Facility Info

The Costume Shop and Costume Storage are located on the fifth floor of the Middough Building, along with our administrative offices and rehearsal halls. It is just one block from our actor housing and one block from the Allen Theatre Complex, home to our three performing spaces. Our three main rehearsal rooms are located just down the hallway giving quick and easy access for the actors to our two large fitting rooms.
The 3,350 square foot Costume Shop consists of a large work area with a variety of domestic and industrial sewing machines, two industrial irons, a steamer and six cutting tables. There are two large Fitting Rooms, a Laundry Room, a Crafts Room with a spray booth and a dye vat, a Wig Shop with wig dryer, shampoo sink, a counter with mirrors and a small Wig Storage area. There is an office area for the Costume Shop Supervisor and Associate Costume Shop Supervisor and a separate office space for guest Costume Designers.
Adjacent to the Costume Shop is our 5,000 square foot Costume Storage area or stockroom which houses thousands of costumes. The stockroom consists of constructed garments, purchased clothing and vintage clothing from the late 19thCentury to clothing of today. The stockroom is separated into two general areas—one area for hanging stock and the second area for boxed items that include sweaters, aprons, hats, shoes, fat padding, underwear, socks, etc.
In the Allen Theatre Complex, there are three rooms devoted to the costume department. They are the three wardrobe rooms for the stages in the complex. One is the wardrobe room for the Allen Theatre, one is for the Outcalt Theatre and the third is for the Helen Theatre. Each wardrobe room is furnished with washer machines, dryers, an ironing station and steamer. The Wig Room is located on the first floor underneath the Allen Theatre along with the dressing rooms for the Outcalt and Helen Theatres. It serves the Outcalt Theatre and the Helen Theatre. The space includes a wig dryer, shampoo sink, storage closet for makeup and styling supplies and a workstation with mirrors. There is a separate Wig Station located in the Allen Wardrobe Room consisting of a countertop with mirrors, shelves for wig storage and a space for the wig dryer if needed.

Staff Descriptions

The Costume Shop Supervisor (CSS) supervises the staff of the Costume Shop and is responsible for managing all aspects of providing the costumes for the show. The CSSM also assists the Designer with developing a list of what will be purchased, built and rented. In addition, the CSS will attend most, if not all, fittings and is responsible for making sure the show stays on budget.

The Associate Costume Shop Supervisor (ACSS) places most Internet orders and does the majority of local shopping for the show. In addition, the ACSS assists with fittings and takes pictures and notes for all garments. The ACSS also does the day to day book keeping for the Costume Shop.

The Cutter/Draper makes all patterns for built items, oversees the construction and fittings of built items and attends the majority of fittings to assist with developing a list of alteration notes on garments.

The First-Hand cuts out mock-ups and the majority of items to be built and oversees and assists with stitching and alterations.

The Stitcher machine sews or hand stitches on garments to be built and does alterations on costumes.

The Wig Master (WM) is responsible for fitting and building the wigs and facial hair for each show and arranging for the color, cut and style of the actors hair if they are not wigged. The WM is also responsible for creating specialty makeup and supervising application of the specialty makeup on the actors. Once the show moves to the theatre, the WM is responsible for daily maintenance of the wigs and facial hair preserving the original look and style. The WM schedules and supervises haircuts and color touch-ups for the cast as needed.

The Wig Assistant is a part time position brought in to assist the WM with building wigs and facial hair for large shows and helps maintain them during the run of the show if necessary.

Wardrobe is responsible for the daily cleaning, repair and maintenance of all costumes once they arrive in the theatre. Wardrobe assists actors with getting into costumes before the show and helps the actors with quick changes during the show. Wardrobe restocks costumes in Costume Storage after the show closes.