Wes Crain
San Francisco
Costume and Specialty Fashion Design and Fabrication
Wes's Work History
Following the shining trail of safety pins and sequins
Wes's costume design work began in college when he costumed drag performances for the Krewe of Apollo along with numerous nightclubs in Baton Rouge, all while wishing he'd majored in something besides Landscape Architecture. Ready to commit to a new career, he moved to Houston in 2003 and got a job at a high-end apparel fabric store to learn textiles, volunteered at the Alley theatre costume shop under Kenneth Chu, and started working part-time at the Houston Ballet costume shop under Pat Padilla and occasionally the Grand Opera costume shop as well.
In Houston he learned all of the essential aspects of costuming construction, starting as a stitcher, quickly taking on first handing, painting, and dyeing, then learning patterning, draping, millinery, and tutu construction. By his third year he was the second assistant to the head of the costume department and had joined the local theatrical wardrobe union in order to be able to tour with the ballet. During that time he costumed his first full stage production for a non-profit group called "Halloween Magic" that produced one semi-original spoof musical every Halloween to benefit local AIDS charities. To broaden his horizons and get more shop experience he moved to Los Angeles in 2007 and worked for several different costume shops including James Hayes Studio which focused on puppets and specialty items for movies and commercials; Center Theatre Group, which built major musical and theatrical productions; and J&M Costumers who worked on walk-around mascots, cruise ship performances, celebrities, and specialty TV and film requests. He transferred his union membership to the LA local and worked on touring shows as a dresser and stitcher while designing shows for local theaters that garnered him several award nominations.
Armed with a variety of experience and looking for a change, Wes migrated to San Francisco in 2010 where he dressed for the opera and ballet while designing for local theaters and clients. He soon began working full time at San Francisco Ballet where he is currently the Costume Workroom Manager supervising new construction done on site. He likes developing new works and taking on gigs that challenge his abilities and widen his perspective. He also loves rhinestones and actors who say "Make it as tight as you want."
Design
(* denotes award win/nomination)
Head Over Heels (2019)
New Conservatory Theater Center
This Side of Crazy (2019)
New Conservatory Theater Center
The View Upstair (2019)
New Conservatory Theater Center
*When Pigs Fly (May 2018)
New Conservatory Theater Center
2017: Guest Design Educator, Oakland Tales
Life Academy, Oakland
Avenue Q (2013-2017)
New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco
Le Switch (October 2017)
New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco
Sordid Lives (2017)
New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco
Breeders (2017)
Faultline Theatre, San Francisco
The Ice Cream Sandwich Incident (2016)
Faultline Theatre, San Francisco
On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (2016)
New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco
Buyer And Cellar (2016)
New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco
Stegosaurus (2016)
Faultline Theatre, San Francisco
*Trailer Park Gods (2015)
Faultline Theatre, San Francisco
From White Plains (2015)
New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco
The Cable Car Nymphomaniac (2015)
FOGG Theatre, San Francisco
The Homosexuals (2014)
New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco
Speakeasy (2014)
Boxcar Theatre, San Francisco
Birds of a Feather (2013)
New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco
The Bus (2013)
New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco
*Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2012)
Boxcar Theatre, San Francisco
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (2012)
Berkeley Playhouse, Berkeley
Slipping (2012)
New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco
Down To This (2011)
Sleepwalkers Theatre Co/Phoenix Theatre, San Francisco
The Whole Megillah 2.0 (2012)
Killing My Lobster/The Jewish Theater, San Francisco
Annie (2011)
Berkeley Playhouse, Berkeley
Afield (2011)
Phoenix Arts Association/Exit Theatre for SF Fringe Festival
The Nature Line (2011)
Sleepwalkers Theatre Co/Phoenix Theatre, San Francisco
Into the Clear Blue Sky (2011)
Sleepwalkers Theatre Co/Phoenix Theatre, San Francisco
Forbidden Zone: Live in the 6th Dimension (2010)
Sacred Fools Theatre, Hollywood
‘ZombiKillr14’
Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom (2010)
Sacred Fools Theatre, Hollywood
*Hamlet, Shut Up (2009)
Sacred Fools Theatre, Hollywood/2010 New York Fringe Festival
*Gogol Project (Puppets, 2009)
Rogue Artists Ensemble/Bootleg Theater, Los Angeles
Madness In Valencia (2009)
Sacred Fools Theatre, Hollywood
Mr. Punch (Assistant, 2008)
Rogue Artists Ensemble/Bootleg Theater, Los Angeles
Beaverquest! (2008)
Sacred Fools Theatre, Hollywood
Murder at the 26th Annual Montrose County Spelling Bee (2006)
Halloween Magic/Hobby Center, Houston
Various Performances, 2001-2003
Club Icon, Baton Rouge
Music Media Mania (2001)
Krewe of Apollo, Baton Rouge
Yellow Submarine; Hoochies on the Strip (2000)
Krewe of Apollo, Baton Rouge
Construction
2015-Present Season: Costume Workroom Manager, San Francisco Ballet/War Memorial Opera House
(2015): Volunteer builder for student production
Little Opera, San Francisco
Forbidden Broadway (2015): Cutter/Stitcher/Crafts
Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek
2010-2015: Cutter/Stitcher
San Francisco Ballet/War Memorial Opera House
Dialogue of the Carmelites (2011): Cutter/Stitcher
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Gogol Project (2009): Puppet Construction
Rogue Artists Ensemble/Bootleg Theatre, LA
Guys and Dolls (2009): Stitcher
The Hollywood Bowl
Various Screen and Stage Projects, 2008-2009: Stitcher
J&M Costumers, Hollywood
Mr. Punch (2008): Cutter/Stitcher
Rogue Artists Ensemble/Bootleg Theatre, LA
Mask (2008): Distressing, Painter/Dyer
Pasadena Playhouse
Lil Abner (2008): Stitcher/Firsthand
Reprise Theater Company/Freud Theater, UCLA
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (2008): Stitcher & Crafts
Kirk Douglas Theater/Center Theater Group, Los Angeles
Budweiser Commercial Shoot (2007): Cutter/Stitcher
Anne Madden, stylist
James Hayes Studio, Los Angeles 2007: Stitcher, Firsthand, Crafts
Assorted Screen Projects
Lysistrata (2005): Crafts Supervisor
The Wortham Theater/Houston Grand Opera
2004-5 Seasons: Stitcher, Firsthand, & Crafts
Wortham Theater/Houston Ballet Foundation, Houston
Salsi Puedes (2004): Stitcher & Crafts
The Wortham Theater/Houston Grand Opera
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (2004): Crafts
Alley Theatre, Houston
Wardrobe
2019 Copenhagen Tour: Wardrobe Assistant
San Francisco Ballet
2016 Washington DC Tour: Wardrobe Assistant
San Francisco Ballet
2016 Iceland Tour: Wardrobe Supervisor
San Francisco Ballet
2015 China Tour: Wardrobe Assistant
San Francisco Ballet
2010-2014 Seasons: Dresser
San Francisco Opera/War Memorial Opera House
Mamma Mia! (2011): Stitcher
San Jose Performing Arts Center
South Pacific (2010): Dresser/Stitcher
The Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles Music Center
Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps (2010): Swing Dresser
The Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles Music Center
Americas and Americans: Dudamel Conducts Estévez (2010): Stitcher/Star Dresser
The Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA Philharmonic
Dreamgirls (2010): Dresser/Stitcher
The Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles Music Center
Mary Poppins (2009-2010): Dresser/Stitcher
The Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles Music Center
Guys and Dolls (2009): Dresser
The Hollywood Bowl
Parade (2009): Stitcher/Swing Dresser
The Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles Music Center
Pippin (2009): Dresser/Stitcher
The Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles Music Center
Carmen (2009): Dresser
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion/LA Opera, Los Angeles Music Center
Sesame Street Live (2008): Dresser
Pasadena Civic Auditorium
Kids in the Hall (2008): Dresser
SAS Theatrical/Orpheum Theater, Los Angeles
Myth (2008): Wardrobe Lead
Royce Hall, UCLA Performing Arts
La La La Human Steps (2008): Wardrobe Lead
Royce Hall, UCLA Performing Arts
Lil Abner (2008): Principal dresser
Reprise Theater Company/Freud Theater, UCLA
Ray Charles Live (2007): Principal dresser
Pasadena Playhouse
Camelot (2007): Principal Dresser
UCLA Performing Arts, Royce Hall
King Lear and The Seagull, Royal Shakespeare Company (2007): Dresser
UCLA Performing Arts, Royce Hall
2006-2007 Season: Houston Ballet
Assistant to Head of Costume Department;
Academy Wardrobe Supervisor;
Rentals Co-Director; Touring Wardrobe Assistant Supervisor
The Nutcracker (2004): Dresser
The Wortham Center/Houston Ballet