Jeremy Jordan cleans up pretty nicely.
The lead actor in “Floyd Collins,” which debuted to stellar debuts on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on Monday night, plays a cave explorer in Kentucky in 1925 who gets trapped 200 feet underground. His outfit for the musical includes muddy overalls and a soil-caked Henley.
But once the lights went down, Jordan ditched the dirty wardrobe and slipped into a bespoke suit created especially for him by New York-based custom tailor Paolo Martorano for the opening-night party at Lincoln Center. The single-breasted, two-button, peak lapel blue suit made from Vitale Barberis Canonico fabric was complemented by a tie and pocket square, all made exclusively for Jordan by Martorano. The white custom shirt was created by 100 Hands.
The custom tailor also whipped up a tuxedo for Jordan in anticipation that he’ll soon be receiving a Tony Award nomination for his performance.
“I felt like a million bucks in my Paolo Martorano suit. I loved watching people take a second to recognize me having gone from baggy and dirty overalls to a bespoke suit. Simple, elegant, comfortable, I loved it,” Jordan said.
John Pizzarelli and Paolo Martorano
Thomas Iannaccone
“We’ve made clothing for a number of performers, but working with Jeremy Jordan was a real pleasure,” Martorano said. “He’s not only a prodigiously gifted artist and wonderful in the show, but a true gentleman who understands the dramatic value of a beautifully cut suit.”
In addition to Jordan, Martorano dressed John Pizzarelli, the jazz guitarist and vocalist, whose wife Jessica Molaskey is also part of the “Floyd Collins” cast.
Martorano, a Bellmore, N.Y., native, comes from a long line of tailors, four generations deep on his father’s side. He started learning the craft when he was in high school, working as an apprentice for Alan Flusser. He moved on to Paul Stuart, where he helped quadruple the retailer’s made-to-measure and bespoke business during his seven-year stint. He then joined Dunhill as its bespoke/made-to-measure specialist for America. And in the fall of 2017, he branched out on his own and created Paolo Martorano Bespoke.