Lead Draper - Dallas Theater Center

JOB TITLE: Lead Draper

DEPARTMENT: Costumes

REPORTS TO: Associate Costume Director

PREPARED DATE: March 9th, 2022

CLASSIFICATION: FLSA: Salaried, Exempt

SALARY: $40,000 TO $50,000





MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Dallas Theater Center is to engage, entertain and inspire our diverse community by creating experiences that stimulate new ways of thinking and living. We will do this by consistently producing plays, educational programs, and other initiatives that are of the highest quality and reach the broadest possible constituency.



EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

ALL ARE WELCOME!



At Dallas Theater Center, we want to be the best place to work and see theater, and to be a positive and transformational force in Dallas and beyond.



We stand up for equity, diversity and inclusion across our company and community. As a leading national theater, we recognize that building an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment is central to our relevance and sustainability in the community we serve and love.

*For complete statement, please see final page of this posting



POSITION SUMMARY

An active member of Dallas Theater Center (DTC)’s Production Department, the Lead Draper is responsible for supervising the staff draper and any over hire drapers, first hands, or stitchers on costume shop work floor. Additionally, the Lead Draper oversees pattern making, construction, and fit of all costumes. The Lead Draper reports directly to the Associate Costume Director, and is responsible for effectively supporting Costume Designers, ensuring that high artistic standards are met at all times.



This is a full-time, exempt position. This position includes a full benefits package: medical, dental and vision insurance, DTC-paid life insurance, voluntary life insurance and 403b programs, complimentary tickets and generous paid-time off. Some nights and weekends will be required as needed throughout the season.



KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Costume Director

Associate Costume Director

Costume Designers

Overhire Stitchers, First Hands, and Drapers

Hair & Makeup Supervisor

Wardrobe Supervisor

Production Management

Stage Management





ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Supervise Staff Drapers and overhire staff in the day-to-day construction of costumes

Submit payroll information and conduct annual reviews for all direct reports

Assign Draper duties based on build list and fitting requirements for each show.

Consult with the Costume Director on temporary staffing needs on a show by show basis.

Consult with Costume Designers regarding the necessary construction of costumes.

Liaise with Wardrobe, and Hair & Makeup departments to ensure costumes meet functional requirements.

Create garment patterns to meet design specifications.

Relay specific yardages and needs for purchases related to each costume.

Lead costume fittings to ensure design specifications, fit, and actor safety.

Instruct overhire drapers, first hands, and stitchers in accurate build techniques required for each costume.

Participate in the construction process including cutting, sewing, and alteration of built, purchased, or rental costumes.

Assist in the restock and organization of costume storage.

Maintain designated work spaces in a clean, usable, and safe condition.

Ensure completion of costumes in accordance with deadline requirements.

Provides regular updates to the Associate Costume Director on all areas of responsibility.

Attend and participate in full company, departmental, and production meetings as called.

Attend technical rehearsals and previews for all productions as called.

Perform work in a manner that is consistent with DTC’s Mission, Vision and Values.

Be an active participant in DTC’s work towards equity, diversity and inclusion and becoming an anti-racist organization by:

Participating in all DTC-wide EDI trainings, workshops or experiences

Participating in all EDI learnings or experiences cultivated within the Production and/or Costume Department

Maintain safe working conditions in keeping with DTC health and safety guidelines and COVID19 Response Protocols.

Serve as the Costume Department’s representative to the Production Safety Committee.





This job description is not exhaustive and is subject to review in conjunction with the post holder and according to future changes/developments.



SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

Foster and maintain a positive, productive, and collaborative work environment.

Advanced theatrical draping and flat patterning experience.

Advanced hand and machine sewing experience.

Advanced textile preparation and maintenance experience.

Demonstrate leadership, work as part of a team, and provide cover and assistance as required.

Able to work under the stress of deadlines and adapt to changing priorities.

Able to handle a high volume of work and attend to numerous projects concurrently.

Ability to read and disseminate information from design drawings.

Self-motivated, yet willing to ask questions when tasks are unclear.

Portray excellent time management skills.

Demonstrate interest in learning and growing as a costume professional.

Comply with Actors Equity rules and regulations.

Able to comply with all OSHA regulations and DTC Safety Protocols for creating and maintaining a safe work environment.

Basic proficiency in Dropbox, Microsoft Office Suite, and G-Suite.

Available to work extended work hours at times, including nights and weekends.



PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Able to lift 20lbs with a team lift.

Able to work quickly and accurately in a complex and fast-moving environment.



EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE RECOMMENDATION:

3-4 years experience as a professional draper, or

Undergraduate education in a Theatrical discipline with a costume construction focus, and 1-2 years experience as a professional draper.





COVID19 REQUIREMENTS:

Ensure that all work is performed in alignment with DTC’s COVID19 Response Protocols

Be able to provide documentation of full vaccination of a US-government approved COVID19 vaccine regimen for COVID19, at the time of hire.





Dallas Theater Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized because of such a request.



HOW TO APPLY:

Please send résumé with references and a cover letter to hr@dallastheatercenter.org with Lead Draper in the subject line.



ABOUT DALLAS THEATER CENTER

One of the leading regional theaters in the country and the 2017 Regional Theatre Tony Award® Recipient, Dallas Theater Center (DTC) performs to an audience of more than 100,000 North Texas residents annually. Founded in 1959, DTC is now a resident company of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and presents its Mainstage season at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, and at its original home, the Kalita Humphreys Theater. DTC is one of only two theaters in Texas that is a member of the League of Resident Theatres, the largest and most prestigious non-profit professional theater association in the country. Under the leadership of Enloe/Rose Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty and Managing Director Jeffrey Woodward, DTC produces a seven-play subscription series of classics, musicals and new plays and an annual production of A Christmas Carol; extensive education programs, including the Award-winning Project Discovery and partnerships with Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts; and many community collaboration efforts with local organizations. In 2017, DTC launched Public Works Dallas, a groundbreaking community engagement and participatory theater project designed to deliberately blur the line between professional artists and community members, culminating in an annual production featuring over 200 Dallas citizens performing a Shakespeare play. Throughout its history, DTC has produced many new works, including recent premieres of Miller, Mississippi by Boo Killebrew; Hood: The Robin Hood Musical Adventure by Douglas Carter Beane and Lewis Flinn; Bella: An American Tall Tale by Kirsten Childs; Clarkston by Samuel D. Hunter; The Fortress of Solitude by Michael Friedman and Itamar Moses; Giant by Michael John LaChiusa and Sybille Pearson, and many more.



As a member of The League of Resident Theaters (LORT), DTC operates under the LORT agreement with Actors’ Equity, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and United Scenic Artists.





EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION STATEMENT



ALL ARE WELCOME!



At Dallas Theater Center, we want to be the best place to work and see theater, and to be a positive and transformational force in Dallas and beyond. We stand-up for equity, diversity, and inclusion across our company and community. As a leading national theater, we recognize that building an equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment is central to our relevance and sustainability in the community we serve and love.



• EQUITY means recognizing that not everyone starts at the same place, addressing inequities in access and opportunity, and allowing for full and fair participation.



• DIVERSITY means acknowledging and respecting human qualities that are different from our own and outside the groups we are a part of or with which we are associated. These qualities include but are not limited to: ethnicity, race, color, country of origin, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual or relationship orientation, family structure, religion, beliefs, political affiliations, experiences and ability differences.



• INCLUSION means honoring and accepting the gifts, backgrounds, experiences, and wisdom that every individual brings with them, so that every stakeholder feels valued by Dallas Theater Center. Our stakeholders are staff, artists, board members, donors, audiences, and community members.



We will strive to create a culture of inclusion where individuals can thrive and succeed, are able to participate in and contribute to the progress and success of Dallas Theater Center while growing both professionally and personally.



We recognize and value individual differences, and we acknowledge structural and systemic racism and other access barriers that prevent full and fair participation of people outside the dominant culture and power dynamics. We acknowledge the complexities of becoming a fully inclusive and anti-racist organization, and we accept the challenge to build an organization where full and fair participation is the norm.



We commit to providing fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement and to creating space for culturally diverse voices to be heard and power to be shared. Together, we are even better.






Salary: 40,000 to 50,000 Annually