Jerrilyn Lanier-Duckworth, guest costume designer for the School of Theatre and Dance’s upcoming production of Jackie Sibblies-Drury’s play Fairview, will present her “Bridging the Gap: A Look Into African American Hair & Makeup for Theatre” workshop to the Bloomington-Normal community on Tuesday, March 22, at 4:30 p.m. at the Normal Theater.
Lanier-Duckworth travels to different universities to give seminars about hair and makeup issues that plague BIPOC students and performers in the theatre industry. The workshop dives into the history of hair and makeup, wig prep on natural hair textures, correct language, products, and practical applications that would set any performer or a creative artist up for success. The goal is to have an inclusive environment for all performers. Through her work, Lanier-Duckworth has given over 200 workshops that have been attended by over 1,500 people. You can learn more about her workshops at her website.
This event is sponsored by the School of Theatre and Dance and the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. It is open to the public and free to attend.
Jerrilyn Lanier Duckworth is the creative brains behind “Bridging the Gap: A Look into African American Hair & Makeup for Theatre.” She is a costume designer as well as a hair and makeup designer. Lanier-Duckworth has an M.F.A. in costume design and production from the University of Alabama and a B.A. in theatre from the University of Southern Mississippi.
She has worked at the Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, and independent film work along the MS Gulf Coast. Her designs have graced the stages in theatre and film. In 2021, she was the costume designer in residence at Indiana University. In Spring 2022, she will open Fairview at Illinois State University.
