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FAQ's

I am interested in applying to Dartmouth and I'm particularly interested in the theater. Should I schedule an audition or an interview with you?

• Although the Theater faculty and staff are happy to meet with you to discuss the Theater Department and to answer your questions when you visit the campus, auditions and interviews are not conducted by members of the Theater Department faculty.

Should I send audition materials to you?

• If you have materials that you would like to be reviewed, they should be sent directly to the Admissions Office and not to the Theater Department. The Admissions Office will refer such materials to the appropriate Theater faculty member for review. Fill out the Arts Supplement Form with your Common Application and submit a DVD that showcases your talents. DVD's should not be more than five minutes long. If you are a playwright, submit a play. If you are a director, submit a case book. If you are a designer, submit a portfolio. Whatever materials you think will best represent your talents, send it in with the Arts Supplement Form to the Admissions Office.

May I see the facilities?

• Tours of the Theater Department theaters (the Moore and the Warner Bentley Theaters), costume and scene shops and the rehearsal rooms, are conducted by either Maggie Devine-Sullivan, Department Administrator or Effie Cummings, Academic Assistant. It's not necessary to schedule an appointment beforehand, although it is helpful.

How do students audition for a role in the productions?

• At the beginning of each term a sign-up sheet is posted in Shakespeare Alley in the Hopkins Center. Any Dartmouth undergraduate can audition, not just the majors or the upperclassmen, and first-year students are often cast in leading roles. Please monitor the Theater Blitz Bulletin as well for announcements concerning auditions. During the first week of the term the Theater Department also hosts an information session concerning upcoming productions for that term.

What happens if I get called back?

• The times of call backs are announced on the audition board and at the auditions.

I don't want to act but I'd like to be involved in a play.

• Great! There are a lot of opportunities for students to become involved in the construction of the sets and costumes, in lighting and sound design, and in stage management. At the start of each term the technical staff recruits students to work in the shops. Information is posted on the bulletin board in Shakespeare Alley and on the Theater Department website.

Can anyone take an acting class or is it just for people who want to be actors?

• All theater classes are open to the whole campus. Acting I, Theater 30, is a very popular course and we often have more students interested in taking the class than we can accommodate. Professors hold interviews with interested students at the beginning of the term in which the course is offered. These are not auditions. 

How do I sign up for an acting class?

• You must be interviewed by the Professor. After all interviews are conducted, they will set the class roster and determine who gets in. Interviews typically last 6-7 minutes. These are not auditions. Acting I is one of the most popular courses on campus. We traditionally get twice as many students interviewing as we have slots for. For example, normally an Acting I class consists of 16 students. We often have 35-40 students interviewing to get into that class. Interview sign up sheets will appear in Shakespeare Alley the day before classes start. You must come in person to sign up. Shakespeare Alley is located in the Hopkins Center. Enter the lobby, go left around the Moore Theater, go through Glass Door, marked Shakespeare Alley. The sign up sheets will be posted in that hallway on the cork board the first day of classes, with interviews taking place on the second day of the term. 

Do I need to prepare anything for a class interview?

• No. You may wish to bring a theater resume if you have done some acting in the past, but it is not required. 

Where is Shakespeare Alley?

• Enter Hopkins Center Lobby.
  Head towards the Moore Theater and follow to the left.
  Look for a glass door with white lettering announcing "Shakespeare Alley".
  Go through the glass door.
  Professors' offices, the Green Room, and the Theater Department offices are located in this hallway.

How do I find out what shows are happening each term?

• Please check our website for the latest information, or visit the Department offices in Shakespeare Alley. 

What do I do if I want to see a certain play produced?

• You can email the Director of Theater. This position is currently held by Professor Jamie Horton for academic year 2012-2013.

Can I direct a play without taking a directing class?

• Yes, through our Your Space program. 

Costume Shop FAQ

When is the Costume Shop open?

During a regular term we are open to the public from 9 to 12 and 2 to 5 pm Monday through Friday. Outside of those times it is best to call and make an appointment, (603) 646-2729.

How do I get to the Costume Shop?

We are in the basement of the HOP. From the green, go in the doors and down into the Moore Theater lobby. Look to the left and find the door to Shakespeare Alley. Down that hall about half way, there will be staircase leading to the basement level. Down those stairs in the hall way at the bottom look to your right. We are the doors at the end of the hall to your right.

How do I get involved with the Costume Shop?

There are three ways
1. We have a certain amount of work-study available each term.
2. We have a volunteer program.
3. Certain classes require a prescribed amount of hours to be spent working in the shop.
The way that these all begin is to call 646-2729 and make an appointment to speak with the shop manager for an interview and an overview of working in the shop.

Are there classes taught in Costuming?

Yes, there are two classes on the books: Costume Design and Costume Production. There are also plans for a History and Psychology of Dress. Students completing certain course work can apply for independent study credit in specific topics.

Do you have to draw or sew to take these classes?

We are a teaching shop, and as such will take you at your current skill level and work to extend your abilities. For the Costume Design class, you will be asked to draw as one of the ways to communicate ideas, but are not required to be able to do so. Communication of ideas is the key and the skills that can be used to the purpose are many and varied.

Do you rent or loan costumes?

We are a small shop with a small stock. We are not set up to rent or loan to the general public. We do keep a file of local resources and are happy to share. I have a great "Bag of Jelly Beans" costume useful for most events. Please feel free to contact us for our next good idea.

What about for a class project?

We don't costume class scenes or projects. We provide rehearsal garments for classes taught within the Department of Theater.
If you have a class in the Department of Theater we can help you with rehearsal garments. These are garments that affect your movement, and you will need to have them in advance so that they can inform the character's movement and blocking. Examples are skirts with trains or specifically period shoes. There is no choice of color or fabric. There isn't any budget for dry cleaning in the academic budget so that will inform the choice of garments we will be able to pull for you.
Call the costume shop for an appointment to meet with the shop manager. It helps if you have done some research as to period shapes and names.
Contingent on the availability of a rehearsal garment in the appropriate size and style, you will be allowed to borrow the garment for the duration of your scene. You will need to have a locker and lock from the Department office to store your rehearsal garment. The shop will need to take your measurements and it will take a day or two to pull the correct garment depending on the shop schedule. You will return for a fitting of your garment and take it with you at that time.
Your professor will be advised of your loan, and will agree to help police the loan policy and return of the garment.
You might see how "borrowing a hat that you will only need overnight, or until after lunch" isn't the sort of thing we will be able to do.
**To try to obtain a costume by dishonest means, when discovered, will be considered an abuse of department resources, and will be brought before the appropriate authority as a violation of the Dartmouth Honor Principle.

How do I find a costume designer for my project?

Contact Professor Kohn for a list of possible designers. She is the mentor for the design student and will know who can be available at any given time

I'm making a film for a class. How do I get costumes for the film?

As an academic support unit for the Department of Theater we are charged with supporting projects sanctioned by the department. If we have enough notice, and if there is a student designer working on the film as a costume designer, we might possibly be able to assist with a film. We encourage the designers to work in different media and will work with you and the designer to the best of our ability. There are, however, times when we simply won't be able to take on another body of work. We will always have suggestions and resources that we will be willing to share.

I might have something to donate like clothing or fabric.... Do you accept donations?

We accept any and all donations. We accept them with the understanding that if we cannot use them, we will see that they are donated to an appropriate group. We also accept donations with the understanding that we will put them to the best use for our students. They may not remain intact, they may be dyed or serve as "donor" garments for other uses. Once accepted, the garments are property of Dartmouth College and may not be returned to the donor.
How do I donate my (insert item here i.e.: my grand mother's wedding dress?)
Call us at 603-646-2729 and make an appointment to meet with the shop staff so that we can accept your donation. If you are interested in donating a large number of items, we may need additional help and appropriate space to process the donation so there may be a short wait before we can accept the donation. Another important point is that it is a conflict of interest to establish a value for a donation. We will acknowledge the donation in a thank you letter. If you need the items valued you will need to do that before hand.
I have a ______ (insert name of item here) that I need altered. Do you do that?
We follow the philosophy that you need to teach a person to fish rather than just giving them a fish. We cannot recommend a student to do the work. There are several people who do alterations in the community- calling a fabric shop or checking the yellow pages might be your best bet.

I can sew, but need a thread and needle to sew on a button. Do you do that?

Happy to. You are welcome to stop in any time and sit and have a sew. If we are very busy, we will make an appointment with you so that you can have the attention you deserve.
But I NEED a costume and I NEED your help...
You are always welcome to come to the costume shop and talk with the staff. We rarely turn away anyone without suggestions for their success.

How do I get in touch with you?

Phone number: 603-646-2729
Email: thecostumeshop@dartmouth.edu
Mailing address is:
The Costume Shop
6204 Hopkins Center
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH 03755