Wardrobe

On a call, the Wardrobe Department is under the Job Steward like everyone else, but since they are usually working away from the stage area, in practice the department reports to the Wardrobe Department head upon arriving.

Wardrobe crew should be dressed in black, and arrive early enough to be checked in, coat put away, and ready to go by 5 minutes before call time. Typically, the wardrobe room is in one of the rehearsal halls (at the Peoria civic center), so dressers need to be up there BEFORE the call time.

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All wardobe crew should have a black apron with pockets, a collection of safety pins, and either a bitelight or headlamp for hands-free lighting. You will also be working in very close contact with the actors; you may also want to bring hand sanitizer and breath mints.

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If you are on the wardrobe load-in, you can usually expect a wardrobe show call.

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On a load-in or continuity hour, duties can include:

• Unpacking the Gondolas (large travelling wardrobe racks full of costumes)

• Inventory and Sorting of clothing

• Ironing clothing

• Steaming clothing

• Some fabrics should never ironed, some should never be steamed. Make sure you know what to do with the fabric or ask.

• Laundry - There is usually an assigned laundry person from our local crew. You may be that person, you may need to deliver or pick up from laundry, or you may need to hand wash certain items.

• Some costumes have pit pads or dress shields to protect the inside from perspiration

• Shoes - painting, polishing or repair using a special glue called Barge

• Deliver make-up or costume jewelry to dressing rooms

• Minor repairs

• Delivery of costumes to or from repair shop - There may be one or more local Seamstresses/Seamsters working on repairs throughout the run.

• Setting up quick change areas

• Going over your Dresser Track (cue sheet) to learn your cues for the show. Usually the wardrobe heads will go over it with you briefly.

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Presets in the hour or half hour before show will almost always include:

• Checking your inventory

• Collecting from any last minute repairs

• Presetting costumes on the actors chair in the proper order for either their first costume or the change into their second. The actors may Under-dress several costumes.

• Presetting baskets for your first few sets of quick-changes

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During the show your tasks include:

• Putting down or moving a Drop Cloth for actors to change on that will protect the costumes

• Hanging up Discards (clothing taken off by the actor) and Dead Costumes (clothing not used again in the performance)

• Presetting chairs for the next change

• Assisting with Quick Changes - This can include helping unsnap, snap, unzip, zip, unbuckle or tie shoes, put on gloves or hats, or just catching items.

• Delivering items to either side of the stage, to other dressers, or to the dressing rooms

• Carrying the actors water bottle or personal items around for them

• Emergency repairs