WIGS GONE WILD FOR HAIRSPRAY
It’s not quite 52-pickup, but it’s close. While Hairspray is on The Mac-Haydn Theatre stage for a three-week run, Wig Designer Caitlin Maxwell keeps track of 50 wigs, a big jump from the two to a dozen for a typical show.
How does she accomplish that? “I try to stay as organized as possible,” Maxwell said. The fortunate part, she said, is that “I made them, so I should know.”
The process of developing the right wig for the right actor to fit the particular scene onstage began about a month before the show opened, Maxwell said.
“First, we figure out what works best in terms of style, and then we find a way to fit the style. After that we determine the colors. You have to take into account the actor’s skin color, its tone, and what fits someone’s head. You can make most shades kind of fit on someone, but most are in their usual color palette.” Finally, she said, “then you get to work styling and cutting to achieve the look you want.”
Caitlin Maxwell and one of her Hairspray favorites
Maxwell pointed out that while the Hairspray wigs are predominantly synthetic, a few are made of human hair. “Synthetic wigs hold up better than human hair. The curls in a wig of human hair lose their curls faster, but they look better and they’re less shiny,” the Wagner College student explained.
In most cases, the Hairspray girls each make use of three wigs: “One is their regular show wig, a second is their hooker wig for the ‘Big Dollhouse’ scene, and the third is their giant finale wig. The finale wigs have a lot of swirls or are a beehive. They’re also hollow, which makes them a lot less heavy.” Maxwell laughed. “The actors have gotten very good at performing their choreography without moving their heads.”
Maxwell, now in her second season at the Mac-Haydn, gets a kick out of having worked up the three wigs for Edna Turnblad, played by John Saunders, one of her Wagner professors. And wig designer is something she’d “absolutely like to keep doing. I really enjoy this. It’s cool to help an actor transform into a character. I think it must be similar to how costume designers feel.”
Make HAIRSPRAY part of your summer 'stay-cation' fun! Good seats are available for all performances: first week: Thursday at 2 and 8, Friday at 8, Saturday at 4 and 8 and Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m.; second and third weeks: Wednesday at 2 and 8, Thursday and Friday at 8, Saturday at 4 and 8 and Sunday at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $28 and $27; $26 for all matinee seats; children under 12, $12.00. Senior Citizen, Delightful Dozen, Group and Dinner with Theatre Package Discounts are available. Master Card and Visa accepted. No cancellations or refunds. Fully Air Conditioned.
