Under the bright stage lights, wigs are not just an accessory — they facilitate the transformation of actors into unforgettable characters. Behind these flawless hairstyles is Sylen Waldman ’25, who is in charge of designing, styling, and maintaining wigs for PHS productions. As both Secretary and Hair and Makeup Leader of Spectacle Theater, Waldman has been able to transform his hobby into a key role to help bring the worlds of “The Great Gatsby” and “The Little Prince” to life.
“We wanted each character to have a recognizable look,” said Waldman.
To achieve this, extensive planning and research was used to make sure each character embodied their characters’ appearance shows like “The Little Prince” or “The Great Gatsby.”
“There were over 20 wigs for all the female characters in [‘The Great Gatsby’] and duplicates were needed for the double casting,” said Waldman.
Even with practice and skill, the time each hairstyle takes varies depending on the intricacies.
“[The Daisy [hairstyle] was complicated because it was an updo ... it took [around] an hour and a half [to] two hours. But then a non-complicated [hairstyle] would take around 20 minutes,” said Waldman.
Despite the long hours and maintenance, Waldman takes pride in his backstage role.
“It’s definitely a hard job,” Waldman explained, “but it’s very rewarding ... I love what I do.”