ALLISON LOWERY

EDUCATION
1999 
Master of Fine Arts--Wig and Makeup Design
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
 
1996
Bachelor of Arts--Theatre and Speech
College of William and Mary
 
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
 
2018--present
Hair and Makeup Specialist
South Coast Repertory Theatre
Duties include:
-Building, styling, altering, and/or purchasing of wigs for all company productions 
-Creation and instruction of specialty makeup, including tattoos, blood effects, prosthetic scars and wounds, and specialty face paint
-Creation of makeup renderings and collages for actor makeup instruction
-Generation of run crew paperwork for wig and makeup department
-Consulting with actors on hairstyling and hair looks
-Collaboration with Costume Designer to determine the look of the show
Productions include:
-2020--Outside Mullingar
-2020--Fireflies
-2020--Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
-202--She Loves Me
-2019--A Christmas Carol
-2019--Aubergine
-2019--Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
-2019--The Canadians
-2019--American Mariachi
-2019--M. Butterfly
-2019--The Wizard of Oz
-2019--The Velveteen Rabbit
-2019--Sheepdog
-2019--Poor Yella Rednecks
-2019--Photograph 51
-2019--Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed
-2019--Sweeney Todd
-2018--A Christmas Carol
-2018--Kings
-2018--Nate the Great
-2018--Sense and Sensibility
-2018--Seussical
 
2004-2018
University of Texas-Austin Performing Arts Center
Wig and Makeup Specialist
Duties include:
-building, altering, styling, and maintaining wigs for all Department of Theatre and Dance and Department of Music productions
-creating prosthetic makeup appliances if required by a production
-teaching student actors to apply makeup specific to each show they are cast in
-working with student costume designers to determine the specific look for a show
-training student wardrobe, wig, and makeup crews in the skills needed to run a show backstage
-organizing the costume wardrobe information for the student crews
-maintaining the wig area of the costume shop and its inventory
-supervising and teaching student employees assigned to the wig area
Shows include:
-2018--Enron
-2018--Cosi fan Tutte
-2018--Falstaff
-2017--Anon(ymous)
-2017--The Drowsy Chaperone
-2017—The Magic Flute
-2017—Little Women (opera)
-2016—Little Women (musical)
-2016—Twelfth Night
-2016—Dialogues of the Carmelites
-2015—Hansel und Gretel
-2015—The Wild Party
-2015—The Diary of Anne Frank
-2015—The Marriage of Figaro
-2015—Refugia
-2015—Into the Woods
-2014—A Streetcar Named Desire
-2014—Esperanza Rising
-2014—La Boheme
-2013—Our Country’s Good
-2013—A Woman in Morocco
-2013—Dial M for Murder
-2013—Don Giovanni
-2013—Les Enfants Terribles
-2013—Intimate Apparel
-2013—The Edge of Peace
-2012—Madame Butterfly
-2012—The Cataract
-2012—Love’s Labors Lost
-2011—The Consul
-2011—360 (round dance)
-2011—Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
-2011--Cosi fan Tutte
-2011--Threepenny Opera
-2010--The Elixir of Love
-2010--Fight
-2010--The Fantasticks
-2010--A View from the Bridge
-201--The Difficulty of Crossing a Field
-2010--Our Town
-2010--Albert Herring
-2009--Pride and Prejudice
-2009--Trojan Women
-2009--There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom
-2009--Queenie Pie
-2009--The Idiot
-2008--A Midsummer Night's Dream
-2008--Still Life with iris
-2008--410 [GONE]
-2008 --Susannah
-2008 --Assassins
-2008 --Trouble in Tahiti/The Impresrio
-2008--DRT concert
-2008--Big Love
-2007--Elephant's Graveyard
-2007--Ashes, Ashes
-2007--Fefu and Her Friends
-2007--Plump Jack
-2007--DRT Concert
-2007--Slaughter City
-2007--Marat/Sade
-2006 --The Fall of the House of Usher
-2006--The Way of the World
-2006--Holes
-2006 --Katrina: The Girl Who Wanted her Name Back
-2006--Dialogues of the Carmelites
-2006--DRT concert
-2006--Carmen
-2006--Summer People
-2006--Aisle 7
-2006--Changuita Perla
-2005--Macbeth
-2005--The Marriage of Miss Hollywood and King Neptune
-2005--Flesh and the Desert
-2005--DRT concert
-2005--The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip
-2005--My Sister in this House
-2005--Eugene Onegin
-2005--Cabaret
-2005--Blood Wedding
 
2008—present
Freelance Makeup Artist
-Have worked with many local photographers providing makeup and hair for photography workshops, model workshops, and print publication submissions.
 
2004—present
Freelance Wig and Makeup Artist
-Have worked as a freelance wig and makeup designer and wig maker for the following theatres in the Austin area:
 
Austin Playhouse
2017—Guys and Dolls—wig designer
 
St. Edward's University
2016--She Loves Me--Wig and Makeup designer
2006--The Way of the World--Wig Designer
 
Zach Scott Theatre
2015—All the Way—men's wig maker
2013—One Night with Janis Joplin—wig maker
2013—Harvey--wig designer
2012—Ragtime—wig co-designer
2012—White Christmas—wig co-designer
2012—Xanadu—wig co-designer
2011—Hairspray—wig maker
2010—The Drowsy Chaperone—wig co-designer
2009—The Grapes of Wrath—makeup and blood effect designer
2008—Porgy and Bess—wig maker
2007—Present Laughter—wig maker
 
Zilker Theatre Productions
2019--The Little Mermaid--wig and makeup designer
2016—Shrek—wig and makeup designer, assistant director
2015—Hairspray—wig and makeup designer for Edna Turnblad
2012—The Sound of Music—wig designer
2009—The Music Man—wig designer
2008—Beauty and the Beast—wig designer
2007—My Favorite Year—wig designer
2006—Seven Brides for Seven Brothers—facial hair construction
2005—Annie Get Your Gun—wig maker
 
2008
TexArts
2018--The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas--wig designer
2008—Damn Yankees—wig designer
2007—Big River—wig designer
 
2007
Austin Shakespeare Festival
Wig Designer
-Designed and styled or made wigs for a production of The Rivals
 
2006
The State Theatre
Wig Designer
-Designed and styled wigs for a production of Twelfth Night
 
2005
play! Theatre Group
Wig Designer
Designed and built or styled wigs for a production of Marvin's Room
 
2004-2005
Austin Lyric Opera
Wig and Makeup Artist
-Maintained wigs and applied principal makeup for productions of Tosca and Elektra
 
 
2001-2004
Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Wig Master
Duties included:
-building, altering, or purchasing all wigs for ASF productions
-styling and maintaining all wigs
-assisting with any specialty makeup
-supervising and training two wig assistants
-maintaining wig inventory and wig area
-keeping track of wig area budgets and expenses
Shows:
2004--Idols of the King (remount) 
2004--The Grapes of Wrath
2004--Disguises
2004  Titus Andronicus
2004--Steel Magnolias
2004--Macbeth
2004--Comedy of Errors
2003--A Christmas Carol
2003--Season's Greetings
2003--Idols of the King
2003--Othello
2003--Iago
2003--Noises Off
2003--Two Gentlemen of Verona
2003--Romeo and Juliet
2003--Arcadia
2003--Aaronville Dawning
2003--Beauty and the Beast
2003--A Christmas Carol
2003--Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill
2002--Brighton Beach Memoirs
2002--Twelfth Night
2002--The Merry Wives of Windsor
2002--Sheppey
2002--Hamlet
2002--Shiloh Rules
2002--Much Ado About Nothing
2002--A Doll's House
2002--Smokey Joe's Cafe
2002--The Tempest
2002--Cinderella
2001--Driving Miss Daisy
2001--A Christmas Carol
2001--Arms and the Man
2001--Beehive
2001--White Devil
 
2000-2001
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Wig Maker
-Built custom wigs for productions of Queen of Spades, The Great Gatsby, Rigoletto, Tosca, Jenufa, The Barber of Seville, Attila, and The Flying Dutchman
-Also applied principal makeup for Queen of Spades, The Great Gatsby, Tosca, The Barber of Seville, and The Flying Dutchman
 
2001
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
Wig Master
-Built and styled wigs for a production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona
 
1999-2001
Piedmont Opera Theatre
Wig Designer
-Designed and styled wigs for productions of La Boheme and The Pirates of Penzance (also served as principal makeup artist)
Wig and Makeup Artist
-Styled wigs, assisted the designer, applied principal makeup for productions of The Tales of Hoffman and La Traviata
 
1999
American Player’s Theatre
Wig Master
-Built and styled wigs for productions of Much Ado About Nothing, Pericles, and The Master Builder
 
1998-2000
The Atlanta Opera
Wig and Makeup Artist
-Styled wigs, assisted the designer, and applied principal makeups for productions of La Traviata and Un Ballo en Maschera
 
1999 
The Peabody Institute
Wig and Makeup Designer
-Designed wigs and makeup, styled wigs, and applied principal makeup for a production of Where Angels Fear to Tread (world premiere opera)
 
1998
Utah Shakespearean Festival
Wig and Makeup Design Assistant
-Built and styled wigs, assisted the wig designer, maintained wig styles, and assisted actors with their wigs for productions of The Taming of the Shrew, All's Well that End Well, King John, the Greenshow, and The Royal Feaste: Titania's Enchantment
 
1998
Sarasota Opera
1st Wig and Makeup Assistant
-Styled wigs and applied principal makeup for productions of La Traviata, Faust, L'Arlesiana, and Jenufa
 
1997
Glimmerglass Opera
Wig and Makeup Intern
-Styled and built wigs, and assisted singer with their wigs and hair for productions of Madame Butterfly, Iphigenie en Tauride, La Italiana en Algieri, and Of Mice and Men
 
ACADEMIC/TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2005-2018
University of Texas-Austin
Lecturer
Independent Study Instructor
-taught Wig Making and Styling class; taught Introduction to Stage Makeup; supervised independent study classes in Character Makeup, Advanced Wig making, Period Makeup and Hairstyling, and Introduction to Facial Prosthetics.
 
2016
University of Alabama
Master class in Wig Making and Styling
Instructor
-taught a weeklong seminar to students of the graduate costume design and technology program.  Topics included wig styling techniques and an introduction to wig ventilating and fronting
 
2014
USITT Conference
"Hands-on Hair and Makeup: Getting Wiggy With It"
Member of presenting team
-taught a hands-on demonstration of how to make quick dreadlocks in synthetic wigs
 
2012
Zach Scott Theatre
Makeup and Wig Seminar
Instructor
-taught basic makeup, basic wig skills, and basic injury makeup for the stage
 
2011
Summer Makeup Workshop for Round Rock Independent School District
Instructor
-taught basic makeup and old age makeup to high school theatre teachers
 
2010
USIIT Costume Symposium—Wig Making and Styling
Instructor
-designed and taught the wig styling track of the symposium
 
2001-2004
Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Teacher Seminar Instructor
-taught a series of seminars covering the basics of stage makeup and wigs for area teachers
 
2001
North Carolina School of the Arts
Guest Artist
-taught two classes: Wig Construction 1 and Stage Makeup for Singers
-assisted with supervising students during production time and advising student wig and makeup designers
 
2001
The Atlanta Opera
Opera Camp Instructor
-organized and taught the stage makeup section of Atlanta Opera’s opera camp, a camp for junior high and high school aged students
 
1999-2000
North Carolina School of the Arts
Wig Shop Manager/Guest Instructor
Duties included:
-teaching two classes: Wig Construction 1 and Stage Makeup for Performers
-maintaining the wig shop and its inventory
-supervising students during production time
-advising student wig and makeup designers
-designing wigs and makeup for productions of Idiot's Delight and A Time for Singing
-building wigs for student productions of Once in a Lifetime and Orlando Furioso
-serving as a principal makeup artist for student production of Orlando Furioso
 
1999
College of William and Mary
Guest Instructor
-taught a two-day seminar on wig basics and basic period hairstyling for theatre students
 
AWARDS
2006--B. Iden Payne Award for Outstanding Costume Design-The Way of the World (with Aerin Holman, Costume Designer)
 
1996--Al Haak Award for Outstanding Achievement in Technical Theatre
 
 
 
 
PUBLICATIONS
 
-2020--Historical Wig Styling Volume 1: Ancient Egypt to 1830s and Historical Wig Styling Volume 2: Victorian to Present--Second Editions.  Clearer and more diverse research was added, and additional hair style instructions were added to each book.
-
2015—Wig Making and Styling: A Complete Guide for Theatre and Film—Second Edition (co-authored with Martha Ruskai).  The book was updated to include a chapter on working with low-budget wigs, a greatly expanded facial hair section, expanded photo galleries, updated supply resources, and updated information.
 
-2013-- Historical Wig Styling Volume 1: Ancient Egypt to 1830s and Historical Wig Styling Volume 2: Victorian to Present.  A two-volume step by step textbook covering the history of hairstyles with step by step illustrations of how to achieve these looks with wigs.
 
-2010--Wig Making and Styling: A Complete Guide for Theatre and Film (co-authored with Martha Ruskai).  A comprehensive, step-by-step textbook that discusses and illustrates wig making and styling techniques in depth.
 
 
SPECIAL SKILLS
-Skilled in: building all kinds of wigs, including full lace wigs, balding silk wigs, toupees, falls, fronted wigs, and other partial wigs; building facial hair; ventilating; creating wigs from alternative hair; creation of hair decor; historical/period wig styling; makeup application for stage, film, and print; creating makeup design renderings; digital makeup renderings; watercolor, pastel, and acrylic rendering techniques; prosthetic makeup application; bald cap application; casualty/wound makeup; creating prosthetics (sculpting through mold making and casting) from foam latex, foam urethane, gelatin, and silicone; creation of prosthetic transfers; creation and application of tattoo transfers; body makeup application; basic knowledge of airbrush makeup; basic knowledge of machine and hand stitching; skilled digital photographer and photo editor; Adobe Photoshop; Adobe Lightroom; Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint; extremely comfortable with all organizational paperwork, internet research, and budget paperwork; excellent creative problem solver, full of useless but interesting trivia.
 
REFERENCES
*Available upon request