Students who want to pursue cosmetology can join a technical theater class that offers hair, nail, and makeup programs, giving students who are interested in cosmetology opportunities to expand their knowledge.

For all students focused on a cosmetology related career, Technical Theater is a great place to gain experience for the future. In Technical Theater, there are a multitude of jobs students are offered, including hair and makeup. However, students may be interested in the program but can not take the class due to a full schedule. Mrs. Pruzina, Woodgrove’s theater teacher and director, explained, “If you want to help with hair and makeup for the theater you can join technical theater…you don’t have to take the class to be involved you can sign up as an extracurricular.” The theater program offers opportunities for students with busy schedules.

In Technical Theater, students can create and improve on different skills throughout the school year. Students get to choose what they contribute to, so if they want to do only hair or makeup, they can. “They got to do [hair and makeup] for ‘Little Women’ and they’re getting ready to do it for ’12 Angry Jurors’, ‘Legally Blonde’, and ‘Seussical,’” Pruzina explains. 

Often, conflicts and problems can occur during a performance, so experiences like these offer ways for the students to learn how to adapt quickly when under pressure. Peyton Thomas, a sophomore who does hair for theater, commented, “Sometimes people will disagree with the hairstyles that I like.” Cosmetology provides challenges such as limited time with balancing schedules to prepare students who are interested in continuing with the program. “I wanted to go to the academies for [cosmetology], so this is a very good experience,” Thomas stated. Depending on what students want to go into, this class gives them the experience needed for many cosmetology oriented careers.

Students often make fun memories in community oriented environments like these. “I think every day is brand new and [that is] what is wonderful about theater in general. We’re always working on a new project,” Pruzina shared. Even though the class is good for people who want to go into the cosmetic field, some students do it mainly for entertainment.

In Technical Theater, students get to make a variety of different looks based on the play. Senior Lauren Pyles has been in theater all four years of her high school career. She has been in productions like ‘Mamma Mia,’ ‘Greece,’ ‘Little Women,’ and ‘Lord of the Flies.’  She explained, “‘Mamma Mia’ was really fun because of the costumes, makeup, and having hair tinsel in our hair.” Students get to do many different hairstyles and looks while in class. “For ‘Lord of the Flies,’ we had to be covered in dirt and eyeshadow and everything to make us look like little boys,” Pyles said.

Theater class and stage hair and makeup is a necessity to bring productions to life. The cosmetology helps to set the scene for the rest of the production, and brings makes characters realistic. Pyles explained, “I feel like you become your best actor when you look the part you’re portraying.”