Kaufman Astoria Studios One of the largest theatrical costume rental houses in the country, Theatre Development Fund (TDF) Costume Collection, is moving its 75,000- piece costume collection to Kaufman Astoria Studios. The organization, which provides professionally designed theatrical costumes primarily to not-for-profit theatre companies, as well as film and television productions, worked with Denham Wolf Real Estate to find the new space.

“It was important to find an affordable and accessible location that positioned the Costume Collection to serve their mission in an economically sustainable way. Given all of the activity at Kaufman Astoria Studios, this new home will expand the organization’s impact and strengthen TDF’s ability to nurture the not-for-profit theatre community,” Paul Wolf of Denham Wolf said. “We are excited to help bring these two iconic New York institutions together and to help support the Costume Collection to continue its mission.”

The TDF Costume Collection houses costumes and accessories contributed by Broadway and Off Broadway productions, opera companies, and television and feature film productions. In 2010 alone, 949 productions were mounted by 466 organizations in 33 states with costumes from the TDF Costume Collection. Costume designers can dress all or part of an entire production from costumes worn in classic Broadway shows or operas performed at the Metropolitan Opera. When productions close, costumes are often donated to the organization. Recent donations to the TDF Costume Collection have been from the Broadway productions of American Idiot and West Side Story, and the film, Men in Black III. The collection provides costumes to a wide range of clients from not-for-profit organizations such as theatre companies, schools, community groups, church groups as well as feature films and television productions.

“We are excited to have Theatre Development Fund’s Costume Collection move into the Kaufman Astoria Studios campus,” President of Kaufman Astoria Studios Hal Rosenbluth said. “Housing a 75,000-piece collection in the studio gives the organization a presence in a campus bustling with creativity, top productions and theater companies. We look forward to helping TDF grow its business at KAS and develop new relationships with production companies, producers and costume designers that come to Astoria to produce feature films and television shows.”

Kaufman Astoria Studios is a growing cultural campus with seven studios including a 26,000 square-foot stage in the original, landmarked building, the new state-of-the-art Stage K, KAS Music & Sound, K/A/S Lighting as well as the Museum of the Moving Image, Frank Sinatra School of the Arts and national restaurants and retailers. In recent years, it has been home to movie and television productions such as “Nurse Jackie”, Eat Pray Love, Whatever Works, The Smurfs Movie, Men in Black III and is the longtime home of children’s favorite “Sesame Street”.

“We’re thrilled to be moving to the Kaufman Astoria Studios in Queens,” TDF Executive Director Victoria Bailey said. “With all of the activity at KAS, we will forge many new relationships while continuing to be easily accessible, both in person and online, to our many existing customers.”

TDF signed a 20-year, 16,380 square-foot lease at KAS.