Meredith Events Volume I | Page 10

ICONIC

book Edith Head's Hollywood and eventually collaborated with Calistro on the play. The luckiest part of this was Calistro owned thirteen hours of taped interviews with Head, ensuring that Claassen's

performance would be strikingly

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similar to Head's voice, persona and mannerisms. Claassen's tireless research on the designer has enabled her to bring Head to life and allow old aquaintances to reminisce days gone by whilst pro-

viding the public an insider view into the world of Edith Head. Who better to fill us in on this prominent fashion figure than Susan Claassen?

Besides practically being her double in appearance, you seem to have really captured Edith Head’s essence in your one-woman play, "A Conversation with Edith Head." How were you able to connect with and perfect her personality so eloquently and what inspired you to write this play?

HOLLYWOOD'S ELITE

FROM LEFT: SUSAN CLAASsEN WITH FUNNY GIRL, JOAN RIVERS; SUSAN CLAASSEN WITH HITCHCOCK'S "THE BIRDS" ACTRESS, TIPPI HEDREN

xox

Betsey Johnson

World renowned fashion designer, Betsey Johnson, met Susan Claassen as Edith Head at Tucson Fashion Week last year and wrote on her blog with accompanying photo of the two, "“…beautiful event, great show, lots of talent, and the best emcee aroundthe fabulous Edith Head. Check out my new friend Susan Claassen’s uncanny resemblance to Hollywood’s most legendary costume designer."