BERNSTEIN, ALINE

(1880? 1882?-1955)

   Born Aline Frankau in New York City, she enjoyed three decades as a designer of theatrical scenery and costumes. Her costumes for Shakuntala, followed by sets and costumes for Little Clay Cart at the Neighborhood Playhouse in 1924 marked her initial success, and she continued her association with the Lewisohn sisters even as she advanced to greater opportunities. She worked with Norman Bel Geddes on the lavish costuming for the American tour of Max Reinhardt's The Miracle. In 1926, Bernstein became the first woman admitted to the United Scenic Artists Union (then called Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators, and Paperhangers of the American Federation of Labor) and that year she joined Eva Le Gallienne's Civic Repertory Company, designing numerous productions for that company (1926-1933) as well as for the Theatre Guild. She was a founder of the Museum of Costume Art, which later became a part of New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.