Wig Question

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 12/24/06 at 11:03pm

OK, humor me:

This question is incredibly random and may be difficult to answer, but, do most shows on Broadway have all of their characters wigged? Or only a few in certain shows? Some are obvious (i.e. "Hairspray) but I'm not sure about others.

It's been bugging me for days and I was hoping someone might have an answer.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 12/24/06 at 11:08pm

I think it really depends on the show and the character. In Hairspray i t seems like all the women and edna are wigged, where as the men may not be. I think in Pirate Queen every character is wigged. I just seems to depend on the show.

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 12/24/06 at 11:20pm

Depends on the show.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 12/24/06 at 11:22pm

I figured as much. Thanks!

[sondhead]

Posted: 12/24/06 at 11:42pm

For the most part, yes. Even in Sweeney Todd Patti was wigged though her real hair was almost identical. Wigged hair is easier to deal with. You don't get bad hair days.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 12/24/06 at 11:54pm

Good foundation for a mic.

[jjoey076]

Posted: 12/24/06 at 11:54pm

What about RENT?

I feel like the Mimis have wigs but no one else does.

[thejcm]

Posted: 12/24/06 at 11:58pm

Well obviously Angel wears 2 different wigs...however I don't think all Mimis wear them. I know some use extensions, but I don't know that I can think of any who wore full out wigs.

Updated On: 12/24/06 at 11:58 PM

[Elphaba984]

Posted: 12/24/06 at 11:59pm

really i think it does depend on the show. just by looking at some of the pictures you can tell it's not their real hair. also if you sit in the first few rows during a show you can kind of tell where the wig line is. i recently was the makeup and hair designer for my school production of little shop and the urchins had 2 sets of wigs and audrey had 1. it was just easier that way than dealing with using the actresses real hair. but when i worked on a production of candide, we only wigged two of our actresses. it really does depend on the show.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 12:03am

Yeah, because when I think about it, I think Chita had a wig in "The Dancer's Life" that was pretty much her hair, but I guess it's easier to work with and more reliable.

No one can make a wig quite like Bernadette's hair thought. It must be hell fitting that under a wig.

[sondhead]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 12:03am

High school doesn't count.

If it's professional, you can pretty much be sure it's always a wig unless it's short guys hair.. and even then it is sometimes. We don't pay $100 to see somebody with a bad hair day, I'm telling ya!

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 12:11am

i think its more often than not a matter of how a character is supposed to look versus the performer playing the role. for example period shows(wonderful town, the wedding singer, etc.) or shows that a character's hairstyle changes often (example: glinda in wicked who originally had about 4 different wigs) or characters that are supposed to have a specific hair color (glinda, elphaba, and so on)

[AnythingCanHappen]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 12:19am

I am pretty sure High School can count... It doesnt exactly fit the true question of the title, but as a costume designer/milliner/wig... person, for 15 productions at my highschool, it does depend on the show. Some performers have hair that just doesnt fit the part. And though we never spent $1500 on a wig... (I think the most I got was 55 or so for a good Marie Antoinette wig...) we did sometimes have our students color their hair for productions. (Great examples being my prom date having to color her light blonde hair to a brown to play Anne Frank's mother who's name escapes me, and also a girl dying her hair blue after she clearly explains why she has blue hair in one scene during 'The Curious Savage') With musicals, as earlier stated, it just helps save time for quick changes between characters.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 12:22am

I wish I could think of a better example, but I know Chenoweth was still wigged for Wicked (or, let's say, Candide) in spite of the fact that her real hair was very similar to the characters. I think most people are wigged, when it comes to women at least.

Patti's hair didn't look at all like her Lovett wig, BTW. I mean, the length was kinda similar, but the colour and style was totally different.

[sondhead]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 1:16am

When I saw it (which was, admittedly, during early previews) she had several people at the cast door asking. The only way you could tell was the color was more brown than black. The cut was the exact same.

And high school doesn't count. Just because high schools use wigs doesn't mean that it has anything to do with what "most shows on Broadway" (as the original question stated) do regarding wigs.

As I've stated, I think you will generally find that on Broadway it does not "depend on the show". Except for odd circumstances, wigs are almost always used because there is no chance of a bad hair day. They also make better holding places for mics.

[sondhead]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 1:16am

Updated On: 12/25/06 at 01:16 AM

[ashbash1990]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 10:12am

I was under the impression that most are wigged, if only because real hair is to unprdictable...

[strelimyn]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 10:15am

Yeah, I thought most were wigged - well, depending on the show - I mean, if there are a lot of costume changes or lapses of time in the show I'd think the actor/actress would be wigged. I really don't know why I'm commenting, seeing as I've just said what countless others have said in this post - *sigh* I'm tired

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 10:36am

About 99% of all shows are wigged. As it was explained to me -- it's a helluva lot easier to just put your mic on your head, then the wig cap on, then your wig instead of sitting and getting your hair done 8 times a week.

Even actresses who sport the same haircut in their real life, use carbon-copy wigs. Again...it's easier to just walk into the theatre and plop the already prepped wig instead of having to get her real hair set and styled, etc -- 8 times a week.

Alot of male actors sport wigs for the same reason -- easier to just plop a wig on instead of having to style your hair EVERY night.

[Horton]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 10:56am

For example and John was wigged in DRS (Norb was not), and then Jonathan Price had the same wig as J. L. Which is another reason why wigs are often used, when the cast is replaced the production is guaranteed the same hair styles.

[D2]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 11:37am

Mrs. Frank's name was Edith.

[gypsy71]

Posted: 12/25/06 at 1:44pm

I have worked as a wig supervisor on several Broadway national tours and the answer to your question depends on several factors. The first being if its a period piece. The second is the amount of characters an actor portrays or the time span of the show. Third is the condition of the actors own hair or if they will agree to change their own hair for the show or not. And the most important is the budget of the show. Hair and makeup is one of the first departments to take a cut because people can always use their own hair. (or so the producers think) As a designer of shows also, I can tell you that I hate to wig men. It is very costly to have a good mans wig made. And if I wig one woman, I like to have them all wigged so the one wearing the wig doesnt stand out. Hope this helps you.