New Exhibition Featuring the Artistry of Disney Costumes to Open at MoPOP in October

The Museum of Pop Culture today announced the October opening of Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume in partnership with the Walt Disney Archives. Through more than 70 original items including ball gowns, sorcerers' capes, military uniforms, tiaras, and of course glass slippers, the exhibition immerses visitors into the world of Disney and shows how our understanding of its iconic characters is shaped through the artistry and creativity of its costumes. Watch for more information on their website.

"In film, television, and theater, costuming is a tremendously powerful tool for storytelling and character development," said MoPOP Executive Director Alexis Lee. "Disney in particular is a master of the art and sets a standard for using wardrobe as a device for creative expression."

The exhibit includes costumes from some of Hollywood's preeminent designers, past and present, including Academy Award®-winners Colleen Atwood, Sandy Powell, and Tony Walton, as well as Emmy® winner Ellen Mirojnick and Emmy nominees Eduardo Castro and Penny Rose.

Visitors will experience "Cinderella's Workshop," a gallery featuring the beloved fairy-tale character's dresses from her numerous Disney incarnations, including 1997's Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella; 2014's Into the Woods; the 2015 live-action reimagining of the animated masterpiece Cinderella; and the ABC hit series Once Upon a Time.

The main gallery will be divided into three sections: "Disney Heroes," "Disney Villains," and "Spaces Between," reserved for the antiheroes whose fascinating journeys make them among Disney's most complex characters. There will also be interactive elements and plenty of chances for photo-ops.

Among the costumes included in the "Disney Heroes" section are Belle's village dress and ballgown from 2017's Beauty and the Beast; Giselle and Prince Edward's costumes from Enchanted; and two iconic Mary Poppins "traveling dresses": one from the 1964 original film and the other from 2019's Mary Poppins Returns,. "Disney Villains" ensembles include the trio of wonderfully wicked witches from 1993's Hocus Pocus, the duo of dresses worn by the stepsisters in 2015's Cinderella, and the dress worn by the incomparable Bette Davis in 1978's Return from Witch Mountain. And "Spaces Between" includes Maleficent's gown from the 2014 film, as well as the Evil Queen and Hook's costumes from Once Upon a Time.

MoPOP is the first museum to show the exhibition which premiered at last year's D23 Expo - the biennial event of the official Disney fan club. More information on the exhibition, including the opening date in October and press preview opportunities, will be announced later in the year. Visit our press room for images available now.

Now in its 20th year, MoPOP is a leading-edge nonprofit museum in Seattle, dedicated to the ideas and risk-taking that fuel contemporary pop culture. With a mission to make creative expression a life-changing force by offering experiences that inspire and connect our communities, MoPOP reaches multigenerational audiences through our collections, exhibitions, educational programs and community partnerships. At MoPOP, artists, audiences, and ideas converge, bringing understanding, interpretation, and scholarship to the pop culture of our time. For more information, visit MoPOP.org.

For nearly five decades, the Walt Disney Archives has carefully safeguarded the most treasured items from The Walt Disney Company's history, including original scripts, movie props and costumes, Walt Disney's correspondence and script notes, theme park artifacts, merchandise, millions of archival photographs, and many of Walt's personal effects. Founded by Disney Legend Dave Smith in 1970, the Walt Disney Archives is a vital resource for every part of Disney, as well as an important research center for Disney scholars, researchers, and writers. The Archives also shares its countless pieces with Disney fans everywhere through its exhibitions and close association with D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.

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