Theater and Costume Designer to Documentand Recreate Traditional IHM Habit

Darrin Pufall Purdy, Professor of Theater Arts, Director of Theater and Costume Design at Boise State University, Idaho, visited the IHM Archives in early January to document the traditional IHM habit. His work with us is part of his research which seeks to document the garb of orders of women religious, in order to offer a contribution to the history of women religious, women’s fashion, and American history. Also, his work will become a suitable and accurate resource for costume designers when producing stories that depict religious communities. His work has an urgency because first-hand knowledge of traditional habits is in danger; his research will result in a book.

Pufall Purdy created the religious habits (Sisters of Charity of NY) featured on stage for the 2024 Broadway revival of Doubt: A Parable (Roundabout Theatre Company). Other congregations with whom he is sharing his time, enthusiasm and talent are:
The Medical Mission Sisters of Philadelphia; Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Cabrini Sisters); Oblate Sisters of Providence of Baltimore, MD; Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament of Trevose, PA; and The Daughters of Charity of Emmitsburg, MD. Darrin has worked for many notable companies across the United States, including: The Idaho Shakespeare Festival, Boise Contemporary Theater, Artist Repertory Theatre, Broadway Rose Theatre Company (Portland, OR), and The Forestburgh Playhouse (Forestburgh, NY). Darrin’s work has been part of touring productions in Brazil and Russia. His design work has been recognized with a Portland Drammy Award for A Little Night Music (2009), in addition to three Portland Area Musical Theatre Awards for his designs of The Pirates of Penzance (2008), A Little Night Music (2009) and Into the Woods (2020).

While he was at the IHM Center, Darrin collected information about the history of the IHM habit and recollections of how it was worn. In addition, he traced and/or made preliminary patterns of all parts of the habit, took photos and videos of how the habit was put on, consulting with Sisters Bernadette Thomas, Marie Moore, Kathleen Joy Steck and Beth Pearson. He will create a complete pattern of the habit, and recreate a full authentic habit for us. Darrin expressed a great feeling of welcome and connectedness to IHM during his stay.