Miles White

The Big Top, The Big Screen, and the Great White Way

Kameron Grant
THEA 452
Waverly Strickland
February 21, 2022
Introduction

● Award-winning costume designer for Broadway, Films, and the Circus

● Well known for his whimsical, striking designs
● Designed for dozens of musicals, five films, and 12 seasons of the Ringling
Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
● Received praise and recognition for designing costumes for two early
Rodgers & Hammerstein productions, Oklahoma! and Carousel
● As a designer for dancers, ice skaters, and acrobats, he excelled at making
costumes that were functional and moved with the performer, as well as
being fashionable
● Died on February 17, 2000
Early Life and Education

● Born in Oakland, CA on July 27, 1914

● Went to UC Berkeley
● Tried to break into high fashion in Hollywood, and then New York
● Discovered by nightclub choreographer and producer Marjery Fielding in 1938,
who helped him become the costume designer on Right This Way
● After doing a few minor shows as well as Best Foot Forward in 1941, he joined
Norman Bel Geddes to work on modernizing the Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey Circus
● Brought a unified and extravagant aesthetic to circus costumes, carrying that
into his Broadway designs
Renderings
Realized Costumes
Awards

● Tony Award - Bless You All (1951)

● Tony Award - Hazel Flagg (1953)
● Academy Award Nomination - The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
● Academy Award Nomination - There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954)
● Academy Award Nomination - Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
● Donaldson Award - Bloomer Girl (1944-1945)
● Donaldson Award - High Button Shoes (1947–1948)
● Donaldson Award - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949–1950)
● Donaldson Award - Pal Joey (1951–1952)
References
“Donaldson Awards.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 3 Dec. 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donaldson_Awards#Costumes_(play).

Gussow, Mel. “Miles White, 85, Broadway Costume Designer.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 19 Feb. 2000,
https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/19/arts/miles-white-85-broadway-costume-designer.html.

Kottmann, Niki. “Circus Costume Designs of Miles White Take Center Ring at The Ringling: Arts and Entertainment.” Your Observer, Your Observer, 19
Jan. 2022, https://www.yourobserver.com/article/kaleidoscope-color-costume-designs-miles-white-exhibit-ringling.

“Miles White.” IBDB, The Broadway League, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/miles-white-25128#Awards.

“Miles White.” IMDb, IMDb.com, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0925240/.

“Miles White.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Dec. 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miles_White.

Miller, Cait. “Miles White Costume Designs.” Miles White Costume Designs | In The Muse: Performing Arts Blog, Library of Congress, 17 Dec. 2018,
https://blogs.loc.gov/music/2018/12/miles-white-costume-designs/.

“Oklahoma - 1943 Original Broadway Production.” Rodgers & Hammerstein, 14 Mar. 2021,
https://rodgersandhammerstein.com/production/oklahoma/1943-original-broadway-production/.

The Ringling EMuseum, The Ringling, Sarasota, FL, https://emuseum.ringling.org/emuseum/people/2344/miles-white/objects.