Costume Designers for FY25/26 Season

Compensation

$2250

Drama Desk Award-winning TADA! Youth Theater actively seeks a Costume Designer for its 2025-2026 season

Founded in 1984, TADA! Youth Theater inspires young people from different backgrounds to be creative, learn, and think differently through high-quality musical theater productions, and educational programs. TADA!’s vision is that all young people grow up feeling successful, creative, confident, accepted, and accepting of themselves. Through the ability of people learning to express themselves well, we can break down barriers of racism and inequality and create positive, active citizens.

The Resident Youth Ensemble of TADA! (RYET), is a diverse, free, year-round pre-professional training, performance, and positive youth development program for youth ages 8-18 from all over New York City’s 5 boroughs and parts of New Jersey. We are looking for candidates who believe in TADA!’s mission and vision and the importance of youth theater.

Compensation and support: $2250 design fee. The budget for building costumes and materials are as follows:

Fall Production – $2300
Winter Production – $3400
Summer Production – $ 3800

The budget to hire additional stitchers is $400 for fall, $400 for winter, and $800 for summer. Dance shoes are purchased from a separate budget. A Wardrobe Supervisor (who can also assist with alterations) is hired by TADA! to start during tech and work through show close/strike. There is a sewing machine available for use at TADA!.

Commitment: 

Fall

• Callbacks: Sunday October 6th 2025 12-6pm
• Rehearsals (afternoon/evening): Wednesday – Saturday October 8th – November 13th
• Tech Rehearsal: Friday November 14th – Saturday November 22nd
• Performances: Fridays 7pm Saturdays & Sundays 2pm & 4:30pm
• Invited Dress Performance Friday November 21st 7pm
• Opening Night November 22nd 7pm
• Closing Performance December 14th
• School Day Performances December 3rd 10:30am & 12:30pm
• **No Performance Friday November 28th**

Winter

• Callbacks: Saturday January 3rd 2026 12-6pm
• Rehearsals (afternoon/evening): Wednesday – Saturday January 7th – February 20th
• Tech Rehearsals: Saturday February 21st – Saturday February 28th
• Performances: Fridays 7pm Saturdays & Sundays 2pm & 4:30pm
• Invited Dress Performance Friday February 27th 7pm
• Opening Performance February 28th 7pm
• Closing Performance March 22, 2026
• School Day Performances March 4th 10:30am & 12:30pm

Summer 

• Callbacks: Friday May 15th 2026 afterschool-8pm & Saturday May 16th 12-6pm
• Rehearsals (afternoon/evening): Wednesday – Saturday May 27- June 28th; Tuesday – Sunday June 30th-July 2nd
• Tech Rehearsals: Tuesday July 7th – Friday July 10th 12-7pm
• Performances: Tuesday – Friday 11:00am & 1:30pm; Saturdays 2pm
• Invited Dress Performance Friday July 10th 7pm
• Opening Performance July 11th 7pm
• Closing Performances July 31st  2:00pm & 4:30pm

TADA! Youth Theater is committed to building and fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce that is representative of the youth in our Ensemble program. TADA! is continually working to become a more anti-racist organization. Priority will be given to candidates who are dedicated to anti-racism and share our mission and vision above. Candidates from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ individuals are encouraged to apply.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or veteran status.

Applicants should email their cover letter and resume with references (at least one director) and examples of work to Ashley Knowles, aknowles@tadatheater.com, Associate Director of RYET Program. COVID-19 vaccination required. Interviews will occur in August and September for the Fall Production.