Costume Shop Assistant at City of Bellevue – Bellevue, Washington

The Bellevue Youth Theatre is dedicated to providing theater arts opportunities for all young people, regardless of income or ability. We produce 10-12 mainstage shows a year in addition to 12 weeks of theatre day camps. We also offer technical support for various events around the City of Bellevue.

This is a continuous, part-time position. Costume Shop Assistant will be responsible for coordinating with Production Manager on props and costume shop management including overseeing volunteers and staff who utilizes these areas. Upon the completion of one production, This position will be assigned to new projects. This position can anticipate working on approximately 10 productions a year in addition to camps, averaging 8-20 hours per week, annually, with the option for more during the busiest production seasons.

City Council Vision Statement: Bellevue welcomes the world. Our diversity is our strength. We embrace the future while respecting our past.
Bellevue Parks & Community Services Vision: In Bellevue everyone can connect to each other and to nature through experiences that help them to live, grow, and thrive.
Bellevue Parks & Community Services Mission: We build a healthy community through an integrated system of exceptional parks, natural areas, recreation, arts and culture, and a broad base of community services.
Bellevue Parks & Community Services Equity Statement: A System of Fairness - Equity acknowledges and removes disparities in opportunities, power, and resources so that everyone can reach their full potential to thrive. Bellevue Parks & Community Services practices equity, which is the responsibility of every individual in the department. Equitable access is a right, not a privilege, and is fundamental to our mission of serving all people. Through equitable policies and practices, we cultivate ties that connect people to the fabric of our community.

• Manager costumes shop.
  • Assist the costume designer with questions on costume storage, condition, quantity, and/or size (if known).
  • When requested, accompany the costume designer to storage. The Costume Assistant must always stay with the costume designer while visiting storage (Ivanhoe).
  • When requested, assist the costume designer with the pulling, transporting, and storage of costumes to and from storage to the theater.
  • When requested, and if applicable, assist the costume designer with light costume building.
  • Organization, inventory and upkeep of costumes at theater and storage.
  • Assist costume designer with strike, resetting the costume shop, dressing rooms, and laundry.
  • Pull replacement costume pieces from storage, if necessary, during technical rehearsals and performances.
  • Minor costume repairs, if necessary and applicable, during technical rehearsals and performances.
  • Be present at all costume parades to assist the designer and participants with questions and/or concerns.
• Assist with Day Camps, as needed.
• Supervise and train volunteers in costuming.
• Utilize proper safety practices and procedures.
• Maintain a variety of files and records; enter and retrieve information from a computer.
• Able to work weekends and nights as needed.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

• Reports to designated Program Coordinator.

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Theatrical production protocols.
• OSHA Safety standards.
• Producing licensed productions.
• Schedules and time-management.
• Working with children and young people of all abilities.

Ability to:

• Work with limited budgets and resources to create theatrical props designs.
• Communicate with a variety of theatre personnel in a timely and professional manner.
• Oversee volunteers, including many with various skills and abilities.
• Communicate with Production Manager and Production Team.
• Attend Production Meetings.
• Keep accurate records of inventory and purchase requests.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Multi-task at a high level of proficiency.
• Remain calm and clear-headed in stressful or extraordinary circumstances.
• Work in a fast-paced environment.

Education and Experience Guidelines - Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training:

• Some coursework (or equivalent study) in theatre, technical theatre, electrics/carpentry, scenic painting, graphic design, or a combination thereof.

Experience:

• Some theatrical design experience preferred.
• At least 2 years working in community or professional theatre.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to use woodworking tools safely.
• Ability to communicate with staff, volunteers, and participants in a kind and respectful manner, both verbally and in writing.
• Self-starting, working with minimal supervision.

Other Requirements

• Must pass a criminal background check.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• Environment: Office, theatre, and stage environment; exposure to noise, dust.

• Physical: Sufficient physical ability to work in a theatre setting. Walk, stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; moderate or light lifting and carrying; bending, stooping, kneeling, crawling. May be required to push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to 50 pounds.

• Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents and to operate equipment.

• Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction. The noise level is the work environment is moderate to high.

Definition of a Variable Employee:

• Average weekly hours cannot be determined at date of hire
• Hours may vary from week to week and are anticipated to be 8-20 hours per week with an increase during performance weeks.