I'm going to have several quick changes in a show I'm in, any tips at all? My costumes go from..
-a large Victorian dress as Mathilda
-to a "creature" which will most likely consist of some sort of leotard or doctor's scrubs and a mask
-possibly to another costume, then to a "card" in some sort of posterboard sandwich thing and a turtleneck and scrubs or tights
-then back to my Victorian dress as Mathilda
Thanks for the help!
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Christine_wannabe
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Re:Quick Changes??? - 2008/03/10 16:56It always helps to have a stage manager or a friend (of the same sex) help unzip your dress, help remember everything, etc. Also don't worry so much if you don't make the costume change at dress rehearsals because you will get faster and during a performance you have a lot of adrenaline (sp?)rushing though you, so that helps a lot. Also if possible layer things but only if you cannot see it under your costume. Hope this helps!!! Break a leg! -Laura
Favorite Musical: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA!!!!!!! As for more "happy" musicals i like BATB, Music Man, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Singin' in the rain!!!
Next production: R&H Cinderella?
“Practice as if you are the worst, perform as if you are the best.”
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CwEinDallas
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Re:Quick Changes??? - 2008/03/10 17:28whenever possible, underdress your next costume (you can surely hide a leotard under a victorian dress for example. really quick changes will most likely require a dresser, it's just faster that way. just be sure to thank them! I would never have gotten through La cage aux Folles without my dresser (i had two quick changes less than a minute each in the opening number!!). She was awesome. above all, plan for your changes. let the stage manager know when you anticipate you might need some help.Chris
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shadesofharmony6
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Re:Quick Changes??? - 2008/03/10 17:38i know what your're about to go through because i will be too! I'm Dorothy, and in our show i have a black and white dress and a blue and white dress in which i have only a min to change my dress, socks, hair ribbons, basket material, shoes, and once: makeup in that time. I'm recruiting like 4 stage crew people to help me and get Toto all ready! Luck to both of us!!Catherine currently: stage manager Into the woods Jr soprano chorus Princess Ida
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carrot cait
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Re:Quick Changes??? - 2008/03/10 17:44I've only had one quick change, during JCS. And then all I had to do was change my shirt. I have a few upcoming ones for BatB (including one where I have to change onstage... this should be interesting) but I couldn't give you any advise about that, seeing as we won't be getting our costumes for another 3 weeks.
I've been in tons of shows with some very difficult quick changes, though- especially Shakespeare, where it's almost impossible to get in and out of the huge ridiculous dresses. The best advise I could give you is to get a team of dressers- it doesn't even have to be tech people, it could be anyone in the show that's not busy or onstage at the time- and practice getting in and out of your costume. Also, if you do have dressers, don't try to help them by trying to get changed yourself- it feels weird, but it's much, much easier for dressers to put your clothes on you if you're just standing still.
Layers is also a good idea, and make sure to have all your clothes layed out and accessable for your changes. It would suck to lose something at a crucial moment. And don't worry about being modest; just rip your clothes off if you have to, no one really cares.
Hope I've at least helped a little. And good luck. - Caitlin / Cait -
Favorites Belle in Beauty and the Beast (2008), Jupiter in Cymbeline (2006), Narrator in Joseph... (2005) Present (possibly) YAGMCB...
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Juliet
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Re:Quick Changes??? - 2008/03/10 18:16oh my goodness, quick costume changes are quite an experience. Once I had to change from a long evening gown type dress into totally different tights, a short little smock type dress, a different hair style, and different shoes in the space of two minutes! I had two people help me, I set out my costume so I could always do them in the order I needed them, and I did my hair, while they did my shoes. Another time I was playing little sally and I had a little over a minute to change completely, and run out of the wings and down to the lobby in order to come through the audience for the policemen song. I always arrived late, so FINALLY they just had me layer a trenchcoat, hat and sunglasses over my costume, so I would say, layer as many things as you can that won't hinder you or distract the audience. Hope I helped a little!!Current Show: Coppelia (Swanhilda's friend) Shows in the Last Year: The Nutcracker(Spanish Chocolate, The Prissy Doll) Little Shop of Horrors (Ronnette), Ragtime (Evelyn Nesbit), Urinetown (Little Sally), Schoolhouse Rock Live (Dori),
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little_yellow_froggy
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Re:Quick Changes??? - 2008/03/10 22:25Make sure that if at all possible, you replace any buttons or hard to open closures with velcro, snaps, or zippers. Break a leg!Current: none Upcoming: Les Miserables ('09) Recent: Peter Pan- Crocodile
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katoru
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Re:Quick Changes??? - 2008/03/10 22:49little_yellow_froggy wrote: Make sure that if at all possible, you replace any buttons or hard to open closures with velcro, snaps, or zippers. Break a leg!
Velcro is too noisy for changing in the wings. Snaps are your friends. Use great big ones so they're easy to snap up in the dark. Though for quick on, zippers are sometimes better.
Is your victorian dress all one piece? Or do you have a top/skirt combo? Extra layers for fullness? If yes to either of the last two, stitch the layers together so they'll all come off in one fell swoop (and go on again).
Yes, other than that, underdress as best you can, and have someone help you.Kathleen Sera Current Shows: Aloha Pinafore - Volga Upcoming Auditions: Crazy For You - Irene Roth
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triplethreat
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Re:Quick Changes??? - 2008/03/10 23:37Oh, the stories I could tell about quick changes....
One of the worst was when I changed into a 50s style dress with the long side zipper - and forgot to zip it up! Then spent a whole tango number with my dance partner desperately trying to zip it for me... I'm sure this made it look worse. My mom (who was in the front row that night) was sure he was trying to grope me.
But yes, definitely get a dresser. If you have a "problem" with modesty (which I no longer do, thanks to theatre & dance recitals ) there are several dance companies who make wonderful nude colour leotards/bodysuits - you can wear one underneath everything for the whole show, regardless of the styles you are wearing because of the flesh colour. They are really good for smoothing out panty-lines and such too._____________ Kris MTA Admin
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Jbug
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Re:Quick Changes??? - 2008/03/11 13:40Velcro whenever possible. But the best thing is to have a "dresser". That is someone who is there with your costume in hand as you run off stage to change into it. The "dresser" helps you get dressed and it is faster! Boy have I had experiences!!!! Talk to your director about it.
In professional theatre everyone strips down to their undies right in front of everyone if there is no time to get to the dressing room. In your case, I'd wear a flesh colored tank leotard under your costumes.
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In professional theatre everyone strips down to their undies right in front of everyone if there is no time to get to the dressing room. In your case, I'd wear a flesh colored tank leotard under your costumes.
at the theater I usually perform at, the wings are completely blacked out because they're so shallow. Running across the wings is a painful experience when 3 people change at once
in 'Its A Wonderful Life' I had to do a quick change from a stuffy bank man suit back into my slinky Violet dress that simply didn't fit under the coat for the banker.
In three lines. I had a dresser take my coat off (no shirt underneath- you couldn't tell from the house) and another one poised for me to dive into the dress. Work out a system before tech, it is so much less stressful! And don't worry about modesty, the cast is basically your family by opening anyway and tell the guys to go away if you're uncomfortable.
BTW, I want me one of those nude leotards! -Ali
Currently: -Sheila; Boys Next Door (postshow depression mode) -acceptance to acting ensemble -Bye Bye Birdie (audition- didn't get a callback)
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Jessica
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Re:Quick Changes??? - 2008/03/13 15:29your in alice in wonderland, arent you? [:Jessica
Currently: Alice in Wonderland Jr. - Understudy for all characters
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During the "Music Man" I had to change out of a semi fancy suit, including my shoes, from the Opening Number into OVERALLS for the next number in way under a minute. Name: Bruce Current Production: None. Upcoming Auditions:
The Butler Did It Singing (Chandler)
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broadway bound
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Re:Quick Changes??? - 2008/03/13 17:22I second everything everyone has said! Especially the nude leotard (nudies as we dancers call them) and having a dresser. I had a quick change when I was Louise in Carousel and having a dresser is the only way I could have gotten through it! Ask a friend who doesn't have any scenes coming up. Also, you can find nudies at any dance store. Most stores keep some in stock.
What show are you doing? The costumes sound interesting...Is that the smell of sulfur? Oh its a stage effect!
Release your davits and jump!
-I've had a vision! -Of disaster? -No, of azaleas!
There is a curious paradox that no one can explain: who understands the secrets of the reaping of the grain? Who understands why spring is born out of winter's laboring pain, or why we all must die a bit before we grow again? I do not know the secret, although I know it's true. I hurt them for that reason. And myself a little bit too.
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katoru
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Re:Quick Changes??? - 2008/03/13 20:38Oh, you don't know quick change until you've been a dresser on Sound of Music. Four dressers, with eight or nine actors to change completely (four of whom are children) including SOCKS in well under a minute. Who designs a show that requires quick changed socks?! (Much love to the designer of that show, he was a doll, but come on!)Kathleen Sera Current Shows: Aloha Pinafore - Volga Upcoming Auditions: Crazy For You - Irene Roth
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) there are several dance companies who make wonderful nude colour leotards/bodysuits - you can wear one underneath everything for the whole show, regardless of the styles you are wearing because of the flesh colour. They are really good for smoothing out panty-lines and such too.
