SAN ANTONIO, TX.- The McNay presents CUT! Costume and the Cinema, a unique traveling exhibition showcasing more than 40 elaborate and breathtaking costumes worn by some of Hollywood's biggest stars including Sandra Bullock, Daniel Craig, Johnny Depp, Ralph Fiennes, Angelica Huston, Keira Knightley, Uma Thurman, Kate Winslet, and many others in films such as Sherlock Holmes; The Duchess; Pirates of the Caribbean, Sense and Sensibility, and The Phantom of the Opera. With this exhibition, the McNay gives San Antonio a special behind-the-scenes look at the art of costume design and its powerful role in filmmaking.

As visitors journey through the exhibition, they travel back in time and experience five centuries of history, drama and comedy, while simultaneously learning about what goes into crafting the perfect period piece, from the beginning stages when a costume designer first reads a film script and meets the director to the selection of fabrics and accessories to the final fitting.

This fall the McNay presents two exhibitions with afocus on costume arts. "Over the years, the museum has presented many exhibitions incorporating costumes, but rarely have we had the opportunity to provide an in-depth view of the costume arts," said William J. Chiego, Director of the McNay. "We are excited to present two costume shows simultaneously this fall: Cut! Costume and the Cinema and Onstage! Costume Design and the Theatre. This double celebration of costume is a unique opportunity to explore and compare designing for film and stage through extraordinary examples of the art."

Using an interactive iPad application, museum goers will also have the opportunity to play virtual dress up by "trying on" the various costumes featured in the exhibition. The Dressing Room app, a collaboration between the McNay and Augmented Ideas, a San Antonio based mobile app development studio, also allows users to upload and share their photos with friends.

Exhibits Development Group, USA, organized the exhibition, in cooperation with the award-winning British costumer, Cosprop Ltd. Since 1986, Cosprop has supplied costumes for 24 Oscar-nominated films and the costumes featured in Cut! Costume and the Cinema were hand selected from a stock of more than 100,000 costumes and accessories.

"Having access to Cosprop's exquisite collection was an exhibition developer's dream," said Amy Noble Seitz, founder and CEO of Exhibits Development Group. "We felt as if we were bringing the costumes back to life; as if we gave them a voice to tell their story."

CUT! Costume and the Cinema will be on view at the McNay in the Tobin Exhibition Galleries until January 19.