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Backstage Essentials 🎟️
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items The things I wish were easier to find as an actor. 🎭 From character shoes and tights to undergarments, beauty essentials, and affordable alternatives, this is my collection of backstage finds for performers. Whether you’re building your first theate...
Sections
3
On Your Feet 👟
Under the Costume 🤎
Survive the Show 💧
On Your Feet 👟
Theater shoes, dance shoes, salsa shoes, character shoes, and those “will I survive eight shows in these?” shoes.
A great Amazon dupe if you want the look and feel of character boots without spending $300+ on LaDucas. They’re great for dancing, character work, and getting comfortable with the mechanics of performing in boots before making the bigger investment.
👢 LaDuca Boot Dupe
A great everyday character shoe that works both onstage and off. They’re super flexible and easy to dance in, but I’d recommend sizing up because they can compress your feet after wearing them for a while.
🖤 T-Strap Black Character Shoes
These are such a good starter Latin shoe! The cushioning is amazing, they’re durable, and they’re comfortable enough to actually practice in. They may be affordable, but they definitely don’t feel cheap.
💃 Ballroom Salsa Latin Shoes
A comfortable, classic character shoe to keep in your theater kit. The tan shade is especially useful when you need a neutral or skin-tone shoe for a costume or performance.
👠 2-Inch Tan Character Shoes
Everybody needs a good jazz shoe, right? 😂 A reliable staple for dance calls, rehearsals, choreography, and performances.
🩰 Tan Jazz Shoes
Finding character shoes that actually match deeper skin tones can be HARD. 🤎 I use brown leather acrylic paint to customize tan shoes when I need a better match. It gives you more control over your shade without sacrificing the shoe’s flexibility or...
🤎 Brown Leather Acrylic Paint
I love having a tan pair in my kit because they give you a neutral base and can also be dyed to better match your skin tone when needed. One of those little things that’s always good to have ready.
🩰 Tan Ballet Shoes
Every actor needs a “give my feet a break” shoe! Think of these like the slides athletes wear after being in their cleats. They’re perfect for letting your feet rest between rehearsals, performances, or long days backstage.
🥿 Couture Plus Slippers
Honestly… every actor needs this. 😂 Between rehearsals, performances, dancing, tights, and being barefoot, our shoes go through A LOT. Keep some in your theater kit and thank me later.
👟 Shoe Freshener Spray
Under the Costume 🤎
Skin-tone undergarments, tights, bras, shorts, dance underwear, and all the things you need underneath the costume that nobody talks about.
FINALLY, a performance stocking in a deeper brown! 🤎 These have a beautiful shine, which makes them perfect for dance and stage. They’re also super affordable, especially compared to how hard they can be to find in deeper shades.
🤎 Deep Brown Nylon Stockings
These have a more natural, matte finish, so they’re better for everyday costume layering than full-on dance tights. I love having a darker option when I need coverage without the shine.
☕ Transparent Black Coffee Stockings
A backstage essential! These have a boy-short shape and a seamless finish, making them perfect underneath costumes when you don’t want lines showing through. They also come in different shade options.
🩲 Seamless High-Waisted Underwear
One of my favorite costume underlayers. They’re seamless, comfortable, and come in different skin tones, so you can find an option that actually works underneath your costume without showing through.
🩳 Seamless High-Waisted Shorts
I found this one on TikTok Shop and honestly did NOT expect it to be this good. 😂 It has surprisingly good support and a little push-up while still being flexible and comfortable enough to move in. The stretch is durable, too.
🤎 Seamless Bralette
You can never have too many skin-tone options in a theater kit. This is a great seamless layer when you want a little extra support or smoothing underneath a costume without adding visible lines.
🤎 Seamless Shapewear
I LIVE by thermal tights. They keep you warm, look cute, and are a lifesaver when you’re performing during colder months. This pack gives you both brown and black, so you have options depending on the costume.
🧸 Brown + Black Fleece-Lined Tights
Not everyone loves wearing character shoes completely barefoot! If you want a little extra coverage while keeping everything neutral, these anklet socks are an easy addition to your costume kit.
🧦 Nude Anklet Socks
Another seamless underlayer I love having in my kit. The boy-short shape gives you a little more coverage while staying smooth underneath costumes, and the range of skin tones makes this especially useful for performers.
🤎 Seamless Boyshort Underwear
Because sometimes you just need a little sparkle! ✨ These are perfect for performances, costumes, or even a night out when you want rhinestone fishnets that actually complement deeper skin tones. I love having multiple brown shades to choose from.
✨ Brown Rhinestone Fishnet Stockings
Survive the Show 💧
The little things that keep you feeling fresh, comfortable, and ready through long rehearsals and show days. Deodorant, setting powder, water bottles, snacks, and all my backstage lifesavers.
I LIVE by mints. 😂 I always keep a bunch on me during shows, and these are small enough to keep in your costume bag or on your person. I usually buy a few different kinds so I can share with the cast too!
🌿 Altoids Peppermint Mints
Another mint I always keep around! They’re small, easy to carry, and perfect for those moments when you need a quick refresh backstage. I’m basically the cast mint dealer at this point. 😂
🌱 ICE BREAKERS Wintergreen Mints
Travel-size deodorant is a backstage MUST. Between dancing, costume changes, and running around backstage, you’re going to sweat. I love having a small spray on hand because it’s easy to use and easy to share without everyone having to share the same...
🥒 Dove Cucumber Deodorant Spray
These are one of those “you never know when you’ll need them” items. I especially love them for quick makeup fixes, but they’re useful for SO much more backstage.
🧼 Travel Q-Tips
I never go to a show without wipes. They’re great for freshening up after sweating, cleaning up makeup, or just feeling a little more human after a long rehearsal. 😂
🫧 Travel Flushable Wipes
Moisturize. Always moisturize. Always moisturize. Always moisturize. That’s it. That’s the note. 😂
🧴 Aveeno Body Lotion
I may be a little bit of a mint freak, but fresh breath matters! After snacks, talking, singing, tea, and water all day, having a quick breath refresh can make you feel SO much better before going back onstage.
🌬️ Crest Breath Mist
You never know when you’re going to need it. A long rehearsal day can turn into a long performance day very quickly, so I like having some on hand for those unexpected rough days.
💊 Ibuprofen
Theaters are GROSS. 😂 You’re touching props, doors, costumes, makeup, backstage equipment, and things that have been touched by approximately 50 other people. Keep hand sanitizer on you and protect yourself where you can.
🧴 Purell Hand Sanitizer
A performer staple. 🎭 Especially when you’re singing, talking, and using your voice all day, I love having Throat Coat around. The eucalyptus is my favorite!
🍵 Organic Throat Coat Eucalyptus
Ginger chews are a backstage lifesaver when your throat needs a little extra love. You can keep one tucked in your cheek and still talk or sing while you’re getting the benefits of the ginger. I buy different brands, but Prince of Peace is a good one...
🫚 Ginger Chews
Another one for my fellow voice users! Peppermint tea is an easy thing to keep around during long rehearsal or performance days when you want something warm and refreshing between shows.
🌿 Organic Peppermint Tea