits for La Cage Aux Folles, to name a few.

She received three Tony awards for La Cage, Barnum, and a tie for Annie. She also won an Academy Award for her designs in the 1974 film The Great Gatsby, which starred Robert Redford and Mia Farrow. In 1990, Ms. Aldredge was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame.

Over a prolific career that spanned fifty years, Ms. Aldredge's designs made their mark on many shows and their subsequent revivals. In fact, during the 1980s, it was a rare month when there were not at least two shows running that featured her costuming - with a peak of five contemporaneous shows to her credit in 1984. 

Aldredge, who was born in Greece in 1932, is survived by her husband of 57 years, actor Tom Aldredge.

See below for a sampling of Alredge's legendary looks. For a complete list of her MANY credits, click here


A CHORUS LINE Company


Le Cagelles of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES


Le Cagelles of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES


George Hearn in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES


Blythe Danner in FOLLIES



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