Costuming Theatre Arts

Vocabulary Costume: An outfit, including accessories and undergarments, worn by an actor in a production. Costume crew: The committee in charge of costuming the show. Their main responsibilities: Design the costumes Supply the costumes (make/borrow/buy/reuse) Assist with costume changes and emergencies backstage Clean the costumes Costume plot: a chart listing each character, the acts or scenes in which they appear, and all undergarments, garments and accessories needed.

Costume Plot Example Play: Calling Dr. Curemee Date: November 12-13 Act 3, Scene 2 Character Actor Costume Accessories Notes Sylvia Megan Blue silk dress Hat, scarf, heels Help tie scarf over shoulder Walter Eric Brown suit Spectator shoes, pipe, glasses Grandma Andrea Blue bathrobe Slippers, tissue box Must look very rumpled Bobby Justin Jeans and T-shirt Baseball cap, glove Suzie Jackie Soccer uniform Soccer ball, water bottle Dr. Curemee Roberto Blazer, navy pants, white shirt, tie Stethoscope, notepad, pencil Taken from Glencoe’s Exploring Theatre, Nancy Prince & Jeanie Jackson, (c) 2005

Why are Costumes Important? Help the audience “see” the characters. They show them the character’s: Age Personality Tastes Social standing Occupation Help the actors feel and move as characters rather than as themselves

Things Designers Consider Actors’ Sizes/Shapes Time Periods Geography Character Personalities

Sweeney Todd Costume Design Part 1

Sweeney Todd Costume Design Part 2

You Be the Designer! Read Petrouchka Choose two characters to design costumes for (1 male, 1 female) Costume Design Project Do a costume plot Draw your creations Explain your choices