CHRISTIANNE BAKEWELL COSTUME DESIGN
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5 Quick Change Tricks

6/23/2014

9 Comments

 
With an insurgence of modern musicals with insane quick changes, costumers are having to quick rig costumes to be changed at the speed of sound.  How are these impossible changes made easier by those creating the costumes? Here is a list of five quick change costuming tricks I have picked up while working in shops.  
(Warning: this may ruin some stage magic for non-costumers. Read at your own risk)

1. False Layers

Some quick changes need to happen at the speed of light, but the costume design requires layers and layers of clothing. How do we remedy this? The answer is false layering. Creating a "shirt" that contains a man's tuxedo shirt, waistcoat, and bow tie is one of the easier layers to visualize. I have made countless of these getups for shows including my most recent project Young Frankenstein. It can be a little tricky to understand this concept so take a gander at this beautiful example from the 68th Tony Awards. 

2. Magnets

Each year inventive costumers find a new use for something. In the recent past costumers have made a sewable magnet tape that can be sewn into costumes to make them easier to change quickly. This technique can be seen in the number "Oh My God" from Legally Blonde: The Musical. In more recent years costumers and wig technicians have created magnetic wigs and other items for these lightning fast changes.  Just make sure your actors do not have pacemakers and/or the set is not completely made out of magnetic metals. This could cause disaster! 
An example of a magnetic wig (again from the 68th Tonys) can be seen in many of the wigs designed for Hedwig and the Angry Inch. (Read the full article from the NY Times here) 
Picture

3. "Quick Change" dresses

These are more of a stage gimmick than a time saver as the dress has to be rigged each night with invisible thread. That being said, it is beautiful and magical when done well. The concept is pretty straight forward; a dress pieced together in such a way with invisible threat that when broken changes into a different costume. These can be as elaborate as seven changes in a quick change artist performance, or as simple as one change as in Cinderella's ballgown reveal. 

4. Under Dressing

A trick as old as time. Simply wear one costume under the other. This works best if the first costume is bigger and more bulky than the second. For example a suit and tie under a priest's garb or a mini skirt and tank top under a nightgown. It can be done with other items (ie: pants under pants) but takes some tweaking and coordination. 

5. Velcro and Snaps

These are very similar to the above mentioned magnets. They replace the buttons or zippers found in shirts and pants to make the dressing and undressing of an actor easier. The only draw back is unlike magnets they take more force to close. Velcro can also make a racket if quick changing in an intimate theatre like a black box. 
Bonus Tip!
Above all, keep calm and make sure you have a conversation with your actor about the quick change. This will keep both of you level headed during the race. The calmer you are, the quicker you both will move. 

Question of the Post

With all these modern musicals demanding such fast changes between scenes, what do you think will be the next innovation in quick change tricks?

Will we finally invent a time machine to slow down the audience's perception of time? Who knows. 
9 Comments
Patricia Clark
10/16/2016 04:56:53 pm

I am helping with the construction and sewing of the costume for Eddie in Sister Act for a local high school musical production. I would greatly appreciate any advice on the placement of the velcro/snaps/magnets so the costumes breakaway correctly. Thank you so much in advance.

Reply
Christianne Bakewell
10/22/2016 07:37:32 am

Patricia,

In my experience, working with the actor and how they are rehearsing the costume change is key. Although I have worked on Sister Act, it was only as the wig designer, so I am not completely familiar with the onstage change.

Velcro tends to make a sound and need more force behind it, snaps sometimes too need a bit more force as well. I'd probably go with magnet tape, which is magnets sewn into bias or twill tape that can then be sewn into a costume by hand or machine.

Overall, #1 tip. See how the choreographer and director are staging the scene, and work with the actor(s) to create a seamless way to change. The more familiar the actors are with the change technique, the more comfortable they are and the quicker the change goes.

From what I've seen the shoulder seams and side seams are rigged with magnets allowing the costume to pull off. I have also seen a similar technique but also with a raglan sleeve. The magnets continue down the side seam into the pants as if the top and pants are secretly connected already.

Hope this helps.

Reply
Adrian
2/28/2018 09:30:53 pm

Christianne do you make costume chance costumes

Reply
Christianne
3/5/2018 09:27:31 am

Hey Adrian,
Thank you for your comment.
No, I do not create quick change costumes.

Reply
Kat
2/27/2019 11:05:04 pm

Hi Christianne,

Any recommendations for show choir kids doing quick changes into tight pleather jackets with sweaty skin? We know it’s going to be sticky. Is there a product or secret to help slide these on in a few seconds?

Reply
Christianne
2/28/2019 05:31:37 am

Hey Kat,

I think I’m this instance baby powder, people, and a plan will be your three best defenses to a relatively smooth quick change. Nothing goes as planned in live performance but dusting the insides of the jackets before they are worn with baby powder (is the lining pleather too? Or a more silly lining fabric?), having extra hands to help put on garment/hold at the ready (off stage I’m assuming), and having a set plan that all know about and have practiced will help everyone involved feel comfortable with this change.

Reply
Susan Eyler
7/23/2019 10:10:45 pm

I am layering an actor with several costumes that are required to all come off at the same time revealing only the base costume on stage, any suggestions?

Reply
Ginger Keena Hupp
9/7/2019 04:31:39 am

I’m trying to decide what size magnets to use for a stripper dress. Close fitted bodice with a slim skirt

Reply
Olivia H link
8/20/2024 12:18:37 pm

Thank you foor being you

Reply



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