Costume Design Services

Custom Pieces, Rental, Full-Production

Most of the costume work done at the Studio is for theatrical productions by
local dinner, school and community theater groups and dance and other performance groups although I have dressed a number of re-enactors for various time periods and a mascot or two thrown in. Costumes can be either custom made or rented.

THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS:
Theaters have several levels of service to choose
from depending on their needs and budgets.


FULL PRODUCTION SERVICES

For those theater productions that do not have a costume designer available you may contract with The Marilyn Johnson Sewing & Design Studio for design services.  As your Designer, the Studio

  • Will work from your script to develop the costume plot and create the "bible"
  • Research clothing within the time period and social status of your script
  • Measure the cast
  • Work with the director and cast to enhance the production and characters through their costumes
  • Create, alter or modify costume pieces for the cast
  • Use costumes in your closet, my closet or purchase/create
  • Set up and break down the dressing room

Full Production Services for Musical Productions: $2000.00
Full Production Services for Drama Productions: fees vary depending on the number of actors in cast and time period
Does not include Costume Rentals

PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE:

Most theater groups depend on volunteers to work on the costumes and these wonderful volunteers have varying skill levels and experience so their job can become overwhelming and stressful to them, the director and the cast. The Marilyn Johnson Studio can offer assistance to these volunteers in a number of ways:

  • Access to my research materials and expertise for time period garments
  • Guidance and advice on all the options available within the production's budget
    including fabrics, trims, patterns, etc.
  • Guidance, advice and processes for keeping track of all the details required to costume a cast and set up a dressing room
    These services are billed in 15 minute increments with a 1 hour minimum of $45
  • Access to my studio facilities and equipment for costume production and alterations, your costumer may work here alone or with up to six assistants. This becomes a real time and stress reliever for all involved.
    ........This service is billed by the half-hour with a 2 hour minimum at $90

COSTUME RENTALS:

The Marilyn Johnson Studio has an extensive closet of costumes available for rent.  The Closet covers a number of time periods as well as some of those hard to find specialty pieces such as the dress for Annie, the Dreamcoat for Joseph or fur coats, tuxedos and cowboy boots.  The closet includes not only garments but also shoes, boots, gloves, scarves, work and military uniforms, suspenders, shawls, aprons, jewelry, wigs, spirit gum and more.

A theater may choose to have the Studio create a specialty piece for them and the theater has the option of purchasing the costume and keeping it or renting it for the show and returning it to the Studio.

It is important that costume rentals be arranged as soon as possible within the pre-production period so that alterations can be made if needed. The Studio will perform any alterations required on its costume pieces as part of the rental service.

The Studio guarantees that all costumes it rents will be clean and in good repair. 

Any repairs or alterations that become necessary while at your theater MUST be of a temporary nature.  Under no circumstances should fusible tape be  used on a costume.  Should a costume piece rented to your theater be lost or damaged beyond repair the theater will be responsible for the full replacement cost of the piece.

Should your production need a piece that is not already in the Closet, the Studio will create or obtain the piece.  In this case, your only cost is the rental fee.  It’s my way of building up the Closet.

Rental fees are based on the type of piece being rented and the length of the rental period.  Usually costumes are picked up the Monday of Tech Week and returned the Monday after the show closes.  All costume rental fees must be paid in full at the time of rental pick up (cash, check or credit card) along with a security deposit that will be returned to you when the costumes are returned in good condition.  The deposit may be in cash or check (no credit cards).  You will be given an invoice listing each costume piece rented so it can be used as a check list for returns.  Each of the Studio’s costumes has an inventory tag for easy identification.

Costumes not returned on the agreed date will be charged $5/day late fee deducted from the security deposit.

Theaters are welcome to send their in-house Costume Designers to select costumes from the Studio Closet.  There is a $25 Pull Fee for the first hour, $10 for each additional half hour.

DANCE AND PERFORMANCE GROUP COSTUMES:

Costumes in this category have some special needs in terms of fabrics needed, designs that allow for movement and costumes produced in multiples. The Marilyn Johnson Studio is able to work creatively with your costume person to produce unique, innovative costumes that maximize your costume dollars.

Much of the above theatrical information will apply in this area also, including full production services and production assistance to your costumer.

RE-ENACTOR COSTUMES:

Custom Made:
Custom made costumes for re-enactors start with a consultation during which the design, details, fabrics, construction techniques, timeline and more will be discussed and decided. Consultations usually last 1.5 to 2 hours. The fee for a consultation is $125.

After the consultation I will prepare an estimate and mail it to you. Once you accept the estimate, we will sign a contract and begin work.

Rental:
Rental costumes are pulled from the Costume Closet and most of the information about theatrical rentals pertains here as well.

  • Costumes will be clean and in good repair
  • Any alterations needed will be performed by the Studio as part of the rental process
  • If a costume piece is lost or damaged beyond repair, the renter will be responsible for its full replacement cost
  • At the time of pick-up, the full rental fee must be paid (cash, check or credit card) along with a security deposit (cash or checks only).  The security deposit will be returned to the renter when the costumes are returned in good condition.

Rental fees are based on the costume(s) being rented and the length of the rental period. Costumes not returned on the agreed date will be charged a $5/day late fee which will be deducted from the security deposit.


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Site designed, hosted and maintained by the Jay Williams Design Company
My wall of theatrical mementoes
from shows I've costumed.

A local "Annie" provided a photo album cover with a picture of "the dress" and I took it from there.















A photo of my daughter, Jessica, as she acted with the General Company of the Maryland Renaissance Festival.



































My favorite magician, Eric Henning, loves the vest I made for him and has been giving it lots of use this summer. The vest is lined and has 3 working welted pockets, each very specially sized for magical things.