Working in the Theatre: Wardrobe

Take a look inside the wardrobe department. The costumes are created to fulfill the epic world that a play or musical inhabits. It takes lots of organization, maintenance, and often creativity to get the performers ready for each and every scene (and maybe even a quick change during a scene). The costumes are vast in the company of My Fair Lady at Lincoln Center Theater. They require multiple teams with various responsibilities to make the show run and look flawless. This is a slice of what they do, who they are, and how they work in the theatre.

“You hope, and pray, that the first day you meet your dresser that this is going to be someone you get on with! … It’s like a sort of relationship, in a way. We laugh until we cry sometimes. Sometimes we’re laughing so much in here that I almost miss my entrance.” – Allan Corduner, actor

American Theatre Wing’s Working in the Theatre documentary series features the most fascinating people on the stage, behind the scenes, and in the audience. From Tony Awards® and Obie Awards® winning artists to the next generation of theatre makers, we capture theatre’s inner-workings, industry luminaries, and unique stories that surround important work.


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[robinteske]

I really enjoyed this. I'm a local dresser; the touring shows come to my town and I'm hired for the run of a show to do all the dressing responsibilities described in the video. Local dressers only get an hour and a half advance notice of what they need to do during the show. We don't get to practice our track - even the quick changes. We really count on the actors to walk us through the changes. My daughter, who was a dresser for My Fair Lady with me last year, watched a moment of this video over my shoulder and commented about how much space and light they have compared to what we work with. It is a challenging job, but it is the most fun I've ever had!

[anastasiiakyryliuk]

I appreciated how this video showed the intense jobs of dressers on broadway. About how it's very important to have a relationship with the actor, and it's very impressive how the quick changes are done in such a short amount of time. This shows all the different aspects and details of being a dresser, how you need to be prepared if something rips or comes off. I love how they mentioned about how what the character is wearing is a big aspect, it essentially brings the character to life.

[bluzshadez]

11-13 seconds for a quick change! That is so fast! So, Dressers are like the PIT STOP CREW of Actors.

[oliviab.]

My new favorite addition of Working in the Theatre

[docepordentro]

what a documentary, very inspiring and what wonderful people! It must be incredible to work with this team. congratulations from italy

[theatergeek]

I love the focus on relationships between the dressers and actors. It's so sweet and important to have that kind of bond with someone you work with so closely, even in totally different aspects of theatre.

[katelynnbrickey]

I like the emphasis on what the actor is wearing makes the character and helps them come to life. The fact that the costume is looked at as regular clothes that the actor had to be comfortable in is important. I also really appreciate how organized everything is and how hard everyone works.

[rodriguezc]

I was amazed in how many people it takes just to dress the actors, theres so many. Also the modifications they do to the clothes in order to do quick changes is very smart. Never knew that all sectors of theatre required a large amount of attention and organization.

[finakhan]

Watching this video took me back to my theatre days as the head of the hair, wig and make up Department in Toronto..
Miss working in theatre. I now work in film where my skills are in great demand. The hardest part of working in theatre is missing out on children’s extra curricular activities and not having weekends to spend with family as you only get Sunday evenings and mondays off.great video, thanks for sharing, and thank you for your passion and hard work.👏👏👏👏🙏🏻❤️❤️

[clairebear]

We appreciate y'all wardrobe workers!

[oliviabarbato-dunn]

The thought that is put into the strategies of quick changes is amazing. 11-13 seconds is so short! The strategies you presented were very smart.

[ernestotls]

I will have so much more appreciation for Wardrobe crew... wow I did not know it was this detail driven and that every little thing, down to one thread was taking seriously, that so cool.

[lauraradle]

I really appreciate all of the effort that goes into the wardrobe.

[haileybenavidez]

I appreciate how much work they put into the costumes

[jacobvaldez]

I love the attention to detail that the costume people put into the costumes and how the actors look in them

[nickscott]

So impressed with the people who do this!

[katieallcroft]

I love that being personable is so important to the job. It definitely makes things go so much better and smooth. Thank you for sharing!

[austinmitchell]

It was cool learning about quick changes happen and how it has to be set up so it's ready and just perfect.

[makayladonald-saleem]

I appreciate how the video highlights the relationship between the actors and the dressers. You should be able to feel comfortable around the person who is dressing you because you spend a lot of time with them during the production process.

[ColtraneAndRain]

At 62 years old I can honestly say this was my dream career. I just love the behind the scenes aspect of theater but alas I only did stage work.