By Kevin Ferrisi –

The BroadwayWorld Connecticut Awards is an annual event that honors the best of Connecticut’s vibrant theater community. Celebrating local talent, productions, and achievements, the awards recognize outstanding performances, direction, choreography, and design across a variety of theater genres. The awards are determined by a combination of public voting and industry professionals. These accolades shine a spotlight on the diverse range of performances and productions happening across the state, highlighting Connecticut’s importance as a key player in the regional theater landscape. The BroadwayWorld Connecticut Awards serve as a way to acknowledge the hard work and creativity of those involved in bringing exceptional live theater to audiences throughout the state.

Local drag staple Giganta Smalls has earned recognition for her exceptional work in costume design, securing two nominations for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Connecticut Awards in the Best Costume Design (Non-Professional) category. Her first nomination stems from her stunning work on Sondheim on Sondheim at Connecticut Theatre Company, where she brought intricate characters to life with bold, expressive costumes that enhanced the show’s narrative depth. The second nomination, shared with Kerrie Maguire, is for their collaboration on Nine, another production at the same theatre. Together, they crafted dazzling costumes that captured the elegance and emotional complexity of the musical’s characters. Giganta’s nominations highlight not only her artistic skill but also her ability to seamlessly blend design with performance, transforming each production into a visual masterpiece.

Sondheim on Sondheim offered a unique challenge for costume designer Giganta Smalls, who worked alongside director David Nunner to create a visual experience that complemented the musical concert’s focus on Stephen Sondheim’s legendary career. Unlike traditional musicals, where characters’ costumes often reveal deep insights into their personalities, Sondheim on Sondheim was centered around the music and performances. Understanding this, Giganta took a more subtle approach to her designs, pulling from the theatre’s existing collection of fancy evening wear and tailoring them to fit the actors. While the costumes were not meant to define the characters, she made sure to include key pieces that elevated the performance. For a sultry number, she crafted a striking robe, while for Sweeney Todd, she added a bloody apron to capture the iconic moment in the show. These thoughtful touches ensured the costumes supported the powerful music without overshadowing the singers, helping to bring the rich history of Sondheim’s work to life in a fresh, captivating way.

Nine presented a rich and colorful opportunity for Giganta Smalls, who was tasked with bringing the 1960s Italian world of playboy film director Guido Contini to life. The musical’s black-and-white color scheme was a challenge, yet Giganta embraced it, working closely with her co-costumer Kerrie Maguire to ensure every piece fit the vision. The musical featured a mostly female cast, offering Giganta a chance to showcase her talent for designing women’s clothing. She meticulously researched the fashion of 1960s Europe to create authentic looks for both the glamorous women and the more common folk in the story. One of her standout creations was a 12-foot-long tulle boa for the dazzling “Folies Bergère” number, where the extravagance of the costume perfectly mirrored the opulence of the scene. In the second act, Giganta was tasked with designing an explosion of colorful costumes for a chaotic film scene, which required a whole ensemble of costumes to reflect the vibrant, high-energy spectacle.

Twelve years ago, while studying theatre in college, Giganta Smalls took her first steps into the world of drag. She had always dreamed of playing female characters, but she never thought she could actually do drag – until a friend offered her the chance to play the female lead in a Pulp Fiction parody he wrote. Giganta absolutely thrived in the role, finally allowing her to embrace her feminine side without the insecurities she had once felt about her voice and posture. That experience opened the door to more female roles in college, and after graduating, she took those opportunities into local theatre. Eventually, she connected with more drag queens and began performing in bars and clubs, where drag became a place of empowerment for her. As a plus-size person, Giganta found it especially rewarding to thrive in queer nightlife, where body types like hers aren’t always embraced. Drag allowed her to carve out a space for herself and find a sense of belonging in a community that values self-expression and celebration.

From a young age, creativity sparked in her soul, fueling a passion for costume design that blossomed in unexpected ways. She started small, crafting imaginative costumes from cardboard for kids at summer theatre camps, sharing her talent while teaching others the art of storytelling through clothing. As Giganta’s drag career evolved, sewing became a lifeline in a world where fast fashion offered little for plus-sized individuals. Determined to shine on stage, she stitched her vision into reality, learning by doing and dressing herself in looks born from sheer ingenuity. Post-college, her talent was recognized in local productions, where she transitioned from acting to joining the costume team. Years later, the thread of her journey came full circle, weaving her back into the world of theatre, where her artistry earned her a BroadwayWorld nomination.

Costuming a theatrical production is a detailed and creative process that begins with a deep dive into the script and any music included in the show. For designer Giganta Smalls, this helps her understand the mood and style of the production. After familiarizing herself with the material, she meets with the director to discuss their vision and receives a cast breakdown, including which actors are in each scene or musical number. Working with her costume team (if she has one), Giganta takes measurements of the entire cast, ensuring that each design fits perfectly.

Then comes the creative process of making the wardrobe and fitting costumes during rehearsals. In non-professional theatre, she often takes on the added responsibility of hair and makeup, which requires even more research and collaboration with the director and cast. Once the show opens, Giganta’s work isn’t done – she returns weekly to clean the costumes, washing what can be laundered and keeping everything in top condition. After the show concludes, she helps sort and organize the costumes, determining which belong to the theatre and which were borrowed, then tackles the laundry one last time before storing everything away for future productions.

To vote for Giganta Smalls for Best Costume Design (Non-Professional) with the 2024 BroadwayWorld Connecticut Awards, you can visit the official BroadwayWorld website here where voting is hosted. Voting is done online, and all you need to do is register an account, if you don’t already have one, to participate. Once registered, you can browse through the list of nominees in various categories, from local performances to theater productions, and cast your vote for your favorites. The deadline for voting is December 31, 2024, so make sure to cast your votes before then. The process is straightforward and allows fans and theatergoers to support their favorite local talent and production. Participants can cast one vote per email address for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Connecticut Awards.

BroadwayWorld is a prominent online platform dedicated to providing comprehensive coverage of the Broadway theater scene, as well as regional theater, film, television, and live entertainment. Established in 2003, the site offers news, reviews, interviews, and features about the world of theater, along with exclusive content about theater productions, actors, and industry trends. BroadwayWorld is known for its extensive database of shows, a vibrant community of theater enthusiasts, and its awards program, which allows fans to vote for their favorite performances and productions. It serves as an essential resource for anyone passionate about the performing arts, both in New York and around the world.