Kermit Love History Quiz

Kermit Love and his beloved "Sesame Street" creatio, Mr. Snuffleupagus, cirac 1985

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1. Name the famous costumer Kermit Love worked with that introduced him to the dance world.

2. Describe the costumes Love designed for the main characters of Jerome Robbins’ first ballet, Fancy Free.

3. What legendary choreographer did Love collaborate with for 40 years? Name one production.

4. Where in New York City did Kermit Love first meet Twyla Tharp in the 1960s?

5. In addition to designing costumes for several of her works, what else was significant about his relationship with Tharp?

6. Love also befriended the future famed Muppeteer, Jim Henson in the 60s. This partnership led to the creation of what four regular residents on the iconic children’s show, “Sesame Street”?

7. Kermit Love could often be seen as _______ _______ _______ _______ _______ in “Sesame Street”—a character who always sported a yellow feather in his hat, as a tribute from Love to his treasured bird.

8. True or False: Jim Henson’s most famous Muppet, Kermit the Frog was named after Kermit Love.

9. Name the work for which Kermit Love reconstructed the original costumes for the Joffrey Ballet and earned the approval of artist Pablo Picasso. (Bonus: Why did the original designs need to be refashioned?)

10. What is most significant about Love’s contribution to the world of costumes and design?

ANSWER KEY
1. Barbara Karinska, New York City Ballet’s costumer 2. They were jaunty sailor suits. 3. George Balanchine; Don Quixote, Firebird, Pulcinella and/or L’Enfant et les Sortileges 4. At Judson Dance Theater 5. He advocated for a revolutionized company image—updated costumes and new haircuts. Tharp soon emerged with her signature angled bob. 6. Big Bird, Mr. Snuffleupagus, Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster 7. Willy the Hot Dog Man 8. False 9. Leonide Massine’s 1917 ballet, Parade; Bonus: They were made out of papier-mache and wood, which was too heavy for the dancers to move and jump around in. 10. He could bring characters to life through detail. His work forever changed the ideology behind effective stage costumes and design.