Costume Designer
At a Glance
- You dress the story. Concept, sourcing, fittings, quick-change planning, dress-rehearsal sign-off.
- Your closest partners: Director (vision), Costume Coordinator (sourcing and fittings), Stage Manager (quick-change tracking), Choreographer (movement-safe costumes).
- Key deliverables: costume plot, character breakdowns, fabric and color palette, fitting schedule, quick-change list.
- Where you live in the process: Pre-Production (design) and Rehearsals (fittings) heaviest; on call through Tech Week for first dress and adjustments.
- Phase responsibilities at the bottom: see By Phase.
Position Overview
The Costume Designer is responsible for conceptualizing and realizing the costumes that bring each character to life. Working closely with the Director and the full design team, the Costume Designer translates the story’s world — its period, setting, and emotional tone — into clothing and appearance that support the performers and serve the production’s visual identity. This role requires both creative vision and strong organizational skills to manage sourcing, fittings, and execution across the full production timeline.
Reports to: Production Manager Collaborates closely with: Director, Stage Manager, and full design team
Ongoing Knowledge and Oversight
- Know the theatrical space — its dressing room layout, quick-change areas, storage, and logistical realities.
- Maintain regular communication with the Stage Manager, Director, and other production positions.
- Stay current on the budget, timelines, and production expectations.
- Understand the roles and responsibilities of all other production positions.
Qualifications
Essential Qualifications
- Strong creative vision with the ability to design costumes that serve character and story.
- Knowledge of sourcing, alterations, and costume construction techniques.
- Excellent collaboration skills and ability to work within a defined creative framework.
- Ability to work effectively with young artists while maintaining high production standards.
- Strong organizational skills to manage fittings, tracking sheets, and production timelines.
Preferred Qualifications
- Background in costume design, fashion, theatre, or a related field.
- Understanding of historical costume design and period-accurate clothing.
- Experience managing costume departments in community or professional theatre.
- Familiarity with quick-change logistics and backstage coordination.
Working Conditions
- Work primarily during evenings and weekends to accommodate young artists’ schedules.
- Collaborative environment requiring close coordination with the full design and production team.
- Physical requirements include standing during fittings, moving costume racks, and managing backstage logistics during tech.
- Fast-paced during technical rehearsals, requiring adaptability and quick problem-solving.
Success Measures
- Costume designs that serve the director’s vision and clearly support each character’s identity.
- Fittings completed and all costumes ready before tech begins.
- Smooth integration of costumes during tech rehearsals with minimal issues.
- Effective, professional collaboration with the Director, Stage Manager, and design team.
- Well-maintained, organized, and functional costumes throughout the production run.
By Phase
Inception
Welcome to the Encore fam! Be sure to complete your onboarding items below — we look forward to building an incredible show that builds life skills through stage skills for young artists.
Onboarding
- Complete child safety training.
- Submit background check.
- Submit W-9.
- Sign and return contract.
- Complete onboarding process.
Initial Production Work
- Begin reviewing the script for costume scope and complexity. Note period, setting, and any unusual character demands early.
- Attend the onboarding meeting with the full production team.
See 1 - Inception for the phase overview.
Pre-Production
- Obtain a script and develop thorough knowledge of the costume needs and physical demands of the show — in collaboration with the Director.
- Participate in all production meetings.
- Obtain the production schedule and timeline from Stage Management or Production Manager.
- Map your schedule against the full production calendar, including rehearsals, tech week, key design milestones, designer run, dry tech, and opening night.
- Obtain the contact list and maintain communication with Stage Management, the Director, and fellow designers.
- Prepare a visual presentation of the costume design to share with the creative team and ultimately the cast and crew.
Casting
- Watch cast composition; note any physical-attribute considerations that affect fittings (sizing, growth between fitting and tech).
See 3 - Casting for the phase overview.
Rehearsals
- Engage in and respect a harmonious, collaborative working environment.
- Present the costume design to the cast (typically in the first week of rehearsal).
- Check and respond to the daily rehearsal report as needed.
- Continue attending production meetings and maintain ongoing communication with the production team.
Designer Run. The tech process begins at the designer run. Come in with a fully realized understanding of the designs — how they work both from a storytelling perspective and in practical execution. This is your opportunity to identify and resolve issues before moving into the performance space.
The designer run should inspire greater specificity in the design and its function. It should always be followed by a production meeting where questions and discrepancies can be addressed.
See 4 - Rehearsals for the phase overview.
Pre-Tech
Pre-Tech is when all design elements should be installed and ready so Tech can integrate rather than build. See 5 - Pre-Tech for the phase overview.
- Costumes should be built and ready to be worn by actors.
- Any complicated pieces should be tested and optimized.
- Basic structure and most design details should be finished.
- Create a tracking sheet for every actor outlining what they wear in each scene, noting any quick changes.
- Share an anticipated quick-change list with the Production Manager, Stage Manager, and Director.
- Communicate any delayed pieces to the Director and Stage Manager.
- Organize costumes by character.
- Create costume breakdown sheets.
- Prepare and coordinate quick-change areas with stage management.
Technical Rehearsals
The Costume Designer is responsible for ensuring correct costumes are being worn, are functional, and serve the storytelling throughout tech. The following typically happens on the specific day when the production “adds costumes.”
- Install costumes into the theater and sort them by actor on racks.
- Ensure all costumes have arrived and are accounted for.
- Share the tracking sheet with individual actors.
- Demonstrate how complicated or unfamiliar costume pieces work.
- Take notes on adjustments and implement fixes promptly.
- Attend post-tech production meetings at the Stage Manager’s discretion. Assume a meeting will occur after actors are released unless told otherwise.
- Continue close collaboration with the Director and Stage Manager.
- Teach actors proper costume handling.
- Observe run-throughs.
- Make adjustments to costumes as needed.
- Attend production meetings.
See 6 - Technical Rehearsals for the phase overview.
Performance
The Costume Designer’s primary work is complete once the production opens.
- Maintain the costumes — both aesthetically and functionally — for the duration of the run.
- Maintain costumes throughout the run; observe and address wear-and-tear.
See 7 - Performance for the phase overview.
Post-Production
- Supervise strike of costume elements.
- Archive design materials and submit final reports/budgets.
See 8 - Post-Production for the phase overview.
Related
Status: Working · Portal: Team · Last reviewed: 2026-05-11 · Owner: Rhett