Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
You've seen her work. You just might not know her name. For five decades, dressmaker Barbara Matera constructed the costumes for Broadway's biggest stars, in Broadway's biggest shows. Matera's workshop created costumes for over 100 shows, including Cabaret, Wicked, The Lion King, Dreamgirls, A Chorus Line, Mamma Mia!, Aida, and Follies. Millions of theatergoers, opera fans, and film audiences have seen Matera's artistry without knowing the expert dressmaker that executed the costume designer's vision.
In this 1996 episode of THIRTEEN's City Arts, step inside Matera's legendary New York costume shop for a behind-the-scenes look at a typical day — which includes fittings with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Faye Dunaway, and Elaine Paige, and with Nathan Lane during his Tony-winning turn in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
From Broadway to Hollywood, Matera's shop created costumes for theater, television, and film, executing designs for some of the most celebrated designers in the business, including William Ivey Long.
Subscribe to a THIRTEEN newsletter to stay informed: qrco.de/BroadwayAndBeyond2026
The WNET Group presents Broadway and Beyond, a special collection of Broadway and arts programming, and archival selections from the THIRTEEN Vault, premiering in May and June.
City Arts was THIRTEEN's showcase for the tri-state area's arts and culture. The program delivered insightful introductions, on-location features, profiles, news segments, and more.
#BarbaraMatera #CostumeDesign #Costumes #Design #Broadway #OffBroadway #Theater #Play #OnStage #Performance #THIRTEEN #NathanLane #FayeDunaway #BehindTheScenes #NewYorkCity #MikhailBaryshnikov #FayeDunaway #Archives #ElainePaige
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For full episodes, check out thirteen.org
Facebook: facebook.com/thirteenwnet
Instagram: instagram.com/thirteenwnet
TikTok: tiktok.com/@thirteenwnet
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THIRTEEN is one of America’s most respected and innovative public media providers. Part of The WNET Group, THIRTEEN is a unique cultural and educational institution that harnesses the power of television and electronic media to inform, enlighten, entertain and inspire. The flagship public television station of the New York City tri-state area and the most-watched public television channel in the nation, THIRTEEN reaches millions of people with programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the news of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature, and invites people of all ages to have fun while learning.
You've seen her work. You just might not know her name. For five decades, dressmaker Barbara Matera constructed the costumes for Broadway's biggest stars, in Broadway's biggest shows. Matera's workshop created costumes for over 100 shows, including Cabaret, Wicked, The Lion King, Dreamgirls, A Chorus Line, Mamma Mia!, Aida, and Follies. Millions of theatergoers, opera fans, and film audiences have seen Matera's artistry without knowing the expert dressmaker that executed the costume designer's vision.
In this 1996 episode of THIRTEEN's City Arts, step inside Matera's legendary New York costume shop for a behind-the-scenes look at a typical day — which includes fittings with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Faye Dunaway, and Elaine Paige, and with Nathan Lane during his Tony-winning turn in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
From Broadway to Hollywood, Matera's shop created costumes for theater, television, and film, executing designs for some of the most celebrated designers in the business, including William Ivey Long.
Subscribe to a THIRTEEN newsletter to stay informed: qrco.de/BroadwayAndBeyond2026
The WNET Group presents Broadway and Beyond, a special collection of Broadway and arts programming, and archival selections from the THIRTEEN Vault, premiering in May and June.
City Arts was THIRTEEN's showcase for the tri-state area's arts and culture. The program delivered insightful introductions, on-location features, profiles, news segments, and more.
#BarbaraMatera #CostumeDesign #Costumes #Design #Broadway #OffBroadway #Theater #Play #OnStage #Performance #THIRTEEN #NathanLane #FayeDunaway #BehindTheScenes #NewYorkCity #MikhailBaryshnikov #FayeDunaway #Archives #ElainePaige
Please SUBSCRIBE if you enjoyed: youtube.com/@ThirteenWNET?sub_confirmation=1
For full episodes, check out thirteen.org
Facebook: facebook.com/thirteenwnet
Instagram: instagram.com/thirteenwnet
TikTok: tiktok.com/@thirteenwnet
-----------------
THIRTEEN is one of America’s most respected and innovative public media providers. Part of The WNET Group, THIRTEEN is a unique cultural and educational institution that harnesses the power of television and electronic media to inform, enlighten, entertain and inspire. The flagship public television station of the New York City tri-state area and the most-watched public television channel in the nation, THIRTEEN reaches millions of people with programming that celebrates arts and culture, offers insightful commentary on the news of the day, explores the worlds of science and nature, and invites people of all ages to have fun while learning.
