Butts Acting Guild Dance Company

Costume Designer’s Duties: Tech to Post-Production

With Examples & Best Practices

Butts Acting Guild

Pre-Production Duties

• Meet with Director and Stage Manager.

• Have at least 1 costume ready for each key cast member 3 weeks prior to show for publicity.

Technical & Dress Rehearsals

1. Finalize Costumes

• Ensure all costumes are fitted, finished, and labeled for each actor.

• Remember shoes, purses, jewelry, wigs, hats and any other accessories.

• Ask actors for any things they own that may work.

• Coordinate quick-change logistics with SM and crew.

Examples & Best Practices:

• Bring a sewing kit, safety pins, and fabric tape for emergencies.

• Label costume racks clearly by character/actor.

• Schedule time for actors to practice quick changes.

Performance Period

2. Maintain Costumes

• Supervise wardrobe crew and assist with pre-show prep.

• Repair costumes between performances as needed.

• Ensure consistency in actor appearance each night.

Examples & Best Practices:

• Keep a costume repair kit backstage.

• Check wigs, hats, and shoes nightly for wear.

• Post a costume plot for crew reference.

Post-Production

3. Strike & Restore

• Clean, repair, and store costumes.

• Return rented or borrowed items.

• Assist in restoring venue storage areas.

Examples & Best Practices:

• Inventory all pieces before return.

• Thank wardrobe volunteers personally.

• Note what worked and what didn’t for next show.

Summary

In community theatre, the Costume Designer is:

• The artist – creating looks that define character and story

• The organizer – managing fittings, repairs, and crew

• The problem-solver – handling wardrobe malfunctions quickly

Total Estimated Hours

≈ 70–110 hours per production

Typical Breakdown:

Smaller cast / modern show: ~70–85 hours

Large cast / period / musical: ~90–110+ hours