Costuming Information

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[edit] By or At the First Production Meeting

Before the first production meeting, the costume designer should make every attempt possible to familiarize themselves with the show. In order to do this, the script must be obtained from the producer and read. In the script may special attention to the stage directions as well as any costume plots or properties lists that are included. Around this time, a meeting with the director should be arranged to get their initial vision. This will allow the astute costume designer to begin research and a design.

On the more managerial side of things, this is a good time to begin making notes of how is performing in the play. In order to allow the other departments freedom, some thought should be put into budgetary needs for the show; the producer will be dividing the cash early. This is also a good time to begin to list what items are ambiguously assigned amongst the departments (something like armor could fall into this category). This will make sure that these things get done in a timely manner with minimal confusion.

  • Get script
  • Read script and get basic costume ideas
    • Is there a costume plot in the script?
    • Pay attention to stage directions
  • Meet with director and listen to his/her vision
  • Try to know what each actor looks like
    • Just a quick thing to get basic size
  • Determine what is a costume and what is a prop, if necessary
  • Know how much you have in your budget

[edit] By Week 3

  • get actors’ measurements
  • re-read script if necessary
  • make costume sketches and plots
    • Use drawings to convey (croquis)
  • break costumes into components
    • ie: pants, shirts, sweaters, hats, etc

[edit] By Week 5

  • show sketches to director for final approval
  • set a date for final, final changes from director
    • This is very important as directors tend to change their mind a lot
  • let the actors know what they are expected to bring in
    • Shoes, socks, jeans etc?
    • Give them a date
  • begin putting costumes together
  1. Ask what actors have
  2. Pull from the costume room
  3. Buy from Salvation Army/GoodWill
  4. Buy patterns and fabric
  5. Arrange rentals (Remember, The Costumer also sells make-up)
  • have actors periodically try costumes on
  • make call times schedule, email to actors (this should be done earlier for a larger show)
    • This should be done a few weeks before Tech Saturday/Sunday
    • Work with the Stage Manager and Director

[edit] Week Before Tech Saturday/ Sunday (Week 6)

  • put finishing touches on costumes (hopefully)
  • pick up any rentals
  • buy new make-up, as needed
  • clean costume room
  • remind actors what they need to bring for their costume
  • organize room for a show
    • Label mirrors
    • Label racks, put outfits together

[edit] Tech Saturday/ Sunday

  • if you’re late getting costumes done, the room MUST be cleaned for the dress rehearsal this day
  • have actors bring in what they are responsible for
    • Label these
  • GIVE THE SPEECH
    • NO eating/drinking in costume
    • NO food/drink in costume room
    • May only drink water
    • DO NOT touch costumes/ make-up that isn’t yours
    • Clean area when done, pick up after yourself
    • Include Proper treatment of make-up.
  • keep calls moving
  • make sure the actors know which costumes they wear when
  • know when quick changes are and arrange for them
    • Either you do it or assign someone to do it
  • watch each show and take notes
    • Both notes for yourself, i.e. things to finish, for the actors that relate to costumes
  • check with the director to make sure this is what he/she wants
    • Make sure the director knows you can only make small changes at this point

[edit] Tech Week

  • be there before the first call or arrange for someone to be there to unlock the shop
  • hold the actors to their call times
    • Depending on the director or stage manager and the size of the show, it often falls on you to know whether the actors are on time or not
  • determine that all costume changes are being made correctly
    • Don’t let actors forget hats, gloves, to tuck in shirts, etc.
  • perfect details, is there a costume that needs to be washed each night? etc.
  • Practice with special effects, especially blood packs
  • Practice quick changes.
  • make changes/repairs before or after each rehearsal or during dark night
  • determine whether you are going to be able to watch the show each night or not
  • make sure that the actors clean up after themselves
  • let the Stage Manager/ Assistant Stage Manager know about problems with actors
  • Clean up the dressing room after each rehearsal
  • make minor repairs before/after each rehearsal
  • lock dressing room doors after all of the actors have left
  • make sure that all of the costumes are clean for opening night.

[edit] Dark Night

  • Use this night to finish costumes/make major repairs
  • Thoroughly clean-up after the actors

[edit] Opening Night

  • be there before the first call or arrange for someone to be there to unlock the shop
  • remember there is power circle for the first time
    • This means everyone needs to be ready a little earlier
  • keep actors on schedule
  • IT IS YOUR PREROGATIVE TO WATCH THE SHOW
  • if you watch the show, make sure you can get out to make changes, fix rips
  • have actors clean up after each show
  • lock up the dressing room after all the actors have left

[edit] All Shows

  • be there before the first call or arrange for someone to be there to unlock the shop
  • keep actors on schedule
  • in between shows, repair any costumes
  • have actors clean up after each show
  • make sure actors tell you if something needs to be washed, repaired, etc.
  • after each show, check costumes for stains, rips, etc. fix these as they occur
  • lock up the dressing room after all the actors have left

[edit] In Between Weeks

  • make major repairs
  • wash costumes
    • DO NOT machine wash rentals (may be done by hand if necessary)
    • Make sure to wash men’s button down shirts
    • Ask actors before you wash their clothes
  • do not allow the actors to take their own clothes home

[edit] Midweek Rehearsal

  • check with stage manager to see if costumes are to be used
  • if not, do not allow actors to use costumes for ‘fun’ midweeks

[edit] Closing Night/ Strike/ Players Party

  • strike can start during the show
    • Put makeup away
    • Throw away trash, have actors begin to clean out their drawers
    • Put costumes away after the last time they are worn, wash if necessary
  • separate rentals and cover with dry-cleaners bag if necessary
    • Make sure you have all parts of the rentals
  • strike is done when:
    • The costumes are hung in the racks
    • Make-up is put away correctly, and the lockers are locked
    • The dressing room has no personal items in it, and has been vacuumed/ wiped down
    • Rentals are separated, clean, and ready to be returned the next day
    • The costume shop/green room is clean (picked up and vacuumed)
    • The costume shop has no personal belongings in it
    • The keys (costume room, make-up lockers) have been returned to the appropriate person, either the Costumes Chair or Technical Director.
  • During the Players Party:
    • No one may go into the dressing room
    • No one may use costumes from the costume shop
    • People may not store their belongings in the costume room; they must use the cloak room

[edit] After Closing Night

  • return rentals
  • make sure costume room is clean for the next group that needs it
  • lock up everything belonging to the Players


Created by: Selby Miller
Costumes/Make-up Chair 2006-2008

Retrieved from "http://players.union.rpi.edu/wiki/index.php/Costuming_Information"
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