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A dresser can bring an entire show to a screeching halt.
One of the vital elements of the theater which usually goes unappreciated by the audience is the dresser.
The performers appreciate a good dresser and in some bigger productions will even tip the dresser at the end of the run.
Who is the dresser? The dresser is the person who dresses the actors. That seems obvious. I mean, how hard can it be?
Every now and then, a show will have what’s called a quick change. I think it’s obvious why it’s called a quick change.
An actor will leave the stage, the dresser will change them, usually in the wings, and then the actor goes back on stage.
This isn’t too a big a deal unless music is involved. The music isn’t going to wait for the costume change so the dresser has to be on the ball or everything is going to fall apart.
The shortest quick change I’ve heard of is eight seconds. It was in The Color Purple and the character Celie had to go from pregnant to not pregnant. That’s right, eight seconds to have a baby.
Often times, a quick change goes unnoticed by the audience. Most audience members aren’t keeping track of the exact times a character exits and enters.
The audience will notice if a musical cue is missed or if an actor comes on stage disheveled or partially dressed.
Not every theater has dressers. In some cases, a quick change must be negotiated by other performers who aren’t in the current scene.
A quick change is great to watch, not for the reason you think.
It’s great because it has a phenomenal amount of energy.
The actor is maneuvering their arms and legs in and out of the costumes while two or three dressers dance around changing hats, or accessories, and picking up pieces of costume that have been flung aside, while trying to stay out of each other’s way.
Suddenly the activity stops, the actor takes a breath and goes back on stage.
The dresser makes it happen.
A dresser can bring an entire show to a screeching halt.
One of the vital elements of the theater which usually goes unappreciated by the audience is the dresser.
The performers appreciate a good dresser and in some bigger productions will even tip the dresser at the end of the run.
Who is the dresser? The dresser is the person who dresses the actors. That seems obvious. I mean, how hard can it be?
Every now and then, a show will have what’s called a quick change. I think it’s obvious why it’s called a quick change.
An actor will leave the stage, the dresser will change them, usually in the wings, and then the actor goes back on stage.
This isn’t too a big a deal unless music is involved. The music isn’t going to wait for the costume change so the dresser has to be on the ball or everything is going to fall apart.
The shortest quick change I’ve heard of is eight seconds. It was in The Color Purple and the character Celie had to go from pregnant to not pregnant. That’s right, eight seconds to have a baby.
Often times, a quick change goes unnoticed by the audience. Most audience members aren’t keeping track of the exact times a character exits and enters.
The audience will notice if a musical cue is missed or if an actor comes on stage disheveled or partially dressed.
Not every theater has dressers. In some cases, a quick change must be negotiated by other performers who aren’t in the current scene.
A quick change is great to watch, not for the reason you think.
It’s great because it has a phenomenal amount of energy.
The actor is maneuvering their arms and legs in and out of the costumes while two or three dressers dance around changing hats, or accessories, and picking up pieces of costume that have been flung aside, while trying to stay out of each other’s way.
Suddenly the activity stops, the actor takes a breath and goes back on stage.
The dresser makes it happen.