High school students explore professional theater hair and makeup with Mrs. Doubtfire tour
The following article was written by Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program Student Ambassador Matthew, in collaboration with the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.
On Saturday, November 23, high school students across Northeast Wisconsin were able to participate in a workshop at the Fox Cities P.A.C. This was put on by the Mrs. Doubtfire touring hair and makeup co-heads Lainne Davis and Aria Durso. This unique experience allowed high school students through the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program to learn hands-on experience with hair and makeup.
The Mrs. Doubtfire touring group had an involved collaborative experience putting on the musical, with many quick clothing, hair and makeup changes both on and off-stage.
Through the workshop explaining the process, the high school students were able to learn how to pin, prep, set and stage wigs, as well as how to make sure the actors can put their wigs on without pins if needed.
The students also learned about the differences between each tour venue and the various staff the hair and makeup team works with. A different team of locals with different experience levels await them at each venue.
The students learned the basics that are shown to each of the locals for each new venue they go to.
As the workshop concluded, the students were given a tour of the backstage area where the hair and makeup team operated. They were shown the makeup team’s preparation table, where the makeup team set up their quick changes, helped actors, and assisted in any possible malfunctions that may happen during a show. The students were given a kit to try their wig-pinning skills at home.
This opportunity gave high school actors who have an interest in performing more insight into the other aspects of theater and how they can contribute to the crew around them while performing. It also allowed the high school stage and tech crew a deeper understanding of how they can improve their hair and makeup skills and how their current interests could turn into a possible future career.
The Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program is an educational initiative of the Fox Cities P.A.C. with support from corporate partner Fox Communities Credit Union. Additional partners in this program include Johnson Financial Group, Nicolet National Bank, Angelo and Jennifer Ninivaggi, Schneider Foundation, Star98, WFRV, and Wipfli LLP. Programs like the Center Stage High School Musical Theater Program are also supported in part by contributions to the Center’s Annual Partner Campaign.
