COSTUME SHOP POSITIONS
Totem Pole Playhouse

Interested Applicants may reply to employment@totempoleplayhouse.org.

Position Details

GENERAL INFORMATION:

  • Totem Pole Playhouse, Pennsylvania’s premier professional summer theatre, located in the spectacular 1,200-acre Caledonia State Park between Gettysburg and Chambersburg, PA, is seeking a seasonal Scenic Shop Staff for this legendary summer theatre’s 74th award-winning 5-show season.
  • The Totem Pole Playhouse 2024 season schedule runs May 31st through August 31st. Additionally, there is a potential holiday entertainment offering in December presented at an off-site venue. Engagement calendar may have flexibility in regards to start and end dates, but applicants should ideally be available for the entire season.
  • Totem Pole Playhouse produces productions through an agreement with Actor’s Equity Association, as well as a summer concert series. Totem Pole has an excellent reputation within the industry; the New York Times once named it, “the Cadillac of summer theaters.”

If required, most staff positions are provided housing in private bedrooms within shared staff houses as well as a weekly salary. 2024 Summer Series Shows include: Pump Boys and Dinettes, Clue (Onstage), Tuesday with Morrie, Jersey Boys and a weeklong Summer Concert Series. Most shows receive a week of load-in and a week of proper tech, making the schedule unique and less hectic than traditional summer theatre. When open, Totem Pole runs a fully operational and staffed private scenic and costume shop.

SPAN OF AGREEMENT DATES: May 6th 2024 through September 2nd 2024

Positions available:

Costume Shop Manager (with design opportunities possible).  The Costume Shop Manager is responsible for the construction, manipulation, and organization of the costumes for a fast-paced 5-show season. The candidate will collaborate with designers, oversee all aspects of costume construction and stock usage.  Applicants should have superior knowledge of costume construction, costume administration, ability to work with a wide range of personalities, and display strong leadership, ensuring the shop’s capacity meets the scope of the design (and flagging if it does not.)

Duties Include:

  • Organize build/fitting schedules as needed to get all costumes and wardrobe assets delivered on time.
  • Lead in a “hands on” manner with the construction, pulling, and acquisition of all costumes and wardrobe assets for upcoming productions as instructed by the designer.
  • Maintain materials/labor budgets for all costume-related expenses.
  • Oversee fittings with Guest Artists and ensure all costumes related aspects of the CBA with AEA are being upheld.
  • Supervising wardrobe crew with daily show paperwork and maintenance communication skills. 
  • Maintain/nuture a working relationship with vendors (rental houses, wholesalers, local over-hire)
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production

Candidate will also need to be capable of working on tall ladders, lifting at least 30 lbs, working around vintage and dusty fabrics and working long hard hours, working well with other tech crew members on various projects as directed by Producer.

Weekly Salary Range $475-575 DOE

 

Stitcher: The Stitcher assists the Costume Shop Manager in daily activities in the costume shop and around the theatre. Helping fabricate, modify, and acquire costumes for a fast-paced 5-show season. The applicant must be a practiced stitcher and have costume or clothing construction knowledge and technology experience.

Duties include:

  • Will be responsible to contribute to the completion of the costume package for all productions.  
  • Assist with loading in and out the costume assets into dressing rooms.
  • Pulling from and helping maintain the costume stock
  • Assisting the Costume Shop Manager with projects as needed
  • Help maintain expendables and ensure that the shop has what it needs in place.
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production

Candidate will also need to be capable of working on tall ladders, lifting at least 30 lbs, working around vintage and dusty fabrics and working long hard hours, working well with other tech crew members on various projects as directed by Producer.

Weekly Salary Range $400-500 DOE

 

Wardrobe Supervisor: The Wardrobe Supervisor will assist the Costume Shop Manager in maintaining costumes during the run of shows. The candidate will attend every performance and operate as part of the run crew. They will also maintain “day work” hours for show prep and maintenance.  

Duties include:

  • Facilitate and plan costume changes backstage during technical rehearsals and show run.
  • Be responsible for the upkeep of costumes and the dressing rooms
  • Perform the daily show laundry
  • There will be opportunities for the candidate to work in the costume shop stitching and altering costume stock.  
  • The applicant will also generate wardrobe show track paperwork and maintain it during tech for the wardrobe crew.
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production

Candidate will also need to be capable of working on tall ladders, lifting at least 30 lbs, working around vintage and dusty fabrics and working long hard hours, working well with other tech crew members on various projects as directed by Producer.

Weekly Salary Range $450-550 DOE

 

Wardrobe Assistant. The Wardrobe Assistant will assist the Wardrobe Supervisor in maintaining costumes during the run of shows. The candidate will attend every performance and operate as part of the run crew.  

Duties include:

  • Assist in costume changes backstage during technical rehearsals and show run.
  • Assist in the upkeep of costumes and the dressing rooms
  • Perform the daily show laundry.  
  • There will be opportunities for the candidate to work in the costume shop stitching and altering costume stock.  
  • Other duties traditionally assigned to this job title in live Theatrical Production

Candidate will also need to be capable of working on tall ladders, lifting at least 30 lbs, working around vintage and dusty fabrics and working long hard hours, working well with other tech crew members on various projects as directed by Producer.

Weekly Salary Range $450-550 DOE

Start dates estimated for Costume Shop positions May 1st     

 

*Totem Pole Playhouse is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.