Hey ho, the Weather and the Rep (Part I)

A blog from APT's Managing Director, Carrie Van Hallgren, as she experiences her inaugural summer at APT.

There is no doubt that artistry drives the work we do here at APT. But unlike some other theatres, we have two particular constraints that influence our particular production process: the Rep and the Weather. The Rep (the way we produce several plays at the same time and perform them on alternating days) will be a subject of a post later this season. In the meantime, having watched our actors perform under many different weather conditions this season, I was interested to understand how our production departments plan for the vagaries of Wisconsin weather.

The costume shop was my first stop. There I spent some time talking with Kelly Myers, the Assistant Costume Director. Her previous post includes several summers working in APT's wardrobe department, where she managed costumes during the performance run - quick changes, laundry, minor repairs and general maintenance and upkeep.

According to Kelly, when it comes to weather and APT costumes, layers are key.

Each costume needs a heat plan and a cold plan. The assistant costume designer on each play is usually charged with devising these plans during the costume construction phase.

Heat plans often involve removing layers of costume. Coats and jackets may be taken off. Sometime wigs get left behind in hot temperatures. Some costumes, particularly the heavy ones (Falstaff's fat suit is an example this season) contain pouches for cold packs to help cool the actor's body down.

Cold plans, often called into play during the final weeks of the outdoor season, involve extra layers. When possible, performers wear thermals underneath their costumes. Shawls and coats might be added. Gloves too. Cold packs are replaced by heat packs in the aforementioned pouches.

Because the stage floor can get very hot in warm weather, it's important that the actors are wearing shoes on every time they set foot on stage. What's more, every shoe must be soled, a fabric shoe won't make the cut. Even Trip, the dog featured in The Merry Wives of Windsor, has little shoes to protect his feet on a hot day.

When designing and building costumes, the APT costume shop also considers the durability necessary for outdoor theatre. Our actors need to be able to slather on sunscreen and insect repellant. DEET can damage some fabrics. Water can stain others. And sometimes, a white dress comes into contact with berries on a tree. That doesn't even count the make up, stage blood and fake tattoos that might mar a costume. Fabrics are chosen carefully, often pre-washed, and stain removers are used frequently. While some costumes are dry cleaned occasionally, every performer has an under layer to his or her costume that is machine washable, and can be laundered following each performance.

Making those costumes as exquisite as they are, and as accommodating as they need to be, takes a lot of skilled work. And, because it is APT, likely a hint of magic.