WARDROBE CREW INFORMATION PACKET

Part 1: General Information

CREW DIVISIONS
 Head of Wardrobe: Is responsible for overseeing all wardrobe crew members, and ensuring that all
wardrobe work is done in a professional manner. Works with costume designer and shop manager during
tech to ensure costumes go onstage exactly as designed.
 Wardrobe Run Crew: Takes care of all pre-show work (including costume pre-sets and assisting
performers into costume, hair, and makeup) show run (including costume changes/quick changes), and
costume check-in/out.
 Wardrobe Maintenance Crew: Takes care of all laundry and repairs during the run of the production.

CALL TIMES
 In general, wardrobe run crew is called ONE HOUR before performers are called to the dressing rooms.
This may be earlier than the stage manager’s call time for the rest of the crew. If the stage manager’s call
time is earlier than this, you are required to come at the earlier time.
 On days where there are both matinee and evening performances, the wardrobe run crew call time is ONE
HALF HOUR before performers are called to the dressing room, or at the stage manager’s general crew
call time, whichever is earlier.
 Wardrobe maintenance crew is typically called 15 minutes prior to the end of the rehearsal/run.
 You are expected to come ON TIME OR EARLY. Please do not ask if you can come late, leave early, or
be excused from a performance altogether. You are an important part of this production, and not easily
replaced!
 You are expected to arrive at your call ready to work.

EXPECTATIONS
 You are responsible for all costume-related duties, from dress parade/tech through closing and strike.
 You must wear full stage blacks for all on-stage rehearsals. This means a long sleeved top or t-shirt, full
length pants, and flat shoes (sneakers or other closed-toe), all black.
 Please do not expect to do homework at any point from your call time to your dismissal time. You must be
focused on the performance, and doing all that you can to ensure that our audience sees the most
professional production we can provide.
 YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO USE TECH GADGETS DURING YOUR CALL. You are at work,
and are not permitted to be on your phone, laptop, tablet, etc.
 Specific duties are listed on the following page.

SHOP AND DRESSING ROOMS

 It is your responsibility to make sure the costume shop, laundry room, and dressing rooms are opened at the
beginning of the run crew call and locked at the end of the maintenance crew call.
 Be sure when you leave that sewing machines and irons are turned off, and washing and drying machines
have finished their cycles. NEVER leave the building with the machines still running.
 Be sure when you leave that all lights are off, and all doors are locked.

STRIKE
 Costume strike will immediately follow the Sunday performance. ALL crew members (including hair and
makeup stylists, if there are any assigned to the show) are called to assist with strike.
 Specific duties are listed on the following page.
 WARDROBE CREW INFORMATION PACKET
Part 2: Specific Responsibilities – Run Crew
PRE-SHOW
 Check in at crew call time, always one hour before performers are called to the dressing rooms.
 Collect laundered/repaired costumes from the costume shop rack and basket – don’t forget to check the
laundry room for clothes still in the dryer or on the drying rack.
 Check in all costume pieces in dressing rooms – search immediately for any missing items (or a suitable
replacement if necessary). Make note of any unfound items on repair sheet. ACCURATE
CHECK-IN/OUT RECORDS ARE ESSENTIAL.
o On days where there is both a matinee and an evening performance you may omit the check-in at
the beginning of the evening crew call.
 Assist performers with hair, makeup and dressing.
 Iron or steam any wrinkled costumes if necessary.
 Pre-set any costume pieces (including any quick change costumes) onstage or backstage if necessary.

DURING SHOW
 LOOK AT PERFORMERS BEFORE THEY GO ONSTAGE!!!
 Clip threads, adjust costumes, fix hair, etc. Make sure they look right!
 Assist performers with hair, makeup and costume changes.
 Police the performers – no food or drink (other than bottled water) is allowed in the dressing rooms, and
NO EATING, DRINKING OR SMOKING WHILE IN COSTUME! These offenses MUST be reported to
the costume shop manager.
 When possible, take care of any costume repairs during downtime.
 Remind performers that it is their responsibility to write down repairs on the repair sheet and to keep the
dressing rooms neat and costumes hung properly. While it is not your responsibility to hang up costumes,
it is your responsibility to iron wrinkled ones!
 Keep costumes, makeup, personal items, etc. away from the lights – they are HOT and will burn things!

POST-SHOW
 Assist performers out of costume and check in all costume pieces:
o If an item is missing, NEITHER YOU NOR THE PERFORMER MAY LEAVE UNTIL
ANY/ALL MISSING ITEMS ARE FOUND. If something is lost forever, report it to the costume
shop immediately. You and the performer share the responsibility of obtaining a suitable
replacement if there is not one in stock.
o Personal costume items must stay in the dressing rooms for the duration of the production and
cannot be taken home by the performers until closing.
 Call out a reminder at the end of the performance asking actors/dancers if there are any costume notes that
have not been written down
 Keep an eye out for maintenance notes, not just repairs (for example, trim coming loose, or beads falling
off, or costumes that need to be freshened up with a pressing or steaming)
 Mark an “L” on the checklist for any items that have been put in the laundry.
 Mark an “R” on the checklist for any items that have been taken up to the costume shop for repairs.
 Give laundry, repair sheet and any items to be repaired to the maintenance crew. Keep items to be repaired
separate from items to be laundered.
 WARDROBE CREW INFORMATION PACKET
Part 3: Specific Responsibilities – Maintenance Crew and Strike
CALLS
 Arrive 15 minutes prior to the end of rehearsal/performance.
 Call ends when work is finished, or when work is at a stopping point (laundry hanging to dry).
 Call resumes prior to next performance, to ensure all laundry/repairs/ironing is complete before run crew
call time.

LAUNDRY
 Launder and re-hang costumes as necessary immediately following the performance.
o Be sure to check the wardrobe checklist for specific washing instructions for each item.
o All machine washing is done in cold water – be sure you do not overload the washer or dryer.
o Hand washing can be done in the white bucket in the sink.
o When in doubt, Febreeze.
o Take care to keep light and dark clothes separated, in the wash, in the dryer, and on the drying
racks. Wet fabric can transfer dye
o Use stain remover as necessary. DO NOT use bleach!!
o Let the shop manager know ASAP if we are running low on detergent, stain remover, or Febreeze
o Hang items to dry as neatly as possible on drying rack. DO NOT hang items over the corners of
the racks (it creates lumps in the dried garment).
o If there is not enough room on the racks, hang items neatly on plastic hangers and hang from main
rack in shop – be sure to leave space in between garments.
o If items are dripping wet, wring out in sink in laundry room, and place a towel under the drying
rack.
o All laundered items (except t-shirts, socks, underwear, and the like) must be ironed or steamed
once dry.
 Completed laundry and repairs will be hung neatly using proper hangers on the main rack in the costume
shop, or folded/placed neatly in the laundry basket. If you are able, please return completed garments to
the dressing rooms and hang behind the performers’ names.

REPAIRS/REFRESHING
 Check the repair sheet for any notes
o If you do not feel comfortable taking care of typical repairs (replacing a button or snap, threading
the machine and stitching a seam, repairing a hem) you MUST schedule a time in advance of
opening night to come to the shop for a brush-up session
 Look through the racks to see if costumes need to be refreshed, iron or steam as needed.
 Return all completed items to the dressing rooms.
 Make sure all lights and machines are turned off and that the irons are unplugged. Lock all doors to the
shop, laundry room and dressing rooms.
 Do not leave for the night while the machines are still running

STRIKE (both crews)

 Check in all costumes – everything must be re-hung. Nothing goes in the laundry baskets.
 Make a note of any lost or broken items on the repair sheet.
 Performers may take any personal costume pieces home, mark “H” on the wardrobe checklist.
 Bring all costume pieces, empty hangers, repair kits, laundry baskets, etc. up to the costume shop. Leave
nothing in the dressing rooms!
 Hang clothes on rack in shop, with shoes underneath and accessories in accessory bags.
 Clean off mirrors and counters in dressing rooms and sweep floors.
 Make sure all lights and machines are turned off and that the irons are unplugged. Lock all doors to the
shop, laundry room and dressing rooms.