Theatre Nerds: If you think being a dresser backstage on Broadway is just putting actors in their costumes and helping with quick changes, think again. There are many facets to the skilled trade of being a professional wardrobe person. One Broadway show could have dressers in many positions who go beyond helping actors in and out of clothes.
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I loved the inside look that this article gave you into the world of professional wardrobe departments of theatre companies all over the world. I have always loved doing work as a dresser backstage on productions that I have worked on, and it was interesting to see how that type of work translates over to a much more professional and less academic setting. I especially loved the YouTube clip of the "A Day in the Life of a Dresser" from the National Theatre. The dresser in this clip touched on something that I have always thought about but never been able to explain out loud, which is the notion that dressers really have to be people-oriented. It can be one of the most important jobs to an actor because their dresser might be the first person they see when they come into work on a show day and the last person they see before they set foot on stage. This means that the relationship between a dresser and their actor is important not only to them but to the dynamic of the whole production.
This article is a great introduction to the theatrical wardrobe department for people who haven't heard anything about it before, and also a good way for people within the industry to learn about the details of the job. Between laundry, fixing costumes, and supervising they have an extremely busy schedule. A lot of people will think that wardrobe is just a department that covers dressing, but the reality is that their job is highly complex. One thing that I didn't know about was the difference between a star dresser and a swing dresser. I think it's interesting that a star dresser is so closely tied to the the performer they're working with, and I'm curious to know if that's a connection that carries on from show to show. I have a ton of respect for everyone who works in the wardrobe department, as they are both extremely hard working and detail oriented.
Being a dresser is a very hard and special job that people often think only involves helping with quick changes. I have actually seen Broadway dressers in action for everything off stage and it is quite fascinating. They are some of the hardest working people in the whole building because they have so many responsibilities. They were always there before stage management already doing laundry and presetting everyone’s clothes in the dressing rooms and backstage in the quick change booths. The star dressers acted like personal assistants and always brought any deliveries to the dressing rooms and dealt with any guests that came to visit them after the show. I have also seen them get food for the actor if they are busy and cannot leave the building. After doing all of these tasks they also have to be personable and get along with the actors they are dressing and create strong relationships to make them feel comfortable since they are helping them change their clothes.
This article is an incredible illustration of the life of a dresser. They fill a capacity that is so much larger than just quick changes. They are responsible for each garment being accounted for and in working condition, as well as the comfort and care of an actor in the moments they have offstage. They must have the ability to calmly take care of any wardrobe mishap, as well as have the immense skill needed to do so. They are the faces that the actors see before each show, which gives them a great deal of responsibility in ensuring the actor has all that they need for a successful performance. The relationship that develops is key to the ability of an actor to go on stage feeling confident and prepared to execute their performance.
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