Head of Wardrobe & Wigs — Lead Costume Team

Socket.dev; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 67,000 - 82,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits after 90 days

Job summary

Berkeley Repertory Theatre seeks a Head of Wardrobe and Wigs to lead wardrobe, wig, and makeup crews across seven mainstage productions and events. You will coordinate with designers, shop, and performers to support the artistic vision while championing equity and antiracism initiatives.

The role requires strong leadership, sewing, and organizational skills, with responsibility for schedules, staffing, and maintaining costumes from opening to closing.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of professional Wardrobe experience at a comparable theater.
• Strong sewing and costume repair skills.
• Knowledge of fabrics, garments, and shoes cleaning techniques.
• Knowledge of theatrical costume history.
• Proficiency in MS Word and Excel for show paperwork and budget tracking.
• Ability to stand long periods and lift up to 20 pounds.
• Wig, hair, and makeup experience preferred.
• Driver’s license preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and mentorship for wardrobe, wig, and hair make-up crews.
• Hire wardrobe and wig crew for all shows.
• Train and supervise swings for wardrobe and wig crews.
• Coordinate quick changes and help choreograph.
• Inform Stage Management of booth needs and collaborate on space solutions.
• Assign tracks according to costume plot and run tracks as needed.
• Create dressing lists, check-in sheets, run sheets, and preset lists.
• Maintain the original costume and wig designs from opening to closing.
• Set weekly schedules and approve timesheets; track labor and budget impact.
• Attend tech rehearsals and production meetings with wardrobe and wig teams.
• Organize wardrobe prep and load-out of pieces for transport.
• Organize and supervise strike of costumes and wigs.
• Participate in antiracism, equity, diversity, inclusion, and access trainings.

Skills

Wardrobe supervision

Leadership

Sewing

Costume repair

Fabric care

MS Word & Excel

Tools

Paylocity

Job description

Berkeley Repertory Theatre seeks a Head of Wardrobe and Wigs to lead wardrobe, wig, and makeup crews across seven mainstage productions and events. You will coordinate with designers, shop, and performers to support the artistic vision while championing equity and antiracism initiatives.

The role requires strong leadership, sewing, and organizational skills, with responsibility for schedules, staffing, and maintaining costumes from opening to closing.