John David Ridge, circa 1980

From an early age, John David Ridge was drawn to the theatre. He acted in various community productions, as a child and teenager, and beginning at age 14 apprenticed in an Equity summer stock company. He worked in all aspects of the theatre, but discovered his niche in costuming. Ridge attended Pratt Institute and in 1968 was one of the first graduates of the New York University School of the Arts, in Theatre Design. Shortly after graduation, Ridge was the third youngest recipient of a New York union card (Local 829) allowing him to work as a professional costume designer on Broadway and Off-Broadway productions.

He has also collaborated as associate designer for many landmark theatrical productions including Amadeus, Dracula, and My Fair Lady.

In 2016, John David Ridge had the daunting task of replicating Cecil Beaton’s costumes from the original 1956 production of My Fair Lady. He would do so for the 60th anniversary Opera Australia production of the Broadway classic. Ridge was Beaton’s assistant in 1976 for a Broadway iteration of the Lerner and Loewe musical. Later, in 1981, Beaton and Ridge were co-costume designers for another Broadway restaging of it starring Rex Harrison recreating his original role as “Henry Higgins.”

John David Ridge (American, 1945 - )

My Fair Lady watercolor costume sketches and fashion “bible” for the Opera Australia stage production, 2016

In 2016, John David Ridge had the daunting task of replicating Cecil Beaton’s costumes from the original 1956 production of My Fair Lady. He would do so for the 60th anniversary Opera Australia production of the Broadway classic. Ridge was Beaton’s assistant in 1976 for a Broadway iteration of the Lerner and Loewe musical. Later, in 1981, Beaton and Ridge were co-costume designers for another Broadway restaging of it starring Rex Harrison recreating his original role as “Henry Higgins.”

“…As a vice-president and director of design, John David Ridge collaborated closely with Halston on the couture collection as well as on product development for the company’s various divisions and licenses. In what has become a parable for the garment industry, Halston the man was forced to leave Halston the company and it was Ridge who replaced him as head designer at the company…

"To Ridge was left the challenge of designing not only the couture collection and the prestigious ready to wear, but also the upper moderate Halston III collections for J.C. Penny’s…Under normal circumstances, the responsibility for any one of the divisions would be more than adequate, but overseeing the entire range at such a critical moment in the company’s history has to be considered extraordinary.

"Ridge’s continued success at the helm of Halston Enterprises, Inc. for six years after Halston’s departure represents a major accomplishment in the history of American Fashion…”

- 2002 Woodbury Design Award

Sharon Stone (American, 1958 -   )

Notecard from Sharon Stone to John David Ridge sent after filming The Quick & the Dead, 1995

John David Ridge pinning a Spider-Man frontpiece segment for exhibition, 2020

John David Ridge designed costumes for many of the most prestigious theatrical and film productions in the United States and Great Britain. He has received numerous accolades and awards for his outstanding work. He was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for costume design (Ring Round the Moon, 1999). In 1981, he won the Carbonell Award for Best Costume Design presented by the Miami Press Association.

Image from Ring Round the Moon performance, 1999

In 2002, he received the Woodbury University (Los Angeles) Lifetime Achievement Award in Design. And in 2010, the distinguished Theatre Development Fund/Irene Sharaff Artisan Award.