Costume Supervisor

Chicago Children’s Theatre seeks a part-time Costume Supervisor for our 2023/24 Season.

CCT is Chicago’s premiere AEA TYA company working with professional artists and technicians to create high-quality work for child audiences. CCT’s space at 100 S Racine Ave, in the West Loop, is a flexible 140-seat blackbox theatre.

Costume Supervisor will work with designers and Director of Production to support each of three production’s costumes, as well as manage a small storage/shop area. This is a part-time hourly position, with the majority of hours around rehearsals and tech for each show. Costume Supervisor may also choose to design new costumes, if needed, for our Holiday show as well as construct them, and will be expected to lead the design and creation of all understudy costumes.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee and participate in the construction, pulling, fitting, and strike for each production;
• Coordinate costume fitting schedules, rehearsal needs, and performance notes with Stage Management and Designers;
• Ensure fitting notes are executed in a timely manner;
• Attend costume measurements and fittings as needed;
• Support construction of all built costume elements; hire and oversee overhire labor as needed;
• Design, create, shop, build, pull, and acquire all understudy costumes – including overseeing measuring and fitting all understudy costumes;
• Manage and maintain costume shop inventory of stock costumes, supplies, fabrics, notions, etc;
• Manage show and department budgets;
• Manage costume ‘shop’ equipment, repairs, and maintenance;
• Work with the designer and Stage Management to ensure completion of costume notes during tech and previews;
• Provide support for performance repair notes and dry cleaning as needed;
• Maintain and organize costume shop/storage.

Compensation is $25/hour; show 1 is expected at 80-90 total hours of work, show 2 is expected at 25-30 total hours of work, show 3 is expected at 80-90 total hours of work.

Shows 1 and 3 will also be hiring wardrobe crew during the run of the show, if Supervisor is interested they may also work these wardrobe hours for more consistent hours during the run of show. If supervisor isn’t interested, we can hire another wardrobe crew person – either way is ok!

We will also be shooting a promotional video for Show 1 between June 13 and June 16. If supervisor is interested, they can design and oversee costumes for the video shoot. If supervisor is unavailable for this, this is not required.

Meetings are paid at a 2-hour guaranteed minimum, work calls at a 4-hour guaranteed minimum, and show calls at a 3-hour guaranteed minimum. All hours over 40 in a single week will be paid at time-and-a-half.

If you are interested in this position, please send a resume to Director of Production Will Bishop at wbishop@chicagochildrenstheatre.org along with a list of any significant conflicts, and we will set up an interview time from there.

Schedule is broadly (note – shows have not yet been announced, and schedules are subject to change):

Show 1 –

A new CCT Commission based on a children’s book.

Six person cast (two understudies), 18th Century costumes, including wigs. May include one role played by a young performer.

Mieka van der Ploeg designs.

Costume Finals August 14th
Rehearsal 8/23/23-9/13/23
Tech 9/14/23-9/17/23
Previews 9/19/23-9/22/23
Open 9/23/23
Run 9/23/23-10/15/23
Extension TBD 10/18/23-10/22/23

Show 2-

CCT’s annual holiday show

This is a recurring holiday show, there may be new cast members and supervisor can either design and construct costumes for any new cast members based on previous designs, or work with an external designer to create these pieces, cast of 3, with 1 understudy.

Load In/Rehearsals 10/17/23-10/28/23
Tech 10/31/23-11/3/23
Open 11/4/23
Run 11/4/23 – 12/31/23
Loadout Early January

Show 3 –

A musical

A five-person cast accompanying themselves on instruments and playing animal characters. We have done this show in the past, the same designer will likely be joining us again, and will likely use some of the old costumes (remade or refitted for new cast members). Two understudies.

Rehearsal 3/13/24-4/3/24
Tech 4/4/24-4/7/24
Previews 4/9/24-4/12/24
Open 4/13/24
Closing 6/9/24

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Chicago Children’s Theatre is committed to equity, diversity, inclusion and justice in our organization and our community, and thus we seek a broad spectrum of employees. AA/EOE

Chicago Children’s Theatre is strongly committed to increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in our audiences, our programs and in all of our hiring for staff, artists, and recruiting of board members. CCT is committed to a future where our theatre is a home for all people, all families, and is truly reflective of our community. We are also committed to providing a work environment that is free from discrimination. CCT prohibits discrimination in employment against any employee or job applicant because of that person’s race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, membership in a local human rights commission or any other legally protected status.