Press
"Let other designers take credit for the garb on Parisian catwalks ... Those fashion hotshots haven’t helped forge a brand-new world, as Kendra Rai has with her costumes for ... Carlo Gozzi’s “The Green Bird.”
"Let other designers take credit for the garb on Parisian catwalks ... Those fashion hotshots haven’t helped forge a brand-new world, as Kendra Rai has with her costumes for ... Carlo Gozzi’s “The Green Bird.”
Extravagant and brilliantly colored, whimsical yet referencing the commedia dell’arte tradition that influenced this 18th-century Italian play, Rai’s inventions conjure up a realm of carnivalesque splendor and lunacy that seems a natural home for Gozzi’s sprawling fairy tale."
Extravagant and brilliantly colored, whimsical yet referencing the commedia dell’arte tradition that influenced this 18th-century Italian play, Rai’s inventions conjure up a realm of carnivalesque splendor and lunacy that seems a natural home for Gozzi’s sprawling fairy tale."
“But even by Constellation standards ... 'The Green Bird' promises vibrant fireworks, thanks to costume designer Kendra Rai..."
“But even by Constellation standards ... 'The Green Bird' promises vibrant fireworks, thanks to costume designer Kendra Rai..."
Constellation Theatre
"Kendra Rai’s breathtakingly surrealist costumes ... magnify the constant suffering and torture of the bizarre beasts."
"Kendra Rai’s breathtakingly surrealist costumes ... magnify the constant suffering and torture of the bizarre beasts."
"...the limber beast ensemble crouches and springs, looking weirdly alien and amphibian in costume designer Kendra Rai’s mash of textures and spikes and horns."
"...the limber beast ensemble crouches and springs, looking weirdly alien and amphibian in costume designer Kendra Rai’s mash of textures and spikes and horns."
"Characters are draped beneath layers of designer Kendra Rai’s extravagant coats, capes, vests, and wigs, and often arrive in disguise."
"Characters are draped beneath layers of designer Kendra Rai’s extravagant coats, capes, vests, and wigs, and often arrive in disguise."
"This is grown up fun, never a slapdash goof... Lady Davenant's costume is designer Kendra Rai's wackiest -- the boots alone are a riot..."
"This is grown up fun, never a slapdash goof... Lady Davenant's costume is designer Kendra Rai's wackiest -- the boots alone are a riot..."
"... Kendra Rai, whose costumes not only had to look elegant but practical enough to be changed at a ridiculous pace."
"... Kendra Rai, whose costumes not only had to look elegant but practical enough to be changed at a ridiculous pace."
"... costume designer Kendra Rai revels in the cabaret performers’ outre garb"
"... costume designer Kendra Rai revels in the cabaret performers’ outre garb"
"Kendra Rai’s bold burlesque costumes delight"
"Kendra Rai’s bold burlesque costumes delight"
"The leads and ensemble are called upon to don countless period costumes in a vast array of styles ... The Emcee alone wears at least a dozen creative pieces. Costume Designer Kendra Rai was more than up to the task and should receive formal recognition for her exceptional work."
"The leads and ensemble are called upon to don countless period costumes in a vast array of styles ... The Emcee alone wears at least a dozen creative pieces. Costume Designer Kendra Rai was more than up to the task and should receive formal recognition for her exceptional work."
"Tinker Bell ... is a riveting figure whose lime-green dress swirls with tiny lights and whose twitchy movements hint at the feral energy she channels. (Kendra Rai designed the show's expressive costumes.)"
"Tinker Bell ... is a riveting figure whose lime-green dress swirls with tiny lights and whose twitchy movements hint at the feral energy she channels. (Kendra Rai designed the show's expressive costumes.)"
"Kendra Rai’s costumes are whimsical: The pirates’ getups suggest exotic shores by way of Greenwich Village, and Tink’s lightning-bug dress is a work of art."
"Kendra Rai’s costumes are whimsical: The pirates’ getups suggest exotic shores by way of Greenwich Village, and Tink’s lightning-bug dress is a work of art."
"Kendra Rai has created a suite of fascinating costumes that includes sleek mermaids, a pirate crew out of an S&M bordello, and joyously feral Lost Kids."
"Kendra Rai has created a suite of fascinating costumes that includes sleek mermaids, a pirate crew out of an S&M bordello, and joyously feral Lost Kids."
"Add Kendra Rai’s costumes to the roster of fabulousness ... The masks, too, are first-rate"
"Add Kendra Rai’s costumes to the roster of fabulousness ... The masks, too, are first-rate"
"Kendra Rai, who has already proven her talents several times over, truly out-does herself with a myriad of costumes and finely-executed masks."
"Kendra Rai, who has already proven her talents several times over, truly out-does herself with a myriad of costumes and finely-executed masks."
"The costumes by Kendra Rai are not only colorful but they masterfully allow the multiple quick changes for the ensemble to re-suit up and represent the seemingly hundreds of monkeys, mortals, monsters, and gods that the story requires."
"The costumes by Kendra Rai are not only colorful but they masterfully allow the multiple quick changes for the ensemble to re-suit up and represent the seemingly hundreds of monkeys, mortals, monsters, and gods that the story requires."
"Costumes by Kendra Rai reveal the “read” for each character without a word spoken."
"Costumes by Kendra Rai reveal the “read” for each character without a word spoken."
"theatrically garish fairy-tale garb, skillfully rendered by costume designer Kendra Rai"
"theatrically garish fairy-tale garb, skillfully rendered by costume designer Kendra Rai"
"Kendra Rai has draped the performers in quintessentially Synetic finery, with layers of wafty, mystical fabric and dynamic, enigmatic make-up. The Beast’s costume was particularly theatrical and effective."
"Kendra Rai has draped the performers in quintessentially Synetic finery, with layers of wafty, mystical fabric and dynamic, enigmatic make-up. The Beast’s costume was particularly theatrical and effective."
"all of the costumes by Kendra Rai, are quite elaborate and, without giving away too much, often cleverly designed to figure prominently in the stage action."
"all of the costumes by Kendra Rai, are quite elaborate and, without giving away too much, often cleverly designed to figure prominently in the stage action."
"Costume designer Kendra Rai does not disappoint. Well known to Synetic fans and the Helen Hayes Awards committee ... she has outdone herself with eyepopping creations."
"Costume designer Kendra Rai does not disappoint. Well known to Synetic fans and the Helen Hayes Awards committee ... she has outdone herself with eyepopping creations."
"Costume designer Kendra Rai is full of imaginative touches"
"Costume designer Kendra Rai is full of imaginative touches"
"Kendra Rai did an excellent job of designing the costumes. They were varied and each character had a distinct color palette. Regency era clothing is not simple. Rai’s attention to detail was stunning."
"Kendra Rai did an excellent job of designing the costumes. They were varied and each character had a distinct color palette. Regency era clothing is not simple. Rai’s attention to detail was stunning."
"Kendra Rai designed the period frocks and other costumes, which ... may particularly cheer audiences still in withdrawal from the dress-ogling opportunities of “Downton Abbey.”
"Kendra Rai designed the period frocks and other costumes, which ... may particularly cheer audiences still in withdrawal from the dress-ogling opportunities of “Downton Abbey.”
"But the hands-down best production element of this show are the costumes, designed by Kendra Rai. You name it, and it’s probably in there; flowy skirts, patterned head wraps, dreadlocks and beanies, tie-dye prints and sandals…I could go on for a while, and those are just the casual characters! The real “wow” factor are the bird costumes, with multitudes of feathers and flamboyantly cut, brightly-colored suits. Bird Heads ... are beyond simple costumes; they’re works of art."
"But the hands-down best production element of this show are the costumes, designed by Kendra Rai. You name it, and it’s probably in there; flowy skirts, patterned head wraps, dreadlocks and beanies, tie-dye prints and sandals…I could go on for a while, and those are just the casual characters! The real “wow” factor are the bird costumes, with multitudes of feathers and flamboyantly cut, brightly-colored suits. Bird Heads ... are beyond simple costumes; they’re works of art."
"In a lighthearted but educational riff on the history of Jamaica, some actors ... double as birds of various nationalities: Spanish birds wearing conquistador armor, British colonizer birds in 19th-century attire, and so on. (Kendra Rai designed the vibrant costumes for the show...)"
"In a lighthearted but educational riff on the history of Jamaica, some actors ... double as birds of various nationalities: Spanish birds wearing conquistador armor, British colonizer birds in 19th-century attire, and so on. (Kendra Rai designed the vibrant costumes for the show...)"