Actors getting own costumes
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Forum Discription: For how-to's and where-can-I-find
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1792
Printed Date: 5/02/24 at 6:04am
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Topic: Actors getting own costumes
Posted By: adrene
Subject: Actors getting own costumes
Date Posted: 4/09/06 at 4:54pm
We have a volunteer head of costumes who is proposing that each actor
go out and get his/her own costume/s. Besides creating a headache re.
reimbursement, etc., it just doesn't seem feasible since they're all going
to have their own ideas about what works and they may or may not agree
with the director.
Has anyone ever costumed this way?
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Replies:
Posted By: Tom_Rylex
Date Posted: 4/09/06 at 9:22pm
Adrene,
It depends on the show, or how it's handled. Some shows call for modern dress, or the costume can allow for a lot of variability (i.e., street urchin, boss in an office). Even shows that have a theme can work out. If your costumer is specific enough about what each character is supposed to have (e.g., all 'Annie' orphans need to have X shoes and socks, or the 'Wizard of OZ' munchkins need to have Y colors, etc.).
If they aren't vetting their choices with the costumer, things can get difficult. If there is a specific costuming theme for the show (period dress), then you could be asking for trouble.
But yes, on some larger CT productions, people do get their own costumes. I've gone and picked up suits, shoes, even teeth for my character, because I like one thing or the other. I won't go with it unless the costumer gives the go ahead. I've never really bothered with reimbursement either. I'll hang on to it for the next time I might need a costume, or just donate it to the group.
-Tom
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The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
-R. Frost
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Posted By: Playwright
Date Posted: 4/09/06 at 10:27pm
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One of the two CT's I belong has cast members do their own costumes. Mainly because we do the shows on a small stage in a church basement with absolutely no space to store costumes.
For 'period' plays we usually borrow from the other CT in my city. For modern plays, the cast either bring in something of their own from home or they buy what they need. Rule # 1 is that all purchases to be made at Good Will, Salvation Army, second hand stores. No purchases of new items. The director discusses with each cast member what he wants them to wear. If the receipt is kept then usually items can be returned. We try to have a 'costume co-ordinator' who keeps a list of who has what, who still needs what, etc.
We've found this system to work very well without any major difficulties.
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Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 4/11/06 at 9:09am
Some times it is what it is.... My wife is a costumer, and we belong to five different theaters, as well as run the High School Drama program. A couple places we work do the "This is generally what we want, go get it." approach. Most have a structured "Costumer" approach, where one person sets the costume plot and designs the costumes, maybe makes and assembles with a team, but generally under the control of one person.. If they did it any other way it would be pandamonium... But the other theater does just fine with each his own approach (except for large period peices where they will have to rent) I suggested to them once that we use a costumer for a show and they didn't know what to say, it was so forign to them...
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Marty W
"Till next we trod the boards.."
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Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 4/12/06 at 10:11am
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I just updated my resume, and it shows about 40 plays (as an actor) in . . . let's call it 30 years of community and educational theatre.
I can recall four occasions when I haven't provided at least part of my own costume. Once was Shakespeare and once was Restoration (I don't have any tights around the house that fit me!) and the other two involved uniforms.
I think it's quite common in modern dress shows, but it's also necessary for the costumer and director to vet the costumes EARLY, so that everyone's on the same page.
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POB
Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard
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Posted By: pauliebonn
Date Posted: 4/20/06 at 1:26am
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I actually thank GOD when the costumer wants me to use my own stuff. I am short, and very hard to fit (think of Danny DeVito with more hair HA HA HA!!!). It seems more comfortable wearing my own things. Just my opinion.
P
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Posted By: DramaMamaStill
Date Posted: 4/25/06 at 3:09pm
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I costume younger actors and for those plays we ask the players to provide most of their own costumes. I design the general look of the show and provide costume examples of the styles I am looking for. I also provide suggestions as to where costumes can be aquired and any brilliant ideas that I might have for adapting other things to suit whatever time period we are setting the play in.
So far I have done medieval, 40's, werewolf, Sherlock Holmes, fairytale and Greek (The Birds) with great success. The one thing I require is that the actors get all their costumes in early so that I can correct anything that is really not right. I also keep a reasonable stock of odd clothing like trench coats, dr's coats, hats and such because they are more difficult to find.
I also costume plays where we provide the costumes which can be a little limiting and frankly I prefer the former method. I have gotten much more creativity from my younger actors and their parents and some pretty amazing costumes
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Life is Mysterious don't take it too serious
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Posted By: jphock
Date Posted: 4/28/06 at 1:35am
I'm an 'actor of size' (read this as chubby but lovable)...at 6'4" and more pounds than I'd like to admit publicly...I am what is can be referred to as a costumer's nightmare. In every show I've been in, I've supplied at least pants and shirt...and then hopefully the costumer can find additional period appropriate pieces to fit me. Some shows I've supplied everything.
I was very lucky for my last show that the costumer made me a victorian era vest, ascot and morning coat as well as a beautiful silk kimono. I paid her for the fabric and she let me keep all of the pieces for future use. Of course, even for that show I had to purchase a tuxedo shirt and a pair of knickers (interesting costume plot for that show huh? Did I mention the pirate shirt, eye patch and garter belts? anyone wondering the show?)
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Posted By: jcorkran
Date Posted: 4/28/06 at 10:09am
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Our CT nearly always asks the actors to provide at least part of their costumes to limit what we have to spend. For most shows, that works fine. For period pieces, we often borrow from other CTs and even a couple professional theatres. (It helps to have connections!) But it is certainly not uncommon for actors to provide "regular" clothing items in a CT.
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