Photo:^MarkLaFavorMegan Guerber
Acting Editor in ChiefBehind xe Curtain
if all the world’s a stage,
then craftspeople are its build-
ers. Yet because craft, like the
air we breathe, is such an inte-
gral part of our lives, we don’t
always notice the vital support-
ing role it plays. This issue,
we’re turning the spotlight on
the often overlooked theatrical
artisans who make the props,
sets, costumes, puppets, instru-
ments, and wigs –yes, wigs –
that bring a show to life.
On the following pages,
you’ll meet luthier Anne Cole,
who has been making custom
violins, violas, and cellos that
have filled the world with
music for close to 50 years
[Product Placement, page 12].
Wayne White’s name might
not immediately ring a bell,
but you’ll likely recognize his
outrageous puppets and set
pieces from Pee-wee’s Playhouse
[“King of the Weird Frontier,”page 26]. Brooklyn dancer,
musician, and costume and
fashion designer Wunmi
has made an impact in just
about every area of perfor-
mance [“Made to Move,”
page 34]. And then there’s the
Guthrie Theater’s wig team,
which welcomed us into their
Minneapolis studio to learn
about their craft [“Crowning
Achievements,” page 58].
The stage is a fascinating
place, but what goes on behind
its curtains can be even more
captivating. So, theater crafts-
people, take a bow. You’re in
the spotlight now.correction:
In “Clay Tells All” [Feb./Mar.],
Jami Porter Lara was misquoted
as saying, “I follow the tradition
of Mata Ortiz pottery, which I
was trained in.” The artist finds
the term “traditional” to be a
problematic description of the
practice and intentionally does
not use it in reference to her
work. She was not formally
trained in the practice of Mata
Ortiz pottery, but was intro-
duced to it in a workshop with
esteemed potters Graciela and
Hector Gallegos, known
for their innovative practices.It’s always a good hair
day at the Guthrie
Theater’s wig studio in
Minneapolis, where wig
master Laura Stearns
and colleagues Andrea
Moriarity and Jessica
Rau (left to right) create
just the right styles for
all kinds of characters.8 american craft aug/sept 19from the editor