John Nasca ( -2025)
|
Prolific Director, Costume Designer, Business Manager and Company Manager for untold numbers of Chicago theaters, John Nasca has passed away. Nasca served as Artistic Director of Glitterati Productions, was a prolific costume designer for Pride Arts Chicago, Circle Theatre, Drury Lane Oakbrook Theater, Kokandy Productions and Hell in a Handbag Productions (to name just a few), and served as Business Manager for the Halsted Theatre Center.
Nasca’s many Costume Design work includes (but is by no means limited to) the following credits. For Pride Films and Plays Theatre: PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, HELLO NORMA JEANE, LOVE SUCKS!, MAURICE, SAVE THE DATE, BETHLEHEM, DETASSELING, QUEEN OF HARTS, SKIRT, THE TROUBLE WITH E, THE RITZ, BEAUTIFUL THING. For Glitterati Productions: MR. SHAW GOES TO HOLLYWOOD, MOON OVER BUFFALO. For Hell in Handbag Productions: PUSSY ON THE HOUSE, LADY X, POSEIDON! AN UPSIDEDOWN MUSICAL, DIE! MOMMIE DIE!. For North Riverside Players: NO, NO, NANETTE, GYPSY, MOON OVER BUFFALO, MIXED NUTS. For Palladium Productions: FOOTLIGHT FOLLIES, VARIETIES, OFF THE WALL, THE WOMEN, THICKER THAN WATER, COLORED LIGHTS. For Porchlight Music Theater: PHANTOM; For Drury Lane Oakbrook Theater: SOMETHINGS AFOOT. Pegasus Players: NOISES OFF, ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, TAP DANCE KID, THE GREAT WHITE HOPE; For Edge Productions: VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM; For American Blues Theater: ON THE WATERFRONT; For Circle Theater: ANNIE, YENTLE, GHOULS, CHICAGO, RIGALETTO, THE MIRACLE WORKER; Center for Performing Arts: MR. SHOWBIZ-LIBERACE MUSICAL, For Griffin Theater: CAVE LIFE; For Davis Players: EVE OF DISENCHANTMENT, GODSPELL. Nasca won the Jeff Award for Best Costume Design in 2019 for his on Kokandy Productions’ GRAND HOTEL, and he was nominated for Best Costume Design in 208 for Pride Films and Plays’ THE NANCE. Hell in a Handbag’s David Cerda had this remembrance: “Myself and the entire Handbag family mourn the loss of John Nasca, a multi talented man with a flair for elegance. I was lucky to have John dress me for several projects including Die! Mommie, Die! and I he made me feel like the chic and beautiful Angela Arden!” In 2015, his direction and costume design was lauded in Glitterati Production’s THE GLASS PROTÉGÉ: “John Nasca has directed this production with heart and energy… Mr. Nasca is given the freedom and ability to seamlessly move back and forth in time, keeping his play in continual motion… his creations are lovely and effectively evoke the time periods presented. Nella and Candice, the fictional blond bombshell of the play, actually become the fashion plates for the entire show.” |