Press Kit
What is it?
“Pointé de Couture” is a musical retelling and deconstruction of Charles Perrault’s classic tale of “Cendrillon” or “Cinderella” without the magic, inviting viewers to reconsider fairytale narratives. Rose, a dressmaker, frustrated with her designs being accredited to a “Fairy Godmother”, seeks to be acknowledged as her childhood friend Ella has used Rose’s designs to achieve her personal goals of becoming a princess.
Who is it for?
Audiences of all ages. Recommended for ages 12 to 18, plus adults by KIDS FIRST!
Press Releases
About Carol Higgins
Carol Higgins is an interdisciplinary artist known for creating musical short films that blend autobiographical details, and narrative deconstruction that challenge stereotypes. Her background spans music, photography, performance, and computer programming, with training in systems analysis that informs the structural and conceptual rigor of her work. Her work is characterized by colorful imagery, artistic alchemy, and instrumental music composition.
Carol was born in Alexandria, Virginia, where she was involved in various performing arts activities during her school years. She began composing music in high school and studied information technology in the U.S. Army. Carol studied Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance at Arizona State University, where she received the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Outstanding Undergraduate Award in Fall 2024, and has continued to develop projects that interrogate perception, memory, and authorship, utilizing the performance, design, storytelling, and analytical roots cultivated at ASU.
While living abroad in Bavaria, Germany, Higgins ran a boutique dressmaking shop where her work was often romanticized and identified as being completed (often overnight) by a “Fairy Godmother”. This misinterpretation, along with her travels through Europe, and memories of her mother (who first taught her to sew), sparked the inspiration behind Pointé de Couture. a blend of the performance, research, design, and storytelling roots she cultivated at ASU.
Background
“Pointé de Couture” began as an idea. Carol Higgins, who at the time of inception designed birthday dresses for little girls from her boutique in Bavaria, Germany as her husband was stationed in Europe for nine non-consecutive years. As the word spread about Carol’s fancy little dresses, which were often crafted overnight, customers began to lovingly refer to her as their “Fairy Godmother”. Unfortunately. this term of endearment caused new clients to misunderstand this title. Carol felt overshadowed by the influx of newcomers who expected “miracles” rather than appreciate her efforts. To redirect focus back to her creations, she discouraged the use of the term “Fairy Godmother” and concentrated on building her brand.
Carol became immersed in French culture as she traveled from Germany to Paris to source fabrics ultimately sparking an interest in historical research at The Palace of Versailles. Carol became inspired to write a new tale that would a be the beginning of a musical retelling of Cendrillon which included historical facts from the Bourbon dynasty, Charles Perrault himself, and Carol’s experiences.
Studying at ASU introduced Carol to an interdisciplinary approach in arts and performance, where she discovered the power of catharsis through music composition and storytelling. Unveiling her own suppressed emotions, Carol studied fairytales in more detail where she further investigated damaging stereotypes and false narratives that influence society, as well as how society impacts the changes and evolution these stories.
The opening monologue, composed in 2022 was the first tangible asset for Pointé de Couture. As Carol wrote the story and progressed through her studies at A.S.U. it became difficult to piece together the various timelines and characters. Intrigued by lessons in unconventional story telling and time manipulation, Carol draws inspiration for the non-linear structure of Pointé de Couture from Alexander Sokurov’s Russian Ark (2002) and Christopher Nolan’s Inception (200). The film is also inspired by (but not limited to) studies in autobiographical works, minimalistic set design, episodic and semantic memory, botany, and Aristotelian elements of storytelling.
Blurring the boundaries between fantasy and reality, Carol challenges traditional perceptions instilled in childhood, unveiling the intricacies of fairytale tropes. Throughout her artistic evolution, Carol strives to reshape narratives and provoke reflections on societal influences, encapsulating the essence of Pointé de Couture’s innovative storytelling approach.