Theatre Costumes
Designing and creating Musical Theatre costumes is an exciting and rewarding experience. From the moment I read the script and listen to the music, my mind starts to envision the costumes that will bring the characters to life. Each show presents its own unique challenges, but I relish the opportunity to overcome them and bring the vision to fruition.
Throughout the years, I have learned many valuable lessons about the costuming process. Each show presents its own unique challenges, and I have developed a variety of techniques to overcome them. In my blog posts, I share my experiences and offer advice for others who may be undertaking similar projects. If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Theatre Costuming Blog
Cinderella Slippers
When a local youth theatre company was staging the Rogers & Hammerstein musical Cinderella, I volunteered to create the glass slippers that...
30-Minute Peasant Skirt
If you costume for community or high school theatre, you will almost certainly be asked, sooner or later, to work on a Disney show. And if you...
Renting Costumes
When a theatre company decides to rent costumes, the expectation is that the costumer's workload will be significantly reduced. At least, that was...
Musical Theatre Costume Plan
Building a Costume Plan for musical theatre shows just makes sense. The hardest thing about costuming for amateur theatre is dealing with Directors...
Musical Theatre Costume Budget
Once we agree upon the costume pieces, I build a spreadsheet for the Costume Budget in Google Sheets. This could also be done in MS Excel. But...
“Chicago” Corset Costumes
One of the most iconic roles in musical theatre is Chicago’s merry murderesses in the Cell Block Tango scene. For these costumes, we wanted a dark...
“Chicago” Lead Costumes
Roxie and Velma both wear flapper dresses as their main costumes in “Chicago”. We wanted to have these two lead costumes coordinated. But we wanted...
1920s Show Girl Costume – “Chicago”
Drury Lane Theatre, 2017 production of ChicagoOur inspiration for the showgirl costume in this number was Drury Lane Theatre’s 2017 production of...
Making a Dress into a Theatre Dance Costume
Selecting Dresses for Theatre Dance CostumesWith a few alterations, some dresses lend themselves well to conversion to costumes for heavy dance...
Quick Changes – Layering Costumes
Layering costumes allows for a very quick transition to another costume when there is no time for an actual costume change. Guidelines for Layering...
Making “Jail” Robes – Chicago
The show “Chicago” centers around the female inmates of the Cook County jail. Traditional costuming for some versions of this show have the actors...
Chicago Ensemble Costumes
For Chicago, we needed to costume ensemble boys for multiple similar numbers. I found that it was easiest to take “kit” approach. This enabled the...
Making a Break-Away Suit Jacket
In the musical “Chicago”, during the number “All He Cares About is Love”, Billy Flynn removes a break-away suit while he sings. He is left in his...
Making Break-Away Suit Pants
For our staging of Chicago, Billy Flynn’s character required break-away pants to go with his break-away suit jacket. Break-away pants are easy and...
Break-Away Dress – Chicago
In the show “Chicago”, Mary Sunshine is a really fun character. “She” is a conservative church-y lady with an operatic voice. The twist is that this...
Making a Circle Skirt Without a Pattern – Technique
When making stage costumes for dancers, a circle skirt is a good choice. Circle skirt patterns are easy to draft and the shape of the skirt makes it...
Vest Alterations
Cover Photo by christian erra on UnsplashVest alterations are easy if a vest is too large. They can be altered in two ways, depending on how much...
Jacket Sleeve Alterations
Suit jacket sleeve alterations are not difficult. Sleeves can be easily altered to be shorter. They can also sometimes be altered to add up to an...
Suit Jacket Alterations
Suit jacket alterations are a bit tedious but definitely doable. If the body of a costume suit jacket is too large for the actor, there’s a simple...
Pants Waist Alterations by Machine
Pants waist alterations are another common task in costuming. If costume pants are too large in the waist, you can easily alter them by machine....
Hemming Pants – A Quick Method
Hemming Un-Cuffed Pants and SkirtsYou can always opt for hemming costume pants by hand. But using a sewing machine makes this tedious work much...
Costume Wigs for Stage
Professional shows usually utilize a professional wig-maker who makes custom costume wigs for each role. This article is to help costumers for high...
Aging Materials – Technique
Cover photo by monica dahiya on UnsplashSometimes costumes need a vintage appearance, which can lead to the need for aging materials. Using black...
Stoning Costumes – Adding the Bling
Adding rhinestones to a costume (known to dance moms everywhere as "stoning costumes") can be very easy or very difficult. For most dance costumes,...
Dye Costume Pieces
Photo Credit: Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on UnsplashThis post is to help you dye costume pieces. In the course of costuming shows, there are many...
Snap Tape – How to Work With It
A variety of types of snap tape are available, but I found that the best (and least expensive) kind for break-away clothes has standard-sized...
Erase Old Seams – Technique
When removing old seams and hems for alterations, sometimes a mark or indentation will remain even after you steam press the fabric. Seam marks can...
Pressing Seams Correctly – Technique
Cover Photo by Filip Mroz on UnsplashNothing looks worse than costumes (or apparel) that appear homemade instead of custom. But pressing seams...
Costuming Tools
Cover Photo by Susan Holt Simpson on UnsplashWhen costuming, or doing any kind of sewing for that matter, I use many tools. I thought I’d share my 3...
Purchasing Costumes
Purchasing costumes can be the most enjoyable part of costuming a show. Even though most purchased costume pieces will need some type of change or...
Costuming Resources
Greenstyle Patterns
Pattern company with good designs using stretch fabric. Simple designs that can be used for costume bases.
Spandex World
My second-favorite NYC- and online-based retail source of stretch fabric; I don’t like their physical NYC store as well as Spandex House, but their online ordering system has traditionally been easier to use. They are generally a bit more expensive than Spandex House. Minimum online order is $20.
Manhattan Wardrobe Supply
This is a great NYC- and online-based retailer of tools, dyes, threads, wardrobe care supplies, and sewing notions. They also have a robust blog with great tips for costume professionals and hobbyists.
Tutu.com
One-stop-shop for everything you need to create beautiful ballet and lyrical costumes, including patterns, fabrics, and embellishments. This site also sells instructional books on how to make ballet costumes. This is the best source I’ve found for instructions on constructing a classical tutu, and the best retail source for tulle and tutu net.
“Spandex Doesn’t Scare Me”
Facebook Group for sharing issues, tips, and wins when sewing with “spandex, lycra, and other stretchy things” without fear; Good source of costuming information and ideas.
Dreamtime Creations
Fantastic online source for reasonably-priced rhinestones and other costume embellishments. Offers free shipping for orders over $75.
Wawak
Wawak is an Atlanta-based online sewing retailer. They sell many types of sewing thread in all colors, along with tailoring and seamstress notions, tools, and supplies. They have fast order fulfillment, making the online shopping experience a very positive one. There is no minimum order requirement.
Kwik Sew’s Swim & Action Wear book
This book includes a good standard multi-sized pattern that can be used as a plain base for many styles of dance costumes, including briefs, bra tops, crop tops, and full leotards.
Spandex House
NYC and online-based fabric retailer who specializes in all types of stretch fabric. If you need a stretch costume fabric, they probably have it. Minimum online order is $20
Jalie Patterns
Good source of sewing patterns for stretch dancewear and activewear. Many of their skating costume patterns also work well as the base for dance costumes.Jalie patterns also include many sizes, so one pattern can be used for the tiniest dancer, adults, and any size in-between.
TDF - Theatre Development Fund
This organization supports many facets of the theatre world, and one of their services is a professional theatrical and dance costume rental warehouse in Astoria, NY. They allow visits to view their collection with an appointment set 24 hours in advance. I haven’t done this yet, but it is on my bucket list. In the meantime, their website and Facebook page are fun to follow for inspiration.