Wig Workshops and Wig Master Classes

Do you have students who would like to learn about wig building and styling? Would your students benefit from learning advanced makeup techniques? Are your acting students in need of training in stage makeup and wig application? I am available to teach workshops on these topics, and many others. Workshops are fully customizable, and help students gain valuable experience. On some occasions, I have combined wig design work on university productions with intensive workshops, giving students an excellent fusion of theoretical and realized technique.

Some recent workshops:

Basic Ventilating, Wig Handling and Styling - West Virginia University -

A two day workshop teaching students the basics of handling wigs, how to ventilate, techniques for building facial hair and fronting wigs

Read what WVA Professor Mary McClung had to say about this workshop:

"Heather's workshop was wonderful. She began by telling students about the role of a wig master in professional theater and the relationships with directors, costume designers, and actors, with an exhaustive discussion of wig-making materials such as types of hair, netting, blocking, etc. She used students as models to show the positive effects of a hand-tied wig versus a commercial non-fronted wig. When we reached the part of the workshop gauged to teach ventilating, she was very patient and would demo the techniques over and over again. She is a great teacher."

Wigs and the Actor - Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN -

A lengthy tutorial on the functions of wigs, wig application and care and feeding of wigs, geared towards the student actors who wear them.

Wig Design and Styling - Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC -

A two day workshop that coincided with the design, styling and fitting of the wigs for WCU's production of Guys and Dolls. This afforded an excellent opportunity for students to observe and participate in the process of putting wigs on stage.

Advanced Stage Makeup - King College, Bristol, VA -

A workshop designed to introduce students to techniques such as old age and facial reshaping

Basic Ventilating - University of Maryland, College Park, MD -

An intensive series of workshops that allowed the bulk of the Theatre Departments Costume students to learn the fundamentals of ventilating. This was combined with wig designs for Piano Lesson, allowing the students to observe the process of creating custom wigs and fittings.

I am always happy to tailor workshops to meet the needs of the students. If you would like to arrange a workshop for your students, email me at heatherfleming@wigsforstage.com

Teaching Credentials

MFA - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign - 2004
BS - Illinois State University, Normal - 2002

Selected Teaching Experience

Adjunct Instructor - Virginia Intermont College, Bristol - Introduction to Design - Spring Semester 2008
Adjunct Instructor - King College, Bristol, VA - Introduction to Stage Makeup - Spring Semester 2008
Adjunct Instructor - Virginia Intermont College, Bristol - Introduction to Performing Arts - Fall Semester 2007
Adjunct Instructor – Virginia Intermont College, Bristol – Introduction to Stage Makeup – Fall Semester 2006
Instructor - University of Illinois, Urbana - Introduction to Stage Makeup - Spring Semester 2003

Workshops and Master Classes

Wig Styling - University of Tennessee, 2010
Wig Styling - Two Day Master Class at my studio, 2010
Wig Styling and Ventilating - Michigan State University, 2009
Wig Construction - Two Day Master Class at my studio, 2009
Introduction to Wigs, Ventilating and Basic Styling -West Virginia University, 2008
Wig Application, Maintenance and Basic Styling - in conjunction with Wig Designs for Guys and Dolls - Western Carolina University, 2009
Wigs and The Actor - Gustavus Adolphus College, 2008
Ventilating and Basic Wig Construction - Western Carolina University, 2009
Basic Ventilating - East Tennessee State University, 2008
Advanced Makeup Techniques - King College, 2007
Basic Wig Styling - Gustavus Adolphus College, 2006
Basic Ventilating -University of Maryland, 2006
Basic Stage Makeup and Wig Application - Emory and Henry College, 2005

Sessions and Lectures

Poster Session (Juried) "Non-Traditional Methods for Modifying Wigs" - USITT Conference 2010
"Put a Wig on It" - Actors Theatre of Louisville College Days 2010
"Care and Feeding of Wigs" - KCACTF Region IV Conference 2010
Session "Modifying Wigs" - USITT Conference 2009