Cinderella dress from the live-action Cinderella (2015)
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Next Spring, the South Carolina State Museum is set to host a fan-favorite blockbuster exhibition created by the Walt Disney Archives, Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume. Opening May 3, 2025, the critically acclaimed showcase features more than 70 costumes from beloved characters such as Cinderella, Maleficent, and more, highlighting the innovative ways iconic characters are brought to life through the artistry and imagination of their costumes.
“We are thrilled to bring this exhibition to South Carolina,” said State Museum Executive Director, Amy Bartow-Melia. “Guests will be able to enjoy an up-close look at some of Disney’s most memorable costumes and learn about the skilled artisans who helped bring them to life.”
Representing nearly six decades of film and television production at The Walt Disney Company, the exhibition showcases costumes worn by the likes of Bette Davis, Glenn Close, Angelina Jolie, and Disney Legend Julie Andrews. Guests will also be able to get insight into how costumes evolve from concept to reality with quotes and detailed written accounts featured throughout the exhibition from some of Hollywood’s preeminent designers, including Academy Award® winners Sandy Powell and Disney Legend Colleen Atwood, as well as Emmy® winner Ellen Mirojnick and Emmy® nominees Eduardo Castro and Penny Rose.
“Costumes are a significant and memorable element of building a character and telling a story,” said Becky Cline, Director of the Walt Disney Archives. “The exhibition explores the craftsmanship required to produce these amazing costuming elements, as well as the immense talent and creativity that goes into every stitch.”
The exhibition is organized into three Disney archetypes: heroes, villains, and the spaces between—a category reserved for the antiheroes whose fascinating journeys make them among some of Disney’s most complex characters. Here, guests can get an up-close look at the artistry on display in some of the iconic costumes of Disney live-action characters such as Mary Poppins from Mary Poppins Returns (2018), Queen Narissa from Enchanted (2007), and Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006). The “Cinderella’s Workshop” gallery examines how several designers have applied their own unique style and artistry to different interpretations of the fairy tale heroine—from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (
Heroes & Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume, will run from May 3 – Oct. 26, 2025. Tickets are currently on sale exclusively to State Museum members via the museum’s website at scmuseum.org. Plus, museum members will have the opportunity to enjoy a sneak peek event. More information will be shared at a later date. General public tickets will be available for purchase in January 2025.
Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will also have early access to the exhibition with a special preview before it opens to the general public. Look out for more details on D23.com in early 2025.
