WARDROBE SUPERVISOR

The WARDROBE SUPERVISOR is responsible for the entire costume operation, including the PRODUCTION WARDROBE (CUTTERS, FIRST HANDS, SEAMSTRESSES, MILLINERS, and BUYERS) and the MAINTENANCE WARDROBE (HEAD DRESSER, DRESSERS, RUNNING CREW). The position’s duties encompass 4 major areas: costing and purchasing, scheduling, supervising staff, and maintaining the Wardrobe facility and equipment.

The four of positions of WARDROBE SUPERVISOR, PRODUCTION MANAGER, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, and STAGE MANAGER make up the management team of each production and all information should be shared equally.

The responsibilities of the WARDROBE SUPERVISOR, in addition to those of a HEAD OF DEPARTMENT, shall include but not be limited to:

PRIOR TO THE PRODUCTION PERIOD

• Reads the script and makes appropriate notes
• Initiates a meeting with the COSTUME DESIGNER or CO-ORDINATOR to discuss concepts
• Ensures they completely understand the DESIGNER or CO-ORDINATORS intentions and expectations
• Performs research, as necessary, into the period history and context of the design, paying particular attention to appropriate styles; recognizes the need to interpret period styles for the stage

DURING THE PRODUCTION PERIOD

COSTING AND PURCHASING

• Attends the PRELIMINARY and FINAL DESIGN MEETING and takes appropriate notes
• Discusses with the DESIGNER or CO-ORDINATOR, in detail, all costumes, including fabric textures and weights, trims, etc, for built items, in order to accurately cost each costume piece
• Prepares a separate sheet for each costume, showing which cloth and trimming is to be used, details of accessories and shoes, hats and wigs, etc, and attaches, to the sheet, fabric swatches, where applicable; these sheets are usually bound in a three-ring binder and become known as THE BIBLE
• Ensures the creation and maintenance of the MASTER COSTUME PLOT
• Compiles a complete actor-by-actor list of all articles worn; notes where items were obtained and their condition
• Contributes to discussions concerning the Wardrobe budget allotment, in consultation with the PRODUCTION MANAGER
• Prepares accurate costings for each costume
• Tracks all expenditures and monitors the Wardrobe department’s budgets
• Is responsible for, and authorizes, all purchases in the department: signs for all PETTY CASH, arranges for BLANKET ORDERS and PURCHASE ORDERS
• Sources items and fabrics, and goes shopping with the DESIGNER or CO-ORDINATOR
• Arranges for loans or rentals of costumes

SCHEDULING

• Creates a time-line for the production(s), to ensure all costume pieces are completed in a timely manner
• Schedules all staff in the Wardrobe; ensures adherence to the permitted work hours of the Wardrobe shop
• Arranges for, and schedules, in conjunction with the STAGE MANAGER, all actor measurement sessions and costume fittings, adhering to the restrictions laid out in the Canadian Actors’ Equity Agreement

NOTE: 24 hours notice is required for any scheduling of, or change to, a fitting

• Contributes to, with the PRODUCTION MANAGER, DESIGNER and DIRECTOR, the scheduling of a COSTUME PARADE
• Contributes to the creation of a detailed WEEKLY and DAILY SCHEDULE, produced by the PRODUCTION MANAGER

SUPERVISION

• Supervises all Production and Maintenance Wardrobe staff is present at, and supervises, all fittings
• Ensures staff TIMESHEETS are completed and tracks these hours for department and production purposes
• Assigns projects and tasks to each staff member, distributing the workload equally and in recognition of each CUTTER, SEAMSTRESS and CREW MEMBER‘S skills and abilities
• Is responsible for the smooth transition of costumes from the Production Wardrobe to the Maintenance Wardrobe

NOTE: Although the WARDROBE SUPERVISOR supervises the HEAD DRESSER, all responsibility for the finished costumes (running, maintenance, strike and drycleaning) rests with the HEAD DRESSER

MAINTENANCE

• Ensures that the shop is kept clean tidy and organized
• Is responsible for ensuring all equipment is functioning smoothly, to allow work in the Shop to continue unhindered
• Notifies the Faculty HEAD OF COSTUME, staff WARDROBE SUPERVISOR and the PRODUCTION and OPERATIONS MANAGER when any piece of equipment is not working
• Ensures the consumable stock (thread, pins, needles, etc) is replenished following each production

This information is intended as a guideline only. It is not intended to replace the required reading or research in your area, or information gained in the classroom.

To be used in conjunction with the HEAD OF DEPARTMENT job description.

The demands of this position, and the hours worked, will vary with each production.

THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS POSITION MAY BE ALTERED WITHOUT NOTICE BY THE RESIDENT STAFF AND FACULTY