Theatre Artisans and Their Craft

The Allied Arts Fields

Rafael Jaen, Rafael Jaen

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781351131056
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Theatre Stagecraft & Scenography

Theatre Artisans and Their Craft: The Allied Arts Fields profiles fourteen remarkable artists and technicians who elevate theatre production to new dimensions, explore new materials and technologies, and introduce new safety standards and solutions.

Readers will learn how the featured artists delved into entrepreneurial ventures and created their own work for themselves; researching, studying, and experimenting, seeking answers when none were available. The book explores how to make an impact in the entertainment industry from behind the scenes, and how students can model themselves after these successful professionals to jump-start their career in theatre production.

Aimed at theatre and film practitioners in the allied arts fields, Theatre Artisans and Their Craft offers a collection of success stories that are both inspiring and informative.

Chapter 1

Cherelle Guyton

Majestic and Dual Brained

Amber Voner

Image 1.1 Cherelle Guyton.

Photo courtesy of Cherelle Guyton.

Feelings of unknowingness began to percolate when contemplating the idea of interviewing a designer in the same field as mine. Early on in my career, to anyone that would listen, I would ask questions around wigs, hair, and makeup; all my senses open, eager to learn more about design and theatre. This time I was not asking questions for guidance, I was asking questions of exploration. I realized I wasn’t entering the unknown.

Having a balanced conversation with another wig, hair, and makeup designer gave me a glimpse into her unique experiences with life and art. It allowed a passionate discussion with a fellow creator, expanding my view into the work-world of another. This project created discoveries as well as an opportunity to engage with another creative individual who is navigating through the same career, and she is thriving!

A Spirit of Discernment

“A free bird is what he called me,” Cherelle chuckles, as she affectionately recounts inspiring moments with her grandfather while growing up in the South. Free-spirited, multifaceted, and gracious, coupled with a spirit of discernment and a side of sweet tea, Cherelle has a gift of developing genuine relationships with people from all walks of life.

A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Cherelle Guyton’s road to becoming a professional encompasses years of grit (yes, cheese grits as well), self-awareness, a steady grind, intense practice, and passion accompanied by quick wit and a peculiar sense of humor.

Image 1.2 Guyton’s in-process for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Photo courtesy of Cherelle Guyton.

Ms. Guyton is an alumna of the University of South Carolina where she earned her BA in Theatre with a concentration in Costume, Wig, and Makeup Design. A few years after graduation she started her own business, C Stylez U, LLC. Intertwining business with design meant forty hours a week at the bank, running her theatrical wig and makeup design company, attending grad school in the evenings and weekends, helping with her baby niece, and picking up local stagehand work with Broadway in Columbia. During this time, she also served on the University of South Carolina’s Black Alumni Council Board, holding positions as Secretary (2012–2013) and President (2013–2014). Her impeccable work ethic and constant grind afforded her an MBA from Webster University along with an MFA certification in Period Hair and Wig Design from the University of South Carolina.

Image 1.3 Guyton’s wig design for Destiny of Desire (2018): Vilma Silva.

Photo by Jenny Graham.¹

Keeping a focus on the financial aspects at the forefront of her vision propelled Cherelle in expanding her dreams: “Working in banking allowed me to learn about people and processes, what I did not want to become, and how I did not want to be stuck in a rut of basing my life decisions on societal norms and others opinions in regards to my career.” The light of Cherelle Guyton’s vision is to “not only provide, but to strive and to thrive in business.”

Image 1.4 Guyton’s hair/wig design for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Romeo and Juliet (2018): Christiana Clark.

Photo by Jenny Graham.²

Making a Living Out of Pursuing Her Dream

“I’ve been blessed to have very supportive parents, family, friends, teachers, and wise counsel,” Guyton says. Her artistic expression was supported early in life through adulthood significantly by her mother, who supported Cherelle’s participation in various recreational activities along with the drama club at school, church, and in all of her year-round enrichment programs. Extracurricular activities included art, chemistry, dance (all types), engineering and computer science, French, swimming, theatre, and even wrestling. These experiences instilled in her a commitment to being smarter, working three to four times harder, and having a strong work ethic. Family instilled history and culture in her as well. “I still remember my mother hauling me all over town to rehearsals and practices,” she says. “My mother went without pursuing some of her own dreams so that we could pursue our dreams. She has always supported my dreams … I can never repay her for all of the sacrifices she has made; but I’m going to try.”

Coming from a family of brilliant minds, Cherelle’s mother was the major motivator as she encouraged her to expand her horizons from an individual freelancer to an official business. C Stylez U, LLC was founded in Columbia, South Carolina, in August 2009, as a means to manifest her dreams of being a theatrical hair/wig and makeup designer while pursuing her entrepreneurial goals. As we speak, Cherelle’s passion is apparent, along with her left-brained entrepreneurial visions. “I like to create art but I like money, too,” she states as she bursts into a boisterous fit of laughter. This philosophy of balance has guided her entrepreneurial journey, allowing her to establish a successful, bicoastal creative business, specializing in hair/wig and makeup design services for theatre, TV/film, photography, marketing, and private clientele. Ms. Guyton has designed over thirty-five productions to date, with this year being a pinnacle in her career as the first hair and wig designer in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s (OSF) eighty-three years of existence. While living her dream career at OSF, she uses both sides of her brain in her role as head of the wig and hair department and the salon director.

Image 1.5 Guyton with her team.

Photo courtesy of Cherelle Guyton.

Communication and Atmosphere

Cherelle Guyton has an empathic approach to team building, creating balance while optimizing all of the talents presented. “Take the pulse, find out what people want to do and what they are interested in, and honor that as much as you can,” she says. As the head of the wig and hair department at OSF she feels strongly about inclusion. Ms. Guyton has experienced many different types of work situations, each contributing to her clear understanding of teamwork: “My team can’t help me and I can’t help my team if there’s no open communication.”

Respectful communication allows communal delegation and reverence around the creative process: “Process, it’s all about the process—to remain collaborative we’ve got to keep it in black and white, so that we can all see it, so that we can all keep up with it and delegate what needs to be done to whomever is most interested and able to do it, then we create a plan.” A collaborative map is hung in Cherelle’s work rooms for the team to remain abreast of the actively changing and shifting schedules of the repertory.

Balance

In discussing running her own business, operating a full-time position at OSF, and attending to her familial obligations, the topic of balance was sparked. Keeping a well-organized space, properly preparing and planning, committing only to inspiring work, and frugally guarding her time are practices that Cherelle abides by for a healthy work–life balance. “To produce at the level I want to produce at I am unable to give my time freely to unproductive situations, individuals or foolishness where there is not going to be a positive outcome or any productivity for myself, the company and/or the community.”

As an innovative and versatile designer, educator, artist, and entrepreneur with more than fifteen years of experience in theatre, Guyton balances her multiple obligations through a process of compartmentalization and prioritization. According to Guyton, “It’s a lifestyle.” Cherelle is a unique individual with no interest in diluting herself for a fear-based mentality that society uses to oppress minorities. By staying logical, analytical, and mission focused, together with thoughtfulness and strong intuition, Cherelle has mastered the ability to use both sides of her brain, successfully connecting a world of fantasy with her own real-life fairy tale.

Ms. Guyton operates with clarity of who she is and what type of work she seeks to produce. When shifts in the capacity of a commitment emerge or when urgencies impose on the creative process, Cherelle does not deter from working to her full capacity. “If there is a drastic shift in the design from what we discussed or we’ve previously discussed the need for resources and they aren’t in place, we need to go back to the table.” A respectful, open, and explorative conversation about the continuation of the creative process will occur when needed.

Before life is breathed into the hair and wig designs on stage, Cherelle’s personal relationship with the work is conceived. “I am unable to put my name on work that as a whole, as a unit, doesn’t fully represent who I am and what my values and missions are.”

Design Track/Woman of Color

“I love transforming people, telling their story through their hair and makeup.” As a young, black millennial she is paving the way for future artists, generously sharing her knowledge through teaching and designing from the heart. A holistic approach is her guiding principle, enabling an overall cohesive design aesthetic. A scribble on a piece of paper here, a color swatch of hair weft there, all explorations that at one point in time only belonged to Cherelle, heavily influence her designs and work.

Image 1.6 Guyton working on a wig for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in her well-organized workspace.

Photo by Julie Cortez.

Image 1.7 Guyton’s finished wigs for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s Romeo and Juliet (2018): Ensemble. Clockwise starting with the bloodied person on the floor: Sara Bruner, Armando McClain, Kyle Sanderson, Ethan Hennes, Richard Elmore, and Monique Holt.

Photo by Jenny Graham.³

Conversations get deeper as thoughts around privilege within the industry arise, with Guyton noting, “I have had to carve out my own track in regards to pursuing hair makeup and wig design.”

Guyton is at the forefront at breaking societal standards, creating space for inclusion in theatre. “Design is about pe...