Posted: February 21 2012

My story begins like a lot of people in the theatre business, I was in college getting a degree in nothing having to do with theatre!  I started out as a music education major with a concentration in percussion and a minor in piano.  After two years, I decided I didn't want to do that anymore, but I wasn't sure what.... I continued to get my minor in music and switched to Sociology with a concentration in Human Sexuality.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do - but I knew I loved Sociology and I also knew I could finish my degree in 4 years.

I had a class that required us to research different things.  I have always been involved in theatre, at least as a theatre goer - and sometimes involved in the productions by being in them, or playing in the band.  I started to research different jobs in theatre, and came across the world of hair and makeup.  I thought it all sounded very interesting, and I was really into doing my roommates hair and always looking at makeup - so I continued to research.  I ended up writing my senior paper on being a hair and makeup artist in theatre.

After graduating from East Carolina University, I decided to enroll in cosmetology school.  One of the things I had learned is that you had to have your license in order to be in the union in NY - which was required to work on Broadway - so I decided to head in that direction, feeling like Broadway was a little out of reach, I just thought, why not?

I had surgery 3 days after my college graduation, and in my recovery, I was looking on the North Carolina Theatre's website to see what shows were coming up that I may want to be a part of.  At the bottom of the website, there was a note saying that anyone who wanted to intern should email Carolee Baxter - so I immediately did.  I told Carolee I wanted to do hair and makeup in theatre, but that I was willing to do anything including sweeping the floors at night just so I could get involved.  She emailed me back that day letting me know that they needed someone to intern in the hair and makeup department for the upcoming show, Chess.  I accepted, and that was my first real step on this amazing journey I have found myself on.

I interned under hair and makeup designer Patricia Delsordo for Chess.  She taught me a lot of things about styling hair, pinning on wigs, and makeup.  I decided to return for the next show Man of La Mancha as an intern.  By the first show of the 2008 season - Dreamgirls, I was hired as Patti's assistant, where I continued to learn, really get involved in the business, and meet a lot of great people.  I was also well into cosmetology school and almost ready for graduation.  I remember many phone calls to Patti asking for advice on updo's, fingerwaves, and pincurls!  In the fall of 2008, I received my license.  I had also started working at other theatres such as Theatre in the Park, Burning Coal, North Carolina Opera, and the touring Broadway shows that came through DPAC, and Raleigh Memorial as a part of Broadway Series South.

In 2010, I decided that it was time to make the big move to NYC.  I figured, I would go and give it 3 years.  If I wasn't working on Broadway yet - I would move back home and continue working with the North Carolina Theatre and as many theatres in the area as possible.  I moved on October 15, 2010.  What a stressful day it was!  It was hard to pick everything up, leave all of my friends behind, and move to an unknown city with no job, but I was determined to do it.  Two days after my parents left, I received an email from a friend of a friend who knew that the show, La Cage Aux Folles, staring Kelsey Grammar and Douglas Hodge on Broadway was looking for a hair assistant immediately.  I emailed the supervisor and set up an interview.  My interview was one week after my big move.  I had a wonderful conversation with the supervisor.  He said that out of all of the applicants, my resume was the most impressive, well rounded, and diverse, however, he was unable to hire me because I was not in the union.  I expressed to him that I had been trying to get in the union for about a year, and asked for any advice.  He sent me on my way with a promise to help me get in the union and to stay in touch.

The next day I received an email from him letting me know that he had submitted my information to the union and that it would go up to the board to see I would be made a union member.  After that, knowing I didn't have the job, I started working for a temp agency.  Two weeks later, I received a phone call from him while I was at an office temping, asking if I could come in for the next 3 months and fill in until he could find someone to fill the job permanently.  The person he had hired did not work out.  Of course I said yes, hung up, and let out a squeal!  That day changed my life.  I left the office and immediately headed to the Longacre Theatre where it was playing.  I was working directly with Kelsey Grammar and Douglas Hodge, who I love and adore.  Things were going well, I was getting along with everyone, and eventually, I was offered the job permanently and I was able to join the union.  I worked on that show with the fabulous original cast, and the replacements, Harvey Fierstein and Christopher Sieber. 

After the show sadly closed, I was left without a job again, but not for long.  A week after the show closed, Wicked called, they needed someone to fill in for the makeup supervisor for a week while he went to LA.  I ended up working there a lot while he was gone on business, and getting to know the hair supervisor - who eventually called me in to fill in for some of her hair assistants while they were away. 

In the summer of 2011, Hair the Musical returned to Broadway for 10 weeks and I was hired for the job.  Immediately after Hair closed, I was hired at Priscilla Queen of the Desert to work with Tony Sheldon, Will Swenson, and Nick Adams.  I was lucky enough to also participate in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with this show!  I worked at Priscilla until February of 2012.  In February, I was given a job opportunity that I never thought would happen, something that was on my bucket list, and something I could not be more proud or more excited to be doing, I am now a Hair Assistant on Wicked.  Not only do I get to work on this fabulous show with the fantastic ensemble, but, I also fill in for the supervisor and assistant supervisor when they are out.  This means that I get to work directly with Elphaba, Glinda, Madam Morrible, Fiyero, Boq, Nessa Rose, and the Wizard when the supervisors are out.

One thing I have learned is never let go of your dreams, continue to push and strive for what you want.  Put it out there in the universe.  I use to always say "when I get the job at Wicked" - believing that I would always work there, and I do.  Don't let anyone tell you that you can't make it, and do whatever it takes to make your dreams come true.

Here are some pictures from NYC - enjoy!

Wig room at Wicked:

Green hands from doing Elphaba's makeup:

Priscilla Queen of the Desert:

My first NYC snow:

with Douglas Hodge from La Cage Aux Folles:

-Brittnye Batchelor