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TIP-OFF Nov. 20, 2003 THE FUR FLIES AS NCSA WIG AND MAKEUP STUDENT, ALUMNI WORK ON “THE CAT IN THE HAT”
WINSTON-SALEM – He’s six feet tall, furry, and wears a red-and-white striped stovepipe hat. He’s DR. SEUSS’ THE CAT IN THE HAT, and he’s coming to theatres on Nov. 21 … but not before many months of preparation went into the design and development of the cat persona. Three North Carolina School of the Arts School of Design and Production alumni and students were on the special makeup effects team that put the legendary Cat in his furry suit and makeup, according to Martha Ruskai, head of the wig and makeup department at NCSA. NCSA Design and Production graduate student Sara Landbeck, who is a candidate for graduation in May 2004, spent an internship last summer on the project, working on the feet for the Cat and hair for Thing 1 and Thing 2. NCSA D&P alumna Meredith Chapin, who received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from NCSA in May 2003, spent an internship in the summer of 2002 on the project, working on the Cat eyebrows, cheeks/sideburns, and feet. And NCSA D&P alumna Stephanie Williams Caillabet, who received her BFA from NCSA in 1998, worked as a professional on the project, specifically on the Cat prototype. The three worked for special makeup effects artist Steve Johnson and his company, Edge FX, which was hired to transform actor Mike Myers into the Cat. According to the official website, www.thecatinthehatmovie.com: “After the production of testers and prototypes, the final cat suit that emerged was fashioned out of angora and human hair … .” The cat makeup eventually became “a blending of performer and look, not just a rubber mask applied to an actor,” according to the website. All three D&Pers were listed in an ad in the October/November issue of Makeup Artist magazine, placed by Steve Johnson to thank the more than 100 makeup artists, hair stylists and studio technicians who worked on the project for Edge FX. That issue also carries an article, titled “Cool Cat,” about the movie. The CAT IN THE HAT movie is not the first project these D&Pers have to their credit. Caillabet’s credits include PLANET OF THE APES, THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINATRY GENTLEMEN and HBO’s “Six Feet Under.” Chapin’s credits include Chicago Lyric Opera, Cincinnati Opera and Greensboro Opera. Landbeck’s credits include Georgia Shakespeare Festival and Opera Theatre of the Rockies. NCSA’s School of Design and Production offers a dozen training programs – from costume design to stage management to technical direction – to more than 200 undergraduate and graduate students each year. Students work on more than 20 productions annually. For more information, visit www.ncarts.edu. For more information, contact Marla Carpenter at 336-770-3337 in the public relations office at NCSA. ###
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TIP-OFF Nov. 20, 2003

THE FUR FLIES AS NCSA WIG AND MAKEUP STUDENT, ALUMNI
WORK ON “THE CAT IN THE HAT”

WINSTON-SALEM – He’s six feet tall, furry, and wears a red-and-white striped stovepipe hat.

He’s DR. SEUSS’ THE CAT IN THE HAT, and he’s coming to theatres on Nov. 21 … but not before many months of preparation went into the design and development of the cat persona.

Three North Carolina School of the Arts School of Design and Production alumni and students were on the special makeup effects team that put the legendary Cat in his furry suit and makeup, according to Martha Ruskai, head of the wig and makeup department at NCSA.

NCSA Design and Production graduate student Sara Landbeck, who is a candidate for graduation in May 2004, spent an internship last summer on the project, working on the feet for the Cat and hair for Thing 1 and Thing 2.

NCSA D&P alumna Meredith Chapin, who received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from NCSA in May 2003, spent an internship in the summer of 2002 on the project, working on the Cat eyebrows, cheeks/sideburns, and feet.

And NCSA D&P alumna Stephanie Williams Caillabet, who received her BFA from NCSA in 1998, worked as a professional on the project, specifically on the Cat prototype.

The three worked for special makeup effects artist Steve Johnson and his company, Edge FX, which was hired to transform actor Mike Myers into the Cat. According to the official website, www.thecatinthehatmovie.com: “After the production of testers and prototypes, the final cat suit that emerged was fashioned out of angora and human hair … .” The cat makeup eventually became “a blending of performer and look, not just a rubber mask applied to an actor,” according to the website.

All three D&Pers were listed in an ad in the October/November issue of Makeup Artist magazine, placed by Steve Johnson to thank the more than 100 makeup artists, hair stylists and studio technicians who worked on the project for Edge FX. That issue also carries an article, titled “Cool Cat,” about the movie.

The CAT IN THE HAT movie is not the first project these D&Pers have to their credit. Caillabet’s credits include PLANET OF THE APES, THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINATRY GENTLEMEN and HBO’s “Six Feet Under.” Chapin’s credits include Chicago Lyric Opera, Cincinnati Opera and Greensboro Opera. Landbeck’s credits include Georgia Shakespeare Festival and Opera Theatre of the Rockies.

NCSA’s School of Design and Production offers a dozen training programs – from costume design to stage management to technical direction – to more than 200 undergraduate and graduate students each year. Students work on more than 20 productions annually. For more information, visit www.ncarts.edu.

For more information, contact Marla Carpenter at 336-770-3337 in the public relations office at NCSA.

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