Interview: Tech Talk with Dresser Paula Gilbert

Anytime you see a tour of a Broadway show, the talent happening right before your eyes is just the tip of the Broadway iceberg. Lurking behind the scenes is a whole crew of insanely gifted folks who also contribute to the spectacle on stage. One of those people is Paula Gilbert, who works here in Austin as a dresser for tours that come to Austin. They are called quick changes for a reason. At most touring shows, there's a crew of dressers running around backstage with a needle and thread in their pockets for last-minute repairs and safety pins clipped to their sleeves. There are ensemble dressers, who attend to a large group of people, holding up pants while chorus members step into them and swiftly shoving shoes onto feet. Then there are star dressers, who only focus on a leading player.

We talked to Paula to find out what she does, why she loves it and how she keeps calm and collected when things go seriously wrong.

BWW: Can you give our readers a little background on you?

PRG: I have a Bachelor of Arts in Drama degree from New Mexico State University. I studied at the Dallas Theater Center, taught children's theater in Lexington, KY, and began costuming for community groups also in Lexington, KY with THE MUSIC MAN. It was also there that I had to learn to organize dressers and costumes for productions.

BWW: You are a dresser for touring companies. Can you tell our readers just what the position entails? What is the actual title of the position?

PRG: The title is "Dresser". One is responsible for a 'track' for an individual or group of actors whereby the costumes are set according to a proscribed schedule. For example, one might set upon a chair in the 'gondola area' of the stage clothes in the order in which the actor puts them on: shoes on the floor, socks puddled inside the shoes, pants on the chair with the zipper and fastener open, the shirt on the back of the chair, the t-shirt over the shirt.

BWW: Why did you get into being a dresser?

PRG: I got a call from a friend who asked would I like to get paid to dress an opera. I said, "Yes."

BWW: Where in Austin have you been a dresser?

PRG: Different Stages, The Vortex, Austin Opera, and Broadway shows at the Bass Concert Hall at UT, and The Long Center.

BWW: What is your training?

PRG: I have a BA in theater, and studied for a time at The Dallas Theater Center.

BWW: Do you have mentors or influences?

PRG: Years ago I was influenced by a costumer who taught at my college. She and my colleagues over the years with whom I have worked, educated me, as I them.

BWW: When you sign on to be the dresser for a show; where do you start?

PRG: By where do you start, I will take to mean 'what happens next?' What happens is you show up at the appointed time, early (in Theater one is on time when one is 15 minutes early, and deemed late when one shows up at the call time not quite ready for work.) One is dressed properly for the call, for production usually in all black clothing, closed-toed shoes, and is reasonable presentable.

Following that, one also has what tools are required for that call, a pencil and willingness to learn on-the-job.

BWW: Do you assist in costume maintenance?

PRG: Yes. For Broadway shows and the Opera, often a dedicated stitcher is hired. I have been such, as well as the laundry person for touring shows in Austin. Very small repairs are often done by the dresser.

BWW: Do you do mostly quick changes or all costume changes?

PRG: A dresser does quick changes and assists actors at their chairs in "gondola world" with other changes not so fast.

BWW: Do you also assist with hair and makeup?

PRG: No, Wig and make-up people are hired for that.

BWW: Do you ever assist the set crew?

PRG: No. That is a different job altogether.

BWW: What does your work entail from start of a tour to finish?

PRG: Locals, such as I am, are not on the tour. One is hired as a dresser and occasionally there is day-work that usually is steaming and ironing, repairing shoes and so forth.

BWW: What is your basic schedule, from being signed onto a show through opening night?

PRG: Broadway touring shows are set-up on Monday and Tuesday, and open on Tuesdays at the Bass. A bus-and-truck show has fewer performances and usually they are mounted at The Long Center. Opening night is the same day as set-up in these cases. One helps with load-in in the nature of unpacking, steaming, ironing, washing, and other chores with the costumes.

BWW: When is your schedule the busiest?

PRG: The shows are fairly evenly scheduled from September to May each season.

BWW: Most audience members aren't even aware of what a dresser is. It is one of those program credits that is elusive in meaning. Do you participate in production meetings? How do you prepare for meetings? What do you bring to the team at the start?

PRG: Tours do not involve locals in their management. Dressers meet with the Wardrobe Head and Wardrobe Assistant prior to work commencing for instruction. Dressers are not listed in the programs unless they tour with the show, as did two dressers in the recent MOTOWN tour.

BWW: Are you assigned one performer or multiple performers?

PRG: Depending on the production, assignment is either a principal or several principals, or ensemble dressing.

BWW: What are the biggest challenges you find as a dresser?

PRG: Respect of the actors can be a challenge. This attitude is usually fostered to the respect side if Management (of the company) instills it in the actors. Most actors touring understand that politeness is best.

BWW: What are your favorite shows (or performers) you've been a dresser for and why are they your favorites?

PRG: Most recently, Andrea Goss from CABARET was a joy to dress. Among the shows that were fun were PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT, THE BOOK OF MORMON, WICKED, ONCE, and THE LION KING. I find I enjoy the experience no matter which production has been through.

BWW: Is there anything else you'd like to share with the readers of Broadway World?

PRG: Being a dresser is a profession, as is being a stagehand, which, in fact, I am, also. To get an insight into what it means to dress a show in Broadway in NYC, one can check out this Playbill's article online: http://www.playbill.com/article/spend-a-show-backstage-with-the-dressers-of-broadway