Hannon Theatre - Costume Designer & Wardrobe Lead

JOB TITLE: Costume Designer and Wardrobe Lead

DEPARTMENT: Hannon Theatre Company

REPORTS TO: Artistic Director & Producer

POSITION TYPE: Seasonal

LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA


ABOUT LOYOLA

As the oldest continuously run educational institution in Southern California, founded in 1865 and becoming a Jesuit institution in 1911, Loyola High School of Los Angeles (Loyola) remains committed to providing a rigorous Jesuit Catholic College Preparatory education to a diverse group of young men who leave the school prepared for lives of leadership and service to their community. The Jesuit philosophy of educating the whole person is the guiding principle of the school today.


ABOUT THE HANNON THEATRE COMPANY

The Hannon Theatre Company is a student-centered theatre program at Loyola High School rooted in artistic excellence, discipline, and community. Open to Loyola High School students and female students from around the Los Angeles area, Hannon Theatre challenges students to grow not only as performers and technicians, but as collaborators, leaders, and compassionate human beings. Through rigorous, professional-level productions, students develop creativity, confidence, resilience, and a respect for the theatrical process.


POSITION DETAILS AND TERMS:

Employment Term : One full season (encompassing both productions).

Review Period: Performance is evaluated at the conclusion of each season to determine rehiring eligibility for the following year.


POSITION SUMMARY

The Costume Designer & Wardrobe Lead is responsible for the complete costume design, construction, and management for two annual productions: one play and one musical. This individual collaborates closely with the director and production team from early pre-production planning through strike, ensuring all costumes reflect the artistic vision of each show while meeting the practical needs of student performers. Also, this position is responsible for training the students to complete wardrobe assignments including laundry, mending and construction.


ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Design & Pre-Production

• Read and analyze scripts to develop a cohesive costume design concept for each production
• Create costume plots, character breakdowns, and design renderings or inspiration boards
• Present designs to the director for feedback and approval at the pre-production meeting
• Source, pull, rent, or build costumes within the approved production budget
• Coordinate measurements and initial fittings with all cast members

Construction & Build Period

• Lead weekly crew days to maintain the production build schedule
• Supervise and guide student wardrobe crew members during construction and fittings
• Alter, construct, or modify garments as needed to meet design and fit requirements
• Maintain an organized and safe costume shop workspace
• Track and document costume inventory, borrowed items, and rental agreements

Tech Week & Performances

• Organize and facilitate the costume parade, documenting notes and required changes
• Be present and available throughout all tech rehearsals for wardrobe support
• Manage quick changes, assist with complex costume pieces, and address last-minute needs
• Coordinate with stage management regarding costume timing cues
• Ensure all costumes are properly maintained and restored between performances

Strike & Post-Production

• Oversee costume strike following the final performance
• Clean, catalog, and properly store all costume pieces for future use
• Return borrowed or rented items in a timely manner
• Provide a final costume budget report to the director or department head

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• Background in fashion design, theater arts, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience in costume design, construction, or theatrical wardrobe
• Experience working in a high school, community, or educational theater setting is preferred.
• Experience supervising or mentoring student volunteers or crew members preferred.
• Ability to work collaboratively with directors, designers, and student performers is required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Familiarity with musical theater costuming, including period and character-specific design
• Proficiency in sewing, garment alteration, and basic costume construction techniques
• Working knowledge of theatrical safety procedures and backstage operations.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage required production schedules and multiple deadlines simultaneously
• Ability to collaborate effectively with the director, production team and student performers to achieve the artistic vision.
• Knowledge of costume budgeting, sourcing, and inventory management
• Commitment to maintaining an organized, safe, and professional work environment.
• Reliable availability to fulfill all required meetings, crew days, rehearsals, and tech week commitments.

Physical Requirements & Work Conditions

• Lifting and Carrying: Ability for managing, pulling, transporting, and storing physical costume inventories, rentals, and bulk wardrobe items, as well as executing the physical "strike" (teardown and packing) of all costumes after the final show.
• Mobility and Posture: Must be able to maintain various physical postures including standing, stooping, kneeling, and bending for extended periods while conducting fittings, performing garment construction, and executing quick repairs. Must also be able to safely and quickly navigate confined, uneven, or dimly lit backstage and storage areas, including climbing ladders to access inventory.
• Manual Dexterity: Must possess the fine motor skills and dexterity necessary for detailed costume work, including proficiency in hand and machine sewing, garment alteration, and safely using costume shop tools for construction and repairs.
• Vision and Hearing: Specific vision abilities required include close vision, color perception, and depth perception for precise fabric, trim, and color matching during design and detailed work, such as sewing and alterations. Must possess normal auditory ability to receive complex verbal cues and safety warnings from the stage management team and communicate effectively with the student wardrobe crew in a live, often noisy, production environment.
• Manual Dexterity & Fine Motor Skills: Must possess proficiency in sewing, altering garments, using costume shop tools, and performing basic costume construction techniques.
• Physical Stamina & Mobility: Required to manage full attendance during intense production periods, including tech week rehearsals, full performance runs, and active "weekly crew days" spanning 6-8 consecutive weeks.
• Active On-Stage/Backstage Labor: Must be physically capable of conducting costume fittings, assisting performers with complex costume pieces, executing rapid "quick-changes" backstage, and handling emergency physical repairs on the fly.

Reasonable Accommodation: Loyola High School of Los Angeles complies with all applicable state and federal laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.


Production Commitments

Schedule Requirements:

The commitments listed below are required for each production:

• Pre-Production Meeting - Initial design concept presentation and character breakdown review
• Regular Production Meetings (4) - Progress updates, design adjustments, and cross-departmental coordination
• Final Pre-Tech Meeting - Costume readiness review, tech week schedule confirmation, and last-minute alterations planning

Rehearsals:

Outside of tech, costume designer/wardrobe lead is expected to attend two additional rehearsals:

• Designer Run
• Costume Parade

Weekly Crew Days:

One designated crew day per week for 6-8 weeks (must be consecutive and consistent) throughout the production build period

• Costume fittings for cast members
• Costume construction, alterations, and repairs
• Coordination with student costume crew

Tech Week:

• Full attendance required for all tech rehearsals and performances during tech week
• Conduct a costume parade prior to or during tech week to review all looks under stage lighting
• Provide on-site wardrobe support, quick-change assistance, and emergency repairs throughout tech week
• Ensure all costumes are pressed, organized, and show-ready before opening night

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

This position offers a stipend ranging from $4,500 to $6,300 per show. The exact amount is determined by the specific production season and will be detailed in the formal offer letter. The stipend reflects the scope of the production schedule, including all required meetings, crew days, rehearsals, and tech week obligations. Specifics regarding payment schedule will be discussed during the hiring process.


APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit the following materials to the Artistic Director and Producer of Hannon Theatre:

• One-page letter of interest describing your design philosophy and relevant experience
• Resume or CV highlighting theater, costume, or related professional experience
• Portfolio samples, design renderings, production photographs (digital submissions welcome)
• Contact information for two professional references

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Loyola High School of Los Angeles is committed to fostering a supportive workplace and providing equal employment opportunities in recruitment, hiring, training, and promotion for all people regardless of race (inclusive of traits associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, which includes, but is not limited to, such hairstyles as braids, locs, and twists), color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), gender (gender identity and gender expression), national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, age, medical conditions (including cancer or genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, transgender status, reproductive health decision-making (including, but not limited to, a decision to use or access a particular drug, device, product, or medical service for reproductive health), or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. All personnel actions-including compensation, benefits, training, transfers, and terminations-will be administered without regard to these protected characteristics.