Creating Habits for Broadway's Doubt

"Doubt," a play by John Patrick Shanley, tells the story of a Catholic sister who suspects a charismatic priest of inappropriate behavior with a student. The story explores moral uncertainty, faith, power dynamics and gender roles. The play is having its stage revival in New York City and its stars are wearing costumes tailored by Associate Professor Darrin Pufall Purdy, director of University Theatre and Costume Design at Boise State. The opportunity came to him thanks to his research project, writing a first-of-its-kind field guide to the traditional habits of 12 orders of American "women religious," or nuns and sisters. The guide will help designers recreate historically accurate costumes as it preserves elements of Catholic history, women's history and fashion history.