Character shoes: These are extremely important and will be utilized in nearly (if not every) show while in theater.  The name tells you exactly what they are: a universal pair of shoes that multiple different characters wear. There are many different options at different price points, but the most common options are...

1. Stelle 1.5"/2" Women Character Dance Shoes Ankle Strap Heels ($40) 
  • The Stelle character shoes are a great option, and save you some money when it comes to character shoes. These work great in both comfort and effectiveness during the shows.  I personally had these shoes for all 4 years of my High School Theater career and they might have looked a little beat up by the end of my senior year, but they did the job! When it comes to character shoes, these and the Capezio’s are the most common choice.
2. ​Capezio Women’s Jr. Footlight T-strap Dance Shoe ($50)
  • ​Another great option, the Capezio character shoes are a little bit more expensive, but add the additional extra support of a t-strap down the middle of the shoe. These are often used as dance shoes and once again find a good middle spot between comfort and effectiveness. A good chunk of our theater department used these as well, so it just depends on your comfort level in stability when dancing or walking across the stage.
3. Dynadans Women's Leather Upper Slip-on Jazz Shoe ($40 but often on sale for $20)
  • Jazz shoes are the #1 pick for most dancers, as they eliminate the high heel aspect that most character shoes have and provide a much more flexible shoe that can be danced in while also looking like a traditional character shoe. These are not the most ideal for all shows, but are typically accepted. I would recommend talking to your theater director about Jazz shoes first, just to be sure.

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Undershirts/Undergarments: Undershirts and leotards are extremely important as they act as an actor’s base layer underneath their costumes. For girls, it is best to get a leotard that matches your skin tone. But for guys, white tank tops are perfectly fine.

Gals: ​Capezio Leotard ($25) 

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Tights: These are pretty self explanatory, every girl needs a pair of skin colored dance tights. It is always a good idea to have 2-3 pairs as backups in case a rip occurs, which is pretty likely in theater!

Optional: ​Nike pros or any sort of volleyball short/athletic skin-tight shorts. These are good for those of us with bigger thighs or who want a little bit of extra support. 3” Nike Pros are great as they are short enough not to be seen, but still long enough to add a bit of a buffer between skin.