Born 8/22/28 – 1/21/11 Theoni V. Aldredge was one of the greatest designers of our era. She designed costumes fro hundreds of theatre productions. The Greek-American costume designer trained at the American School in Athens and at Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Her first job on Broadway was in 1959 for “Sweet Bird of Youth”. For 20 years Theoni designed musicals for Michael Bennett and was Joseph Papp’s principal designer.

Her fabulous creations were in over 300 stage and film productions. Some of her work was the following:

Follies (2001 revival)
Annie, Three Sisters (both 1997 revival)
The School of Scandal (1995 revival)
Nick and Nora, The Secret Garden (1991)
Oh, Kay! (1990 revival)
Gypsy (1989 revival)
Chess (1988)
Dreamgirls (1987 revival)
The Rink (1984)
La Cage aux Folles (1983)
Private Lives (1983 revival)
Dreamgirls, Onward Victoria, Woman of the Year (1981)
42nd Street, Barnum (1980)
Ballroom, The Grand Tour (1979)
Annie (1977)
Threepenny Opera (1977 revival)
The Belle of Amherst (1976)
A Chorus Line (1975)
That Championship Season (1972)
Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Incomparable Max (1971)
The Only Game in Town, I Never Sang for My Father (1968)
You Know I Can’t Hear You When the Water’s Running, Little Murders, Illya Darling (1967)
A Delicate Balance (1966)
Cactus Flower (1965)
Luv, Anyone can Whistle (1964)
I Can Get it for You Wholesale (1962)
The Best Man (1960)

She also did a number of costume designs for the following films:

The Mirror has Two Faces, The First Wives Club, Mrs. Winterbourne (all 1996)
Adams Family Values (1993)
Moonstruck (1987)
Ghost Busters (1984)
Annie (1982)
Can’t Stop the Music, Loving Couples (1980)
The Rose (1979)
Eyes of Laura Mars, The Cheap Detective (1978)
Network (1976)
Three Days of the Condor (1975)
The Great Gatsby (1974)
I Never Sang For My Father (1970)
Last Summer (1969)

Theoni received the following awards:

2002 Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award from the Theatre Development Fund
2001 Tony Award Best Costume Design (Follies, nominee)
1991 Tony Award Best Costume Design (The Secret Garden, nominee)
1990 Tony Award Best Costume Design (Gypsy, nominee)
1984 Tony Award Best Costume Design (La Cage aux Folles, winner)
1984 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design (La Cage aux Folles, winner)
1982 Tony Award Best Costume Design (Dreamgirls, nominee)
1982 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design (Dreamgirls, nominee)
1981 Tony Award Best Costume Design (42nd Street, nominee)
1981 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design (42nd Street, winner)
1981 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design (Onward Victoria, nominee)
1980 Tony Award Best Costume Design (Barnum, winner)
1979 Tony Award Best Costume Design (Ballroom, nominee)
1979 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design (Ballroom, nominee)
1977 Tony Award Best Costume Design (Annie, winner)
1977 Tony Award Best Costume Design (Threepenny Opera, nominee)
1977 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design (Annie, winner)
1976 Tony Award Best Costume Design (A Chorus Line, nominee)
1976 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design (Trelawny of the Wells, nominee)
1974 Tony Award Best Costume Design (The Au Pair Man, nominee)
1973 Tony Award Best Costume Design (Much Ado About Nothing, nominee)
1973 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design (Much Ado About Nothing, winner)
1972 Tony Award Best Costume Design (Two Gentlemen of Verona, nominee)
1972 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design (Two Gentlemen of Verona, winner)
1970 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Costume Design (Peer Gynt, winner)
1961 Tony Award Best Costume Design (The Devil’s Advocate, nominee)