Bridging the Gap: African American Hair and Makeup for Theater

Jerrilyn Lanier created Bridging the Gap workshop to start the process of informing theater artists on how to work with African American hair & makeup. Her workshop covers the basics of working with performers of color. She will talk about tools, products and problems that performers of color face in the industry.  She provides a packet on both hair and makeup that is filled with product recommendations and other resources. 

Hair topics include:

·       Hair vocabulary, what’s appropriate and what is offensive

·       Helpful products to have on hand

·       Natural and relaxed hair and style planning

·       Wash cycles

·       Salon trips and budget

·       How to start the hair conversation

·       Research

·       Hair products’ various uses

Make-up Topics

·       Skincare

·       Inclusive foundation shade ranges

·       Budget-friendly brands

·       Building a stage makeup kit

·       Cosmetic struggles for People of Color.

Jerrilyn Lanier has designed costumes, hair and makeup for theatre, dance and film.  She has worked everywhere from Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival to Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival. She holds her MFA from the University of Alabama in Costume Design and Production. She has been traveling the country both physically and virtually teaching her sought-after “Bridging the Gap” workshops helping educate theatre artists about how best to work with African hair and makeup.

Jerrilyn also runs Bridging the Gap: A look into African American Hair & Makeup for Theatre. Through Bridging the Gap she gives workshops on issues that plague performers of color. She is also the newly minted Vice-Chair of Hair & Makeup for USITT

Free tickets are available to BIPOC  (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) attendees.