First Place Winner!
Priscilla Queen of the Desert:
James, Chris, Greg, Luke, Terry, David B, David D, Deb
Chris came up with the costume idea on the 4th of July party at Deb’s house. The idea of creating Gumby costumes from Priscilla (the musical) was immediately liked by everyone.
Elements of the costumes:
Elements of the costumes:
Sewing responsibilities: Luke and James were recruited for costume construction.
Headpieces: Greg was later asked to help with headpieces. He was able to figure out a great headpiece design after a couple weeks of researching photos and trial and error. Each person in the group was given a different color (every color of the rainbow with an added white/black and pink) and shape to individualize each piece. Providing a further touch of personalization, each person decorated their own headpiece. The importance of ping pong (from the movie) was incorporated into Deb’s headpiece. Chris decorated Deb's headpiece by placing a special red ball on the very top.
Spandex: James, Luke and Greg were unable to locate any colorful spandex for the costumes in Columbus, but Spandex House had a large variety including a strawberry pattern! In order to make the costume a little warmer a fur jacket was added to each costume.
Shoes: Greg drew a shoe pattern, then James and Deb began working on the shoes. Deb cut 8 pairs of plywood shoes that we each had to strap on our feet (spandex covered)! James took rubber floor tiles and glued them to the bottom of the plywood to give us a little cushion and support, and attached velcro straps on the upper side of the plywood to lock our feet in place.
Suit Pattern: Luke and Greg worked out a pattern for the suit. James was the fit tester. Once the pattern was figured out, Luke would sew one, and then each person would get fitted, and then more sewing, and fitted again until everyone's suit was complete.
Greg wrote that after 3 months of fitting, refitting, and numerous hours of work, the costumes were completed only 2 days before Highball.
All members of the group have participated in HighBall on several occasions, highlights of previous costumes include cartoon characters, day of the dead, pirates, the gayest knights in all the land, and gnomes. And, James notes that despite the fact that 2012 was the most time and effort any person in their group had put into a costume, it was worth it!
Headpieces: Greg was later asked to help with headpieces. He was able to figure out a great headpiece design after a couple weeks of researching photos and trial and error. Each person in the group was given a different color (every color of the rainbow with an added white/black and pink) and shape to individualize each piece. Providing a further touch of personalization, each person decorated their own headpiece. The importance of ping pong (from the movie) was incorporated into Deb’s headpiece. Chris decorated Deb's headpiece by placing a special red ball on the very top.
Spandex: James, Luke and Greg were unable to locate any colorful spandex for the costumes in Columbus, but Spandex House had a large variety including a strawberry pattern! In order to make the costume a little warmer a fur jacket was added to each costume.
Shoes: Greg drew a shoe pattern, then James and Deb began working on the shoes. Deb cut 8 pairs of plywood shoes that we each had to strap on our feet (spandex covered)! James took rubber floor tiles and glued them to the bottom of the plywood to give us a little cushion and support, and attached velcro straps on the upper side of the plywood to lock our feet in place.
Suit Pattern: Luke and Greg worked out a pattern for the suit. James was the fit tester. Once the pattern was figured out, Luke would sew one, and then each person would get fitted, and then more sewing, and fitted again until everyone's suit was complete.
Greg wrote that after 3 months of fitting, refitting, and numerous hours of work, the costumes were completed only 2 days before Highball.
All members of the group have participated in HighBall on several occasions, highlights of previous costumes include cartoon characters, day of the dead, pirates, the gayest knights in all the land, and gnomes. And, James notes that despite the fact that 2012 was the most time and effort any person in their group had put into a costume, it was worth it!
All originally from Ohio (Columbus, Reynoldsburg, and Grove City areas), the Priscilla Queen of the Desert group work in a variety of fields: Deb, Chris and David D. work in IT, James as a chemist, Greg as an artist, Luke in change management, David B in travel, and Terry in retail management.
Regarding the most memorable moments from HighBall 2012 the group mentioned the fun of getting excited attention and photos taken by HighBallers and the silliness of having size 24 shoes to navigate the crowd and stage.
Regarding the most memorable moments from HighBall 2012 the group mentioned the fun of getting excited attention and photos taken by HighBallers and the silliness of having size 24 shoes to navigate the crowd and stage.
While Brandon Houseman was originally planning on Marge and Homer Simpson, Adam Bahgat rejected the idea of being fat and bald. Once one of his clients mentioned Marge’s twin sisters, Selma and Patty Bouvier, they happily decided to move forward with that idea about 2 weeks before HighBall.
Brandon and Adam found dresses in thrift stores, bought yellow spandex body suites, yellow make-up, and black wigs at Costume Holiday House. They later spray painted the wigs the “perfect shade of gumdrop.” Styrofoam and quilt batting supplemented these items as breasts and hips.
While Adam is originally from Upper Arlington and has attended HighBall several times, this was Brandon’s first experience since he only moved to Columbus recently from South Salem, Ohio. They both had a great time, and Brandon was even stopped by an old friend for a photo before he even recognized him.
Brandon works as the Senior Library Associate for Ohio University-Chillicothe and Adam is a Hair and Color Specialist at his own salon at German Village Salon Lofts.
Third Place Winner!
Brandon and Adam found dresses in thrift stores, bought yellow spandex body suites, yellow make-up, and black wigs at Costume Holiday House. They later spray painted the wigs the “perfect shade of gumdrop.” Styrofoam and quilt batting supplemented these items as breasts and hips.
While Adam is originally from Upper Arlington and has attended HighBall several times, this was Brandon’s first experience since he only moved to Columbus recently from South Salem, Ohio. They both had a great time, and Brandon was even stopped by an old friend for a photo before he even recognized him.
Brandon works as the Senior Library Associate for Ohio University-Chillicothe and Adam is a Hair and Color Specialist at his own salon at German Village Salon Lofts.
Third Place Winner!
James Rodgers was inspired by his favorite movie, the second “Aliens” movie, and spent about 3 months making his costume 4 years ago. Constructed with window and pipe insulation, James used vacuum tubing, polystyrene foam and paper mâché, which were flash frozen onto gortex clothing.
Originally from Centerville Ohio, James graduated from the Columbus College of Art & Design, and does freelance pencil portrait work by commission (see www.portraitsbyjames.com). James also works as a police officer in a Central Ohio suburb.
This year was James’s first HighBall experience, but he is already excited and brainstorming for next year. Creating awesome costumes including the Anubis Warrior from the Stargate movie and Mr. Freeze from the Batman movie.
Originally from Centerville Ohio, James graduated from the Columbus College of Art & Design, and does freelance pencil portrait work by commission (see www.portraitsbyjames.com). James also works as a police officer in a Central Ohio suburb.
This year was James’s first HighBall experience, but he is already excited and brainstorming for next year. Creating awesome costumes including the Anubis Warrior from the Stargate movie and Mr. Freeze from the Batman movie.
