The Theatrical Wardrobe Attendants in New York City first organized in 1919 as a federal union affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. In 1942, this union was granted a charter to become part of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories and Canada. In 1982 the word “attendants” was dropped from the name and the Local was issued a new charter as “Theatrical Wardrobe Union, Local 764 of the I.A.T.S.E”. The Local currently has over 1,400 members working in all aspects of costume and wardrobe work in the New York City area in virtually every major live entertainment venue in the city, as well as on television shows and motion pictures shooting within a 50-mile radius of Columbus Circle.
In May of 2010, a small group of Child Actor Guardians, the workers who care for children who perform in shows, approached the IATSE International, requesting representation on the job. After much hard organizing effort and negotiations with employers, a small group of these workers, who were the Child Actor Guardians on the Broadway production of “Billy Elliot” were welcomed into Local 764, and were joined, in August 2012 by many other Guardians when a contract was signed with the Broadway League. Currently, Local 764 represents Guardians at most Broadway shows, at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center, and at Radio City Music Hall.