Raoul Pene Du Bois "Sugar Babies" Collection, 1959-1984 | Historical Collections

The Raoul Pene Du Bois "Sugar Babies" Collection contains original scripts for the musical “Sugar Babies” and original costume and set designs that were put into the play. Various letters to Raoul Pene Du Bois are within the collection that mention the production of costumes and scenery. Also included are some clippings from newspapers and other media pertaining to the production.

Du Bois, Raoul Pene, 1914-1985 (1914-1985)

Raoul Pene Du Bois was a costume designer and scenic designer for plays and films, including several Broadway productions. Du Bois was born in Staten Island, New York on November 29, 1914. He started his career as a costume designer at the age of 14 by designing showgirl costumes for the Ziegfeld Follies. He then went on to design the costumes for the Broadway revues Ziegfeld Follies of 1934 and 1936. Raoul Pene Du Bois later designed ice shows, ballets, costumes for the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall and the Casa Manana in Fort Worth.

The musical “Sugar Babies” is a tribute to the old burlesque era. Burlesque is a dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter. It opened on Broadway on October 8, 1979 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, with scenic and costume designs by Raoul Pene Du Bois. In 1980, DuBois was nominated for a Tony Award for his costume design for the production. The original cast included actor Mickey Rooney in his Broadway debut. The show closed on Broadway in 1982.

In 1953, Du Bois won the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design for the production “Wonderful Town.” In 1971, DuBois won both a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for Costume Design for the production “No, No Nanette.” The plays “Sugar Babies” and “Gypsy” were also some productions Du Bois participated in that were nominated for Tony awards. After creating visual excitement and masterpieces for dozens of Broadway shows, Raoul Pene Du Bois died of a stroke on January 1, 1985 at the age of 71. He is interred at Green-Wood Cemetery in Lot 16054, Section 164.

Allen, Ralph G.
Costume designers
Du Bois, Raoul Pene
Malvin, Arthur
Musical theater
Rooney, Mickey
Set designers
Stage designers
Theater