Bringing the Circus to Life Under the Big Top

Most people only dream of running off and joining the circus. But when David Murin (TSOA ’74) was offered the job of costume designer for Ringling Brother’s Barnum & Bailey Circus in 2006, he jumped at the chance to create a glittering array of costumes for everything from tumbling trapeze artists to terrifying tigers in “The Greatest Show on Earth.”®

Costume designer David Murin (TSOA ’74)

“The whole circus experience was very liberating and tons of fun,” said Murin.

To date, Murin has outfitted more than 200 shows including acclaimed Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, regional theater productions, ballets, operas, television shows, and commercials over his 33 year career. His credits include the Broadway hit Steel Magnolias and the soap opera Ryan’s Hope, for which he won an Emmy in 1981. Yet, with all of his training and experience, creating circus costumes proved one of Murin’s greatest career challenges.

With a 100-person cast and almost 400 costumes to generate in only eight months, Murin had his work cut out for him. His creations needed to be flexible and comfortable so that each cast member could perform their death-defying stunts. And they needed to be built like iron to withstand acts like the human canon ball, which would shoot through the crowd night after night in almost 1,000 performances during the show’s two-year performance cycle. Some designers might flinch when faced with these requirements, but Murin—who was mainly known for period costumes—embraced the challenge.

“Costumes are one of the biggest visual elements in the show,” explained Murin. “This was a huge effort because the scope was so astonishingly big. The circus was definitely a horse of a different color.”

None of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for a casual lunch Murin had with longtime friend and fellow NYU alumnus Beowulf Boritt (TSOA ’96). Boritt, who had just been hired to create Ringling Brother’s set design, mentioned that project producers Kenneth and Nicole Feld (TSOA ’00) were in search of a costume designer. After hearing this, Murin raced to call his agent to set up an interview.

“When I got the call back from my agent just a few days after meeting the Feld’s, I thought he was going to tell me about a different job,” said Murin. “When he told me I had gotten the circus one, I was speechless. It happened so fast, I couldn’t believe it. I hung up the phone and just sat there stunned.”

Murin began his daunting task by pouring over massive numbers of images to help develop his vision. After that, he started sketching, filling whole notebooks with ideas for costumes. Before he knew it, the three-ring-diamond motif—a play on the three-ring-circus concept, which had been selected for set design—seamlessly translated to his designs. And in only a few weeks, Murin was able to enlist the help of more than 10 design shops across the country to produce his costumes.

Murin credits NYU’s outstanding faculty, the rigorous training he received as a theater design student, and the indispensable connections he made while in school with much of his success. “All of my teachers were very supportive,” he explained. “They were never judgmental. Nothing I made was ever too outrageous.”

The creative freedom he experienced while at NYU paid dividends. In January 2007, the circus premiered and Murin was finally able to see the creations he’d dreamed up become reality. Worn by acrobats and circus dancers, tightrope walkers, daredevils, clowns, and even elephants, his costumes helped all of these artists get into character and brought the circus to life.

Murin's best and brightest costumes were worn by Bello Nock, the irrepressible star; Tyron McFarlan, the towering ringmaster; Taba Maluenda, the fearless feline tamer; and Erendira Wallenda, the enchanting object of Bello's affection throughout the show.

“The best part is seeing them look in the mirror and having them say to me, ‘David, I got it,’” said Murin. “Everyone was so appreciative; these performers are like a family. Without a doubt, it was an experience I’ll never forget.”

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