ICONIC
from someone who has lived through the evolution of contemporary film. Older audiences remember always seeing the closing credits, "Gowns by Edith Head;" and it evokes a bygone era. The younger audiences think of the Pixar anima- ted film "The Incredibles" and Edna Mode, designer to the super heroes. The universal response is summed up by a note I received from a fan. "My friend saw the show on Sat- urday and adored it. He said the same as me i.e 'if someone men- tions Edith Head to me now, my first reaction will be to say, ‘Oh yes, I met her once and it was unforgettable!'"
What do you think people would be surprised to learn about Edith Head?
Edith created a “brand” before anyone. Underneath, however, she was vulnerable. We set the play in 1981 during the making of her last film - Carl Reiner’s “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid,” starring Steve Martin. She died two weeks after the wrap of the film and the film is dedicated to her. Throughout the play we see glimpses of a woman who has outlived all her contemporaries and is wrestling with a lifetime of memories and regrets.
We all know that Edith Head
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ON THE SET: SUSAN CLAASSEN AS EDITH HEAD
PHOTO BY TIM FULLER