Job Title: Costume Shop Manager
Department: Production
Reports To: Director of Production
FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Compensation: $48,000 - $52,000 annually
Start Date: Flexible start between June-August, 2026
ABOUT FIRST STAGE
First Stage, Milwaukee's premiere non-profit theater for young people and families, is a nationally acclaimed professional theater company drawing annual audiences of more than 120,000 people. First Stage's production season includes four to five productions at the Todd Wehr Theater, as well as our First Steps and Young Company Series of productions at Goodman Mainstage Hall at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center - a total of more than 400 performances annually. First Stage also offers Theater in-Education programs, serving 20,000 students in classrooms annually throughout southeastern Wisconsin. The First Stage Theater Academy, the largest and most high-impact training program of its kind in the nation, teaches "life skills through stage skills" to nearly 2,000 young people ages 3-18 each year.
First Stage is committed to dismantling structures that may prevent ALL people from applying for employment with us. First Stage celebrates the richness of our world by cultivating Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity as they inspire the creativity that nurtures great art, artists, and audiences. First Stage strongly encourages candidates from historically underrepresented groups to apply.
First Stage is an equal opportunity employer and as such, we consider individuals for employment according to their abilities and performance. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, age, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, marital or veteran status, or any other classification protected by law.
Position Summary:
The Costume Shop Manager oversees the daily operations of the costume shop, managing costume construction, fittings, alterations, and supervising a seasonal costume staff of five. This role closely collaborates with Costume Designers to execute their designs through thorough budgeting of time and resources, sourcing materials, coordinating Designer and fitting schedules with Stage Management, and ensuring comfort and costume safety for performers of all ages. The Costume Shop Manager is a fundamental part of the First Stage production and artistic teams to support current production work in tandem with future season planning.
To Apply:
Send resume, cover letter, and 3 work references with the subject line:
Costume Shop Manager: (First Name, Last Name)
No phone calls, please. Application submission period will remain open until the position is filled.
As First Stage works with young people and families, employment is contingent upon a successful background check that must be completed prior to the start of employment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following satisfactorily; other duties may be assigned. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Oversee the daily operations of the costume shop
- Manage costume construction, appointments/fittings, and alterations
- Supervise costume staff
- Maintain costume inventory and budgets
- Coordinate with Designers and Directors to meet production needs
- Ensure high standards of costume quality and craftsmanship
- Facilitate the purchase and returns of all shop and show needs
- Pull and assign undergarments
- Create build and fitting schedules
- Set up and strike fittings; record and distribute notes
- Read/analyze scripts; generate and maintain show paperwork, including but not limited to character breakdowns, measurement composites, and piece lists
- Create seasonal asset lists
- Facilitate rental requests
- Communicate with actors and families to schedule appointments
- Load-in and strike costumes for Goodman Hall productions
- Weekly Goodman Hall production laundry
- Prep shoes for rehearsal
- Pull pieces for First Stage Academy's Company Classes
- Weekly timesheet approval for shop and wardrobe staff
- Establish weekly wardrobe schedule
- Gather hairstyle information from Designers and relay to actors and families prior to tech
- Timely completion of credit card expense reporting
- Attend design meetings, production meetings, designer runs, technical rehearsals, and distribute notes to shop staff
- Attend bi-weekly Artistic meetings
- Facilitate seasonal equipment maintenance and cleaning
Education/Experience: Master's degree or equivalent; or four to ten years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Computer Skills: Strong proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, OneDrive, and Google Docs/Sheets
Work Environment:
The majority of the Costume Shop Manager's work time is spent at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center, which houses the costume shop, rehearsal studios, First Stage administration, and Goodman Mainstage Hall. Time is also spent at the Marcus Performing Arts Center during tech rehearsals for productions at the Todd Wehr Theater and on an as-needed basis. Trips to the First Stage Scene and Prop shop, located on Milwaukee's North side, are occasionally required.
This position's schedule requires a willingness and ability to work some evenings and weekends alongside the standard work day as needed throughout production processes.
The First Stage costume shop staff includes the Cutter/Draper, First Hand, Crafts Artisan, Wardrobe Supervisor, and Wardrobe Assistant.
The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position.
