Michael Dates
Theatrical Costume, Hair, Makeup and Wig designer
From the moment I was cast in my first role as the Caterpillar in my fourth grade production of Alice in Wonderland, I have been either on the stage, waiting in the wings, or running from dressing room to dressing room with my rattail comb and wig pins, immersed in the mad-hat world of Theater.
Hailing from Miami, Florida, I was lucky enough to win a spot in the first graduating class of Miami's New World School of the Arts. It was during this time that I realized my spotlight in the theater lay within the costume arts, particularly hair, wigs, and makeup. I found this world combines my love for visual art and design with the energy of the live experience to create transformational magic!
In the years that followed I honed my craft and pursued advanced education in wig and costume design as well as make-up artistry, graduating from the Make-Up Designory program in Los Angeles, earning a Wig Making Certificate from Depaul University in Chicago, and holding a Bachelor of Arts in Technical Theater from Rhode Island College. I have also worked in many facets of the industry over the years, including myriad film, fashion, and theatrical productions. I am a licensed hair stylist as well. With 18 years in the salon enviroment, I know my way around a curling iron and a double process, but my true passion is for working on live productions; there is such great satisfaction in watching an actor transform and find their character with the help of my designs. I am constantly in awe of the energy, time, and talent it takes to mount a production. It is so rewarding to be a part of the magic that we can make happen onstage!
Most recently, in my role as an educator in the Theater Department of Rhode Island College, I've discovered a new passion for sharing my skills and mentoring youth in the exciting (and sometimes insane) world of Educational Theater. Nothing beats the thrill of watching a young person catch fire and tap into their own passion for the arts, and for this crazy business we call show!