Question: Like the person who wrote to you about becoming a dramaturg, I am also interested in working in the theatre. In my youth I danced with a local ballet company and always loved being around the costumes. I understand that there are wardrobe or dresser jobs in theatre productions. Can you tell me more about this job?
— Sally

Response: Dressers need to familiarize themselves with a theatre production's costumes to dress lead actors and supporting cast. They get acquainted with the costumes in rehearsal/pre-production. And in most major productions, a representative from the production company will demonstrate how the costumes should be put on.

The procedures for dressing involve sequencing the costume parts in a specific order. For example, the typical order of dressing is placing the shirt, trousers, vest, jacket and then tie.

Costume changes are usually choreographed by, say, tapping on the actor's leg to signal the trouser is being put on. The change time can range from 4 seconds to 5 minutes, depending on how elaborate the costume. Dressers may have to calm down the person being dressed in order to make him/her ready for cue.

Most dressers work with hooks and zippers but for the more elaborate costumes, it goes from a "needle and thread show" to a "tool show". A "tool show" can involve using actual appliances and hardware to dress one up in the costume.

Training Options
Many dressers are former singers, actresses, and dancers or come from other related entertainment backgrounds. No formal training or education is need for the job of dresser but sewing skills may help. In addition, on the job experience as a volunteer can help qualify one for a job as a dresser.

Dressers who want to climb the professional ladder usually send their resume to production offices in New York and if they are talented and skilled enough can eventually become a regular employee of a touring company. A dresser can also advance by becoming a Supervisor, which is the head of the costume department. One can become a Supervisor based on skills, as well as being at the right place at the right time.

Employment Outlook
Currently there are fewer jobs available for dressers, due, in part, to the recent closure of the Shubert Theatre. Dressers in Los Angeles can work with productions at such locations as the Staples Center, Universal Amphitheater, and Great Western Forum.

Dresser jobs involving more elaborate costumes are also available with big tour productions such as the Lion King, Cats, or Phantom of the Opera. Most dressers start on a local long run production and stay with the production group for at least 18 months.

Salary Scale
Dressers earn from $18 per hour (based on a 5-hour minimum day) to $70 per hour (based on a 3-½ hour minimum day), depending on the theatre production. All Dressers earn the same minimum pay but have the power to negotiate this pay rate.

Professional Resource
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
West Coast Office
10045 Riverside Drive
Toluca Lake, CA 91602
(818) 980-3499
Fax (818) 980-3496
www.iatse.lm.com
Local Union #768 - Theatrical Wardrobe Union
13245 Riverside Drive, Suite 300
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 789-8735
Fax (818) 789-1928
Contact: Dorothy Priest
This local union represents dressers for live theatre productions. The dresser can earn union membership by working 30 days as a dresser for a theatre production, which can include college stage productions, community theatre and other non-union productions. Another common way of gaining experience and earning membership is by volunteering at a small theatre. After meeting the 30-day requirement, the dresser is interviewed by a membership committee and then placed on the interim/tour list.

There are currently 125 dressers on the interim list. The union notifies a dresser when a job is available, therefore individual dressers do not have to independently seek work. Job callings are according to rotation or one's order on the list. However, in order for a dresser to maintain membership, he/she must call the union office once a month and let them know that he/she is available to work.

The initiation membership fee is $1820, 50% is due upon activation of membership, and the remaining balance needs to be paid in three years. Additional fees include quarterly membership dues of $55.

— • —  
Susan W. Miller, M.A., is a National Certified Career Counselor, a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist and holds diplomate status on the American Board of Vocational Experts. She heads California Career Services, a private practice career counseling firm in Los Angeles.

E-mail career questions you'd like answered in this column to info@californiacareerservices.com or visit California Career Services at www.californiacareerservices.com.