Costume question

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 1:00am

When a show has costumes that you would wear everyday would the actor bring their costumes from home, would the costume designer make a trip to old navy or would they just customize them in house?

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 1:07am

EDIT: sorry, I misread your question. I thought you asked if they'd bring the costume home. 

Updated On: 6/8/16 at 01:07 AM

[playbill-love]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 1:07am

This is anecdotal but I know most of the bare revival costumes came from like off the rack at Urban Outfitters and American Apparel. Im also pretty sure that part of the Equity contract specifies how actors will be compensated when they are asked to provide costume pieces so I know that must happen sometimes if it is part of the Equity rules. 

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 1:12am

It's basically unheard for actors in professional productions to wear their own clothes on stage. The only exceptions I have seen be made are for shoes. The actress wanted to wear her own dance shoes that were nearly identical the pair her character would be wearing. If the actor wears their own clothes, I believe they either receive a cleaning and dare stipend or a small addition to their pay (don't quote me on that; I don't have the rule book in front of me).

Even if a show uses off the rack clothes, there's still tailoring that needs to be done. In the '09 revival of Hair, many items were purchased at Levi's stores, but changes still had to be made for fitting, detail work, etc.

Updated On: 6/8/16 at 01:12 AM

[trpguyy]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 1:13am

It's actually an Equity requirement that every actor MUST provide at least one item from Old Navy to be incorporated into his/her costume.

[KCW]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 7:05am

You are probably asking this because you are familiar with amateur preformances where actors provide their own clothes as to stretch the budget and make sure it fits. However, it would not make sense for a professional production to do so. It would not make sense to use pre worn clothes as those have wear and that could reduce structural integrity, along with many other factors. 

[JM226]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 7:18am

jorge. you give me a headache. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 7:59am

^ Yes.  I'm sorry, I can't imagine that he understands so little of the process.   What do you think a costume designer DOES?

[kdogg36]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 5:02pm

I don't think it's that bad a question. :) I never would have thought that actors in a first-class production would actually wear their own clothes, but the question as to whether the costume designer might do some shopping at retail stores is interesting.

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 5:28pm

I heard a story about the "Dorothy dress" that is briefly seen in silhouette in Wicked. The rest of the costumes were, of course, constructed by the costume designers for the show - however for the Dorothy dress, they originally just bought it "off the rack" from a kink costume at a sex shop.

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 5:52pm

To ask (only) if the costumer might go shopping, isn't a bad one, but asking the actors to choose their personal clothes to wear is. (except for readings and such...which is how the costumes for the current Chicago revival were conceived -- if I'm remembering correctly.)

 

 

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 5:59pm

I'm more curious about the undergarments.  Actors have a discussion with a costume designer about what kind of underwear would and would not work with the costume? 

[Tag]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 6:02pm

Well performers can wear some of their own pieces (as stated, generally shoes) and I'd say this might be more prevalent in a regional-type theatre than on Broadway.  But in any case, the production would pay a rental fee to the performer for the use of their personal wardrobe.

[oncemorewithfeeling2]

Posted: 6/8/16 at 6:09pm

When costume designers are making up mock ups of costumes and versions before the final vision, things like undergarments worn with the outfit and the individual who will be wearing the costume (if known) are discussed.  Speciality undergarments for theater is a real deal, but undergarments are frequently designed and assigned to the cast based on their costumes.  This could be as mundane and normal as a strapless bra picked up at Macy's to a custom corset designed to help support the weight of a dress, not just serve as an undergarment.  I never did broadway or any national tours, but I've performed in major regional productions and I've had specific bras assigned to me because they don't show lines and lumps under lights, just as an example.