A Message to the City from Pete Rush

Good morning. It’s Thursday, it’s nice out, and we’re getting closer to the weekend. Closer to that unbelievably warm Sunday in the forecast.

For a bolt of creative inspiration, we turn to the scenic and costume designer Pete Rush, who turns sketches into tangible worlds for theaters big and small, from ACT and the 5th Avenue to Seattle Shakespeare Company and WET.

In his video today, Pete makes a new outfit (!) out of fabric he had sitting in his apartment (!?) and then models it for us (!!!).

“As you can imagine, there is not a lot of work for us theater artists these days,” Pete says. “And just like the rest of you, I am stuck here alone in my Capitol Hill apartment. And I’ve got to be honest, it’s sorta driving me crazy. I’m the kind of person who’s always working on several project and keeps moving.”

So what has he been doing?

“I’ve been designing and making clothes for myself. I wake up each morning and I look at what I have around. I might look in my big trunk full of fabric. And I’ll sit down and sketch out an idea and basically say: All right, I can make this. Then, I’ll develop a pattern, and cut the fabric, and stitch it together, and finish it—and voila.”

Sickening. Courtesy of Pete Rush

If you need more fabulous gay creativity in your life, direct your attention to Pete’s Instagram.

Instead of a boring list of all the shows Pete has designed—not boring because of the shows, but boring because it would be so long—we thought we’d give you a visual tour of some of Pete’s recent achievements. If you go to the theater, you will remember some of these designs.

Pete created this dress for Jinkx Monsoon to wear in the 5th Avenue’s Rent. Tracy Martin/Courtesy 5th Avenue

Pete designed and built all of Jessica Skerritt’s looks in Little Shop of Horrors at ACT. Chris Bennion/Courtesy of ACT

Pete designed costumes for Romeo + Juliet at ACT. Chris Bennion/Courtesy of ACT

Pete was nominated for a Gregory Award for scenic design this Feathers & Teeth set at WET. Courtesy of WET

Pete was nominated for a Gregory Award for his costumes in The Legend of Georgia McBride at ACT. Chris Bennion/Courtesy of ACT

Pete designed the set for The Picture of Dorian Gray at Book-It. Photo by John Ulman/Courtesy of Book-It

This is but a small sampling of Pete’s amazing work. He’s been nominated for a Gregory Award countless times, although he’s never won. “I’m like the Susan Lucci of the Gregory’s,” he jokes. But awards are arbitrary, and Pete’s talents are timeless.

Thank you, Pete, for showing us how you do what you do—on the floor of your apartment, no less.

And then for that fashionista eleganza extravaganza there at the end. A chic new look for spring.

Pete’s thrown down the gauntlet, people.

What are you going to do with your day?

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Previously in this series:

Trent Moorman’s message to the city on May 6.

Renée Valencia’s message to the city on May 5.

Justin Huertas’s message to the city on May 4.

Charles Mudede’s message to the city on May 1.

Kathryn Rathke’s message to the city on April 30.

Anthony White’s message to the city on April 30.

Miss Texas 1988’s message to the city.

Matt Bishop’s message on April 27.

Cherdonna’s message to the city on April 26.

Shenandoah Davis’s message to the city on April 25.

Lorena González’s message to the city on April 24.

Clyde Petersen’s message to the city on April 23.

David Ritt’s message to the city on April 22.

Sara Porkalob’s message to the city on April 21.

Julia Sweeney’s message to the city on April 20.

Linda Derschang’s message to the city on April 19.

Molly Sides’s message to the city on April 18.

Nick Garrison’s message to the city on April 17.

Tomo Nakayama’s message to the city on April 16.

Rebecca M. Davis’s message to the city April 15.

Heather McHugh’s message to the city on April 14.

Brandon O’Neill’s message to the city on April 13.

Kate Wallich’s message to the city on April 12.

Rebecca Brown’s message to the city on April 11.

Lucien Postlewaite’s message to the city on April 10.

Betty Wetter’s message to the city on April 9.

Amanda Morgan’s message to the city on April 8.

Nancy Guppy’s message to the city on April 7.

Jonathan Biss’s message to the city on April 6.

Chris Jeffries’s message to the city on April 5.

Lesley Hazleton’s message to the city on April 4.

John Roderick’s message to the city on April 3.

Bill Carty’s message to the city on April 2.

Price Suddarth’s message to the city on April 1.

Kary Wayson’s message to the city on March 31.

Ellen Forney’s message to the city on March 30.

Major Scales’s message to the city on March 29.

E. J. Koh’s message to the city on March 28.

Ken Jennings’s message to the city on March 27.

Demarre McGill’s message to the city on March 26.

Lynn Shelton’s Message to the City on March 25th.

Timothy White Eagle’s message to the city on March 24.

Cookie Couture’s message to the city on March 23.

Sarah Rudinoff’s message to the city on March 22.

John Osebold’s message to the city on March 21.

Ben Gibbard’s message to the city on March 20.

Nathan Chan’s message to the city on March 19.