This time of year your mind may naturally go to holiday movies, but this it's also when many movie musicals traditionally open in cinemas. Here's a cool collection of costumes and props from the big and small screen, whether they be adaptations of successful stage productions or original theatrical musical offerings.
Anne Wheeler costume worn by Zendaya
and P. T. Barnum costume worn by Hugh Jackman
in The Greatest Showman
First up are these costumes from The Greatest Showman which opened in the U.S. in December 2017 and starred Hugh Jackman as circus showman and entrepreneur 'P. T. Barham' and Zendaya as the acrobatic trapeze artist 'Anne Wheller'.
Ellen Mirojnick was Costume Designer on this original musical biopic and these circus performer costumes from the 1800s time period were photographed on display at Downtown L.A.'s FIDM Museum & Galleries in February 2018.
Fantine costume worn by Anne Hathaway
and Jean Valjean costume worn by Hugh Jackman
in Les Misérables
In 2012 the highly popular Broadway and West End of adaptation of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, Les Misérables, came to cinema screens for Christmas starring the likes of Anne Hathaway as 'Fantine', Hugh Jackman' as 'Jean Valjean', Amanda Seyfried as 'Cosette', Eddie Redmayne as 'Marius' and Russell Crowe as 'Javert'.
Paco Delgado was Oscar-nominated for his Costume Design on the epic story set in 19th century France and these looks were photographed on display at the ever-changing, but now defunct NBC Universal Experience exhibition at Universal Studios Hollywood in July 2013.
Edna Turnblad costume worn by Harvey Fierstein
in Hairspray Live!
In December 2016 NBC adapted the Hairspray musical based on John Water's classic 1988 film of the same name as a live musical event for television viewers.
In the special Harvey Fierstein reprised his role as 'Edna Turnblad', the mother of 1960s Baltimore teenager, 'Tracy', for which he won a Tony Award in the Broadway production.
Mary E. Vogt was Costume Designer on Hairspray Live! and was Emmy-nominated for her looks and this costume was photographed at L.A.'s FIDM Museum in August 2017.
Can You Imagine That? costume worn by Emily Blunt
in Mary Poppins Returns
Christmas 2018 saw the return of the beloved magical British nanny to the big screen in Disney's Mary Poppins Returns.
Emily Blunt took over from Julie Andrews who made the role famous in the 1964 original based on P. L. Travers literary creation.
Sandy Powell was Costume Designer on the musical movie sequel and was nominated for an Academy Award for her Mary Poppins Returns costumes (photographed on display at Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre in January 2019), the same year she was also Oscar-nominated for The Favourite (thereby splitting her votes).
Mary Magdalene costume worn by Sara Bareilles
and Jesus costume worn by John Legend
in Jesus Christ Superstar in Concert
Another musical that NBC adapted for television at Easter 2018 was Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, with lyrics by Tim Rice.
John Legend played 'Jesus' and Sara Bareilles played 'Mary Magdalene', with Paul Tazewell's costume designs for Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert nominated for an Emmy and captured temporarily on display at L.A.'s FIDM Museum in August 2018.
Folies Bergere dancer costume worn in Nine
In December 2009 the 1982 musical Nine, itself based on Federico Fellini's semi-autobiographical 1963 film 8 ½, was adapted for cinema audiences with an all-star cast including Daniel Day-Lewis, Kate Hudson, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Penélope Cruz, Judi Dench, Fergie and Sophia Loren.
Colleen Atwood was Oscar-nominated for her Nine movie costumes and this Folies Bergere dancer outfit was photographed on display at ArcLight Sherman Oaks in December 2009.
Rapunzel costume worn by Mackenzie Mauzy
and Prince costume worn by Billy Magnussen
in Into the Woods
At Christmastime 2014 Stephen Sondheim's 1986 Broadway musical Into the Woods was being adapted in big budget Hollywood style by Disney.
The fairytale fantasy featured an all-star cast including Meryl Streep as 'The Witch', plus Mackenzie Mauzy as 'Rapunzel' and Billy Magnussen as her 'Prince'.
Colleen Atwood was once again nominated for her Costume Design on Into the Woods and these outfits and more were snapped on display at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood in January 2015.
Captain Hook costumes worn by Christopher Walken
and pirate ship miniature in Peter Pan Live!
For December 2014 NBC decided to televise another special musical event with Peter Pan Live! with Allison Williams in the titular role as the boy who never grew up and Christopher Walken as his arch-nemesis, 'Captain Hook'.
His pirate costume (designed by Catherine Zuber) and this miniature model from the special were photographed at Universal Studios Hollywood in May 2015.
Lumière costume worn by Ewan McGregor
in Beauty and the Beast
In 2017 Disney made a live-action version of its beloved 1991 animated musical classic, Beauty and the Beast, starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens.
The billion dollar box office smash also starred Ewan McGregor was the enchanted candlestick, 'Lumière', and the costumes in the romantic fairytale were designed by Oscar nominee Jacqueline Durran.
This screen-used costume and candelabra prop were spotted at ArcLight Pasadena cinema in December 2016 to pre-promote the feature film released the following March.
Rosie costume worn by Julie Walters
and Bill costume worn by Stellan Skarsgård
in Mamma Mia! The Movie
And finally for this eclectic collection of movie wardrobes, these ABBA-esque outfits were worn by Julie Walters as 'Rosie' and Bill Skarsgård as 'Bill' in Mamma Mia! The Movie, adapted from the 1999 smash hit stage musical.
These fabulous costumes designed by Ann Roth for the 2008 romantic-comedy and were photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood in April 2012.
Hopefully this trip down memory lane will bring some joy this festive season, so if you need some holiday cheer this year these musicals with their singing, dancing and exquisite costumes should provide a welcome relief from reality at this moment. Enjoy!
