Intimate Apparel

In New York City in 1905, a young African-American woman, Esther, pursues her dreams of becoming an independent seamstress and opening a beauty parlor for black women. She sews striking undergarments for clients who range from wealthy white patrons to black prostitutes. By way of a mutual acquaintance, she begins receiving beautiful letters from a lonesome Caribbean man named George Armstrong who is working on the Panama Canal. Being illiterate, Esther enlists the help of her patrons to respond to the letters. Gracefully exploring the lost or hidden stories of New York’s early 20th century black population, and drawing on Nottage’s own family history, the play insists that, in a world where even a bolt of wool or silk can come with a story, every person deserves their story, too. FPCT member Belle Burr leads this production. She is one of the creative minds behind Drop Three Improv/Sketch Comedy and last directed Stop Kiss at Vagabond Players as well as two plays in the 2022 10x10x10 festival at FPCT.