Costume Designer for "Want by Barbara Lindsay

About the project and the company

The Shattered Glass Project is seeking a Costume Designer for the world premier production of “Want” by Barbara Lindsay

The Costume Designer will be responsible for creating an expressive design for the production of “Want” by Barbara Lindsay, in collaboration with the director and other designers. The Costume Designer will attend production meetings, work with the director and actors to use clothing as a medium to carry out the intentions of the play; purchase, build, or borrow costume pieces; and work within the provided budget for the show.

Play Synopsis

Middle-aged couple Ruby and Earl are happy in their new marriage, but the rest of life is bleak and looking bleaker.  Earl has lost his job, Ruby hates hers as night shift janitor at a hospital, and they have moved into a cheap, drab apartment.  When Ruby suggests they ought to kill her parents for the inheritance, Earl plays along, believing she is joking.  The joke becomes more sinister when Janelle, their cheerful, attractive neighbor, shows up to welcome them to the building.  Fearing Earl is attracted to Janelle, Ruby suggests they should practice murder on her.  Earl is now in a bind; since he seemed to go along with the idea of killing Ruby’s parents, his refusal to kill Janelle only inflames Ruby’s jealousy.  Driven by an animal sense of desperation, Ruby brings the situation to a violent conclusion.

Production Schedule

Production Venue

Center Theatre @ The Armory Building, Seattle Center

Production Team

Director: Maureen Hawkins. Producer: Rebecca O’Neil. Playwright: Barbara Lindsay. Scenic Design: Bella Rivera. Lighting Design: Carolina Johnson

Job Description

• Position Summary • The Costume Designer will be responsible for creating an expressive design for the production of “Want” by Barbara Lindsay, in collaboration with the director and other designers. The Costume Designer will attend production meetings, work with the director and actors to use clothing as a medium to carry out the intentions of the play; purchase, build, or borrow costume pieces; and work within the provided budget for the show • Duties and Responsibilities • Collaborate closely with the director and other designers to create an expressive costume design which supports the narrative and emotional arc of the play and the individual characters: The costume designer will work with the director and other designers to interpret the play script and create a design which uses the medium of clothing to help tell the story in a way that meshes with the director’s interpretation and the work of the other designers. They will collaborate with all the artists to carry out the intentions of the play. • Communicate effectively with the producer, the director, and other designers about their work as a costume designer and the design they are creating: The costume designer will understand the tools that are available to create a costume design, such as historical period, color, garment choice and fit, and hair and makeup. They will have the responsibility to explain to non-technicians how those tools will be used. The costume designer will be able to use visual aids such as renderings, storyboards and photographs to communicate about and explain their design. • Execute the costume design: The costume designer will purchase, build, borrow, or pull costume pieces that fit the design they have created. They will work within the budget provided for the production. They will attend technical rehearsals and work with the director, cast and other production team members to refine specific clothing choices so that they not only communicate the costume design accurately but are functional for the actors. They will be responsible for weekly laundering of costume pieces and for mending items on an as-needed basis through the run of the production. • Other responsibilities: The costume designer will be responsible to attend three scheduled production meetings; meet design and build deadlines as established by the production team; communicate in a timely fashion with the other members of the production team; and attend all technical and dress rehearsals in the final week prior to the opening of the show.

Required Qualifications

Key Competencies and Skills • Ability to use gender inclusive and body positive language with cast members. • Ability to create a costume design which will support the work of the actors in creating and portraying their characters. • Ability to create sketches, renderings and/or a storyboard for presentation, as well as drafting and working drawings, with details and specifications of colors, textures, fabrics, styles and fits. • Ability to analyze the text of the script and to research clothing of the appropriate time period for the production. • Sewing and garment construction or alteration skills. • Openness to a co-mentoring philosophy, i.e., to ability and willingness to both learn from and share knowledge with colleagues on all levels of experience. • Commitment to uplift antiracist and social justice values • Strong self-management and time-management skills • Willingness to collaborate • Problem-solving abilities • Drive to see projects through to completion • Clear communication abilities • Willingness to adapt to various project management and communication tools, depending on the project at hand

Other details

A copy of the script for Want is available on request.

About The Shattered Glass Project

The Shattered Glass Project is a theatre company with the mission to amplify the voices of theatre artists who have been marginalized on the basis of their gender or sex, including but not limited to cis and trans women, non-binary folks, and trans-masculine/trans-feminine folks, by providing unique opportunities to create and grow professionally. TSGP produces 2 mainstage productions, a one-act play festival, and 3-4 developmental readings or other developmental theatre projects each year, serving 50-100 artists and 500-1000 audience members. We are a fringe theatre company with aspirations.