Theatre costumes for $2? ATP, Theatre Calgary clean out the wardrobes at Saturday sale

2 Calgary theatre companies cleaned out their closets Saturday with a costume sale unlike any other

Theatre Calgary and Alberta Theatre Projects are holding a costume sale Saturday, just in time for anyone considering going out on Halloween dressed as a character from A Christmas Carol or Legally Blonde: The Musical.

The popular event offered costumes from past productions, with many on sale for $2, said Julie Elkiw, Theatre Calgary’s assistant head of wardrobe.

Even better, Elkiw added, was seeing outfits from shows that have closed get a second shot at being worn again.

“It’s really fun to see the stuff that we’ve built, and that was on our stage, and we all love so much go to a really good home -- and see other people get the opportunity to share in the fun that we have,” she said.

The truth about costumes is that once the show closes, no matter how much work went into designing them, they are mostly just filling closets, Elkiw said.

“We do need to make space,” she said.

While period costumes might not work for every occasion, Elkiw says there’s good value to be found at the event, which takes place every other year -- and this year included The Costume Collective.

“The most expensive things we have are all under $100 and that is an incredible value for the amount of work that goes into some of this stuff,” she said.

The sale continues until 4 p.m. at the Theatre Calgary Rehearsal Hall at Werklund Centre, formerly known as Arts Commons. Enter through the stage door on Ninth Avenue.

With files from CTV’s Tyler Barrow