Download Production Duties: Costume Manager

Production Duties: Costume Manager
Do you:
...enjoy working with people?
...have good basic sewing skills?
...like creating costumes?
...relish thrift store shopping for the perfect hat?
...solve problems creatively?
Time Commitment:
All dress rehearsals & performances; a few regular rehearsals;
several production meetings; shopping trips; hours organizing, arranging,
measuring, fitting, laundering, repairing, and pressing
As the costume manager, you will:
General
* Acquire or create costumes & accessories (hats, shoes, jewelry,
purses etc.) for the production according to the costume design
sketches.
* Maintain and control costumes during the run.
* Oversee costume assistants and dressers.
* Ensure you're an official paid-up member of the Chilliwack Players
Guild ASAP. This is for insurance purposes.
Early in the Process
*
Receive
the
script,
budget,
cast
and
crew
list,
rehearsal/performance schedule, and deadlines from the costume
designer.
* Read the script.
* Meet with the Guild executive member in charge of costumes to
become familiar with costumes available in Guild storage.
* Meet with the costume designer to discuss his/her designs and how
they'll be implemented. Determine if the budget allows for purchase,
rental, or construction of costumes or if all costumes must be from
existing supplies or borrowed.
Before the Run
* Attend production meetings as required.
* Attend one of the first rehearsals. Strongly encourage cast members
to rehearse in clothing and footwear similar to what they will be wearing
in costume, particularly when skirts or period footwear is involved.
Many actors don't know how to walk in shoes from yesteryear (it takes
practice!), and how one moves in a skirt vs. pants is very different.
Have cast members match the style as closely as possible---tight, long,
short, flowing and hoop skirts, for example, call for very different
movement. The Guild has a good selection of shoes and skirts, and
footwear can be purchased very reasonably at local secondhand stores,
if necessary.
* Coordinate with the director and producer to schedule cast members
for measurements and fittings. Having cast members arrive early to a
rehearsal works well, or depending on the production, you may be able
to fit it into a regular rehearsal if there are patches of time when the
actors are not needed onstage. You may have to schedule individual
fittings.
* Measure cast members and fit costumes.
* Assemble complete costumes for each character by:
-- finding costumes & accessories in stock.
-- borrowing costumes & accessories from other theatre companies.
For example, the Guild has an arrangement with the UCFV Theatre
Department. For contact names and procedures, consult with the Guild
executive member in charge of costumes.
-- purchasing costumes & accessories secondhand. Local thrift stores
have proven to be a terrific source of inexpensive costume pieces.
-- constructing costumes & accessories, if the budget allows. When
shopping for fabric, look for bargain prices and ask about discounts. If
asked, many businesses will grant a discount to nonprofit organizations
such as the Guild.
-- renting costumes & accessories, if the budget allows. Because
costume rental can be very expensive, this option is usually a last resort
for specialty costumes only.
Sometimes the costume designer will be involved in acquiring and
assembling costumes, sometimes not. Ensure that you and the costume
designer have a clear understanding of expectations and his/her level of
involvement.
* Keep a detailed list of borrowed costumes and accessories.
* Enlist costume assistants to help with measuring, fitting, sewing,
altering, acquiring or assembling costumes, if required. Consult with the
producer if you need help finding people.
* Confer regularly with the costume designer.
* Oversee the costume assistants, ensuring that costume designs are
closely followed.
About a week before opening
* Ensure costumes are as complete as possible for the costume parade
(where cast members 'parade' costumes/hair/makeup onstage for the
director's approval). The costume designer usually schedules the
costume parade to occur before a regular rehearsal.
* Instruct individual cast members on the use of specific costume
pieces. For example, actors may need instruction on how to handle
delicate or complicated items, or how to wear garters, cravats or other
items of clothing no longer regularly worn in present day.
* Assist the costume designer during the costume parade, as
requested.
* Consult with the costume designer to determine what changes and
additions need to be made to costumes and accessories.
* Make the agreed upon adjustments or arrange for a costume
assistant to do so.
* Ensure costumes are complete before dress rehearsal.
* Consult with the stage manager to see if backstage crew members
are available to assist with quick changes and other costume duties that
must be completed backstage during a performance. If backstage crew
is not available---it'll depend on the production and the timing of their
other duties---arrange for costume assistants as required, undertake the
dresser/backstage costume duties yourself, or enlist dressers specifically
for the purpose. Consult with the producer if you need help finding
people.
* Post a costume plot for each character in an accessible location and
inform the actors and dressers. A character costume plot consists of a
list of costume pieces and accessories for each costume change, and
when in the script it occurs.
* Inform actors about costume care. Actors are responsible for:
-- hanging their own costumes and storing accessories as directed by
the costume manager.
-- not removing costumes & accessories from the theatre.
-- not eating, drinking, or smoking while in costume.
-- informing the costume manager or stage manager ASAP if
costumes require repair or cleaning.
-- placing items to be laundered into the bin provided (washable
items only).
* Remind actors of the above costume care, as required.
Dress Rehearsal
* Attend the dress rehearsal along with the costume designer.
* Scrutinize the costumes, accessories and hair styles and discuss with
the costume designer to determine what, if anything, must be adjusted
before the next performance.
* Make the agreed upon adjustments or arrange for a costume
assistant to do so.
* Provide a laundry bin for cast members to deposit washable costume
articles that require laundering.
For Opening Night
* Ensure all costumes are clean, pressed (if required), and in good
repair.
Before Each Performance
* Arrive at the theatre 1-1.5 hours before show time. Check in as
directed by the stage manager.
* Distribute laundered costume pieces to appropriate cast members.
* Press costumes and deal with costume problems as required.
* Casually and informally, check with cast members periodically to
ensure everything's in order, costume-wise, and they aren't in need of
any assistance with their costumes.
During Each Performance
* Be available backstage for consultation and to assist with any
costume matters that arise, such as missing pieces, emergency repairs &
pressing, etc.
* Wear all black clothing, quiet footwear, and ensure any jewelry is
quiet.
* Report medical, fire, or safety emergencies to the stage manager,
immediately.
* Use a light step on the back stairs...they're prone to echoing
thumps.
* Avoid talking backstage. The theatre's acoustics cause the smallest
sounds to travel from the stage area to the audience. We've had reports
of backstage whispers being heard in the front rows.
* Remain backstage. Do not go through the stage to the audience
before or after performances or during intermission.
After Each Performance
* Collect items from the laundry bin and launder them in time for the
next performance. If non-washable items become too soiled to be used
(as reported by cast or crew), arrange to have them dry-cleaned before
the next performance.
* Collect costume pieces that require preparation for the next
performance and ensure that the preparation is completed by yourself or
costume assistants.
Examples include: clothing that requires
reattachment of parts designed to "rip" during performance or clothing
that requires pressing or repair.
After the Run
* Collect all costumes and accessories at the end of the run before set
strike begins.
* Attend the cast & crew party after the final show. Party time!!
* Submit expenses to the producer for reimbursement.
* Launder all washable costume items and arrange to dry-clean any
soiled non-washables.
* Coordinate with the Guild executive member in charge of costumes
to arrange a time to return Guild costumes to storage.
* Return borrowed costumes and accessories promptly.
If you're interested in being the costume manager for a
Chilliwack Players Guild production, email us:
[email protected]
Inexperienced? Try your hand as costume assistant
first.