HAIR/WIG PIECES
Item Description:
This is a long hair acrylic wig styled into an early 1990s hair style. Hairstyles in the 1990s were known for perms, lots of texture and volume, big bangs, blond highlights, and hair accessories. Much of the early 90s still embraced the looks we associate with the 1980s, especially in places like the world Waitress takes place in. Styles didn’t change as quickly as they do now, particularly in areas that were more rural, because the urban influence was less pervasive and most shopping was done locally as the internet did not exist.
These wigs are styled in two different ways. The blonde wig features dark roots, “mall bangs” (feathery and wispy straight bangs), and a partial updo held in place with a pink scrunchie with pearl trim. Accessories in the 90s were over the top and almost always had added trims and details like pearls. The brunette wig is styled in a partial updo with classic 90s roller curls and big bangs worn with a two tone scrunchie.
About the Item:
Did you know that most of the actors in our productions are wearing wigs? A wig is a head or hair accessory, often made from human hair or synthetic fiber. Both human and synthetic wigs can come in a rainbow of colors, different styles, and textures! Wigs help support consistency of the look of the characters throughout the run of a show and can also protect the actors’ own hair from any heating or styling that would be required for every performance. A lot goes into wig design, and what is seen on stage comes from hours and hours of hard work and research from many people – from the initial design work all the way to the first preview.
At The 5th, we often make the wigs ourselves in house for specific actors. If we aren’t making a new wig for someone, we have a stock of over 600 wigs (mostly human hair) of varying colors, lengths, and textures to work from. We mostly use human hair for wigs because it is much easier to work with and can be styled and cared for just as we would with our own hair including washing, conditioning, setting it on rollers, using curling irons, coloring it, or even perming it.
We work closely with costume designers to create the specific look for each actor. We have meetings with each individual actor (we call them “fittings'') where we choose the size, texture, and color of the wig that best suits both the actor and their character. We then style the wigs while keeping important factors in mind such as the time period of the production, the actor’s ethnicity, the character’s societal class, the scene situation, whether the show is realistic vs. fantastic, and whether or not additional items need to be worn in or on the wig, such as a hat or accessory piece. Both human and synthetic hair can also be used to make facial hair including mustaches, eyebrows, sideburns, beards, soul patches, goatees, and more!
When selecting a wig for an actor, it’s a priority to show respect and care for the actor’s identity and ensure that their particular hair texture is shown through the use of wigs whenever possible. We want all people to be accurately depicted on our stage and for audience members to see their identities represented too. You can access the names of The 5th’s hair and wig team members in your show program.