The American Association of Community Theaters (AACT) recently announced their biannual awards at AACTFest 2023 in Louisville Kentucky and gave Richard Stephens of Port Angeles its Outstanding Costume Design Award for his work on Port Angeles Community Players 2022 production of “The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley” —which he also directed.

Stephens was chosen from among other designers representing AACT member theaters across the country who submitted written statements and photos of their work for a specific production.

“I am thrilled for the Playhouse,” Stephens said. “It shows that even in a small town in the corner of the continent our local theater can produce great art that will resonate and can compete with great theatrical companies across the country.”

He said he is happy to share the award with set designer Tim Thorn” who created the elegant set which these costumes were showcased in,” and that he is grateful to “a small but exceptionally gifted crew of dedicated stitchers who helped with the build of this show including Melody Todnem, Rebekah Clark and Sharon Reuter.”

AACT is a non-profit organization providing support and promotion for community theaters in the U.S. Every two years they produce a celebration of all aspects of community theater.

AACT adjudicators noted, “Each of the costumes shown in the production images were beautifully tailored. The overall fit and finish of each of these costumes showcases a strong command of stitching skills and understanding of fabric. While the designer mentioned in their statement, that they ‘did not always have the full benefit of color or fabric choice — it was often what did I have, what did I have enough of’, the audience would never have known. The attention to details, such as trim and accessories, gave personality to each of the costume and highlighted just who these characters were meant to be. With the choices that the designer (Richard Stephens) made, they created a cohesive world that clearly showed and defined the class distinctions found within Regency clothing.”

In addition to the costumes that had been built earlier for “Miss Bennet Christmas at Pemberley” the year before, Stephens and his team built 34 costume pieces and accessories. The Players will produce the third play, “Georgianna & Kitty Christmas at Pemberley,” in December.

“We couldn’t be happier for Richard and for our local theater community. He so richly deserves this award. It is a testament to his passion for theater, and his knowledge of era specific costuming,” says Barbara Frederick, PACP Board President. “His vision and talents have lead our theater to producing memorable productions”.

Stephens has been a costume designer and builder for over 35 years, creating costumes for television commercials, equity theater in Seattle as well as locally for the Port Angeles Community Playhouse, Peninsula College, Olympic Theatre Arts and more. Describing himself as a “fashion anthropologist”, Stephens regularly speaks on topics of historic and fantasy costuming. He was a founding member of Beyond Reality Costumer’s Guild, the Seattle chapter of the International Costumer’s Guild and has competed and won in state and national sci-fi costume competitions. Besides “The Wickhams”, Stephens also designed for “The Dresser” at the Playhouse and “Medea” at Peninsula College last spring, which he also directed. He is a PACP Life Member and currently serves on the board of the Port Angeles Community Players where he chairs the Wardrobe department.

Photo courtesy of Port Angeles Community Players / Richard Stephens of Port Angeles won the Outstanding Costume Design Award from the American Association of Community Theaters AACTFest 2023 recently.