I’m Michael T. CostainMichael T. Costain
1004 Unicorn Way I-2 Clifton N.J. 07011 – 360-878-5241 – wigmapt@gmail.com –
wigmasterassociates.com

Professional Summary
Master Wig Maker, Makeup Artist, Educator, and Certified Nursing Assistant with over 30 years of comprehensive, cross-disciplinary experience in the performing arts and healthcare industries.
Recognized as one of America’s most skilled and knowledgeable wig artisans, with formal training in both European and East Asian techniques. Studied under Richard Stead at the San Francisco Opera Wig & Makeup Internship Program and holds advanced degrees in theater design.
Background includes hands-on experience in marine construction, plastics, and materials sciences, informing a robust technical foundation for creative design.
Successfully launched Wig Master Associates Inc. in New York, providing premier wig and makeup services across media-including film, opera, Broadway, ballet, and themed entertainment. Later collaborated with Harvey Russo at Top Priority to offer boutique prosthetics and hair loss solutions for medical and personal clients. Passionate about mentorship, craftsmanship, and preserving the traditions of artisan wig-making through training and education.

Core Competencies
– Wig & Hair Prosthetic Construction
– Theatrical & Film Makeup Design
– Department Management & Budgeting
– Prosthetics & Special Effects Makeup
– Cross-Media Production Experience (Film, Theater, Opera, Ballet)
– Educator & Mentor in Hair/Makeup Arts
– Client Consultation & Custom Design
– Healthcare & Personal Assistance

Selected Experience
Wig & Makeup Supervisor – Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (Summer 2024)
Owner & Master Wig Maker – Wig Master Associates, New York, NY (1998-Present)
Makeup Artist – New York City Opera (1991-1995)
Freelance Wig & Makeup Designer – Various Theaters & Productions (1981-Present)
Certified Nursing Assistant – Life Care Centers of America, WA & Private Clients (2009-Present)
Hospitality & Bartending Professional – Various Employers, AK & WA (1969-1979)

Education & Training
M.F.A. in Theater Design – Brandeis University, MA (1984-1987)
B.S. in Theater Arts – University of Hawaii at Manoa, HI (1978-1981)
A.S. in General Studies – Leeward Community College, HI (1976-1978)
Wig & Makeup Certificate – San Francisco Opera Program, CA (1982)
Bartending Apprenticeship – Local #798 Bartenders Union, AK (1975-1977)
Certified Nursing Assistant – Life Care & DSHS, WA (2009-2025)

Leadership & Teaching
– Developed and implemented training programs in wig-making and theatrical makeup
– Mentored apprentices and interns in the U.S. and abroad
– Designed cost-effective departmental workflows for creative teams

References
Available upon request.

Portfolio
– Facebook: Wig Master Associates

RÉSUMÉ – Wig & Makeup Artist Credits

FEATURE FILMS
The People vs. Larry Flynt – Wig Construction | M. Yonkey
Parting Toupee – Wig Construction | L. Drake
Feds – Wig Construction | B. Brown
A Season to Remember – Wig Construction | B. Brown
Knight – Wig Construction | ABC Movie-of-the-Week
Nick & Jane – Wig Construction | Emerald Entertainment
Search & Destroy – Wig Construction | Martin Scorsese
Through Hazel Eyes – Wig Construction | Gaberiel Borgo
ABC Afterschool Special – Wig Construction | Andrea Johnson
They – Wig Construction | They Productions
Lost Eden – Wig Construction | Mariana De Fina
Power of the Shakti – Wig Construction | Shakti Productions
Radioland Murders – Wig Construction | George Lucas
1939 Murder Mysteries – Wig Construction | Featherstone Productions
The Foreign Student – Wig Construction | Featherstone Productions
The Crow – Wig Construction | Crowvision Productions
Werewolf of Braxton Hall – Wig Construction | NYU
Ballad of Little Jo – Wig Construction | JoCo Productions
Scanners – Wig Construction | Bryant Holt
Prince of Tides – Wig Construction | Paul Huntley Ltd.
Scenes from a Mall – Wig Construction | Paul Huntley Ltd.
Cosmopolitan – Wig Construction | Leo Won PBS
Sleepaway Camp II – Wig Construction | Mike Maddie

BROADWAY
Coconuts – Wig Construction/Design | J. Bixby
Uncle Vanya – Wig Maintenance | Mimi Maxman
Passion – Wig Construction / Eyebrows | James Lapin
Anna Karenina – Wig Construction, Design / Makeup | Circle in the Square
Salome – Wig Construction | Circle in the Square
Guys & Dolls – Wig Construction | Dodger Productions
Shimada – Wig Construction, Masks / Makeup | Paul Berkowsky Production
Radio City Easter Show – Wig Construction | Radio City Music Hall
On Borrowed Time – Wig Construction | Circle in the Square
Wonder House – Wig Construction / Styling | Andre Heller Productions
Jack: A Night on the Town – Makeup | Martin Beck Theater
Wild Party – Wig Construction | Public Theater
Golden Child – Wig Construction | Public Theater

OFF-BROADWAY / REGIONAL
Full Gallop (Diana Vreeland) – Makeup | Actors Group / John Houseman Theater
Lady Bracknell’s Confinement – Wig Construction / Design / Makeup | Vineyard Theater
Mark Morris’ Hard Nut – Makeup Design | Brooklyn Academy of Music
Murders of 1940 – Hair / Makeup Design | St. Bart’s Players
Babes in Arms – Wig & Makeup Design | St. Bart’s Players
Sweet Table at Richeliu – Wig Construction | American Repertory Theater
Heartbreak House – Wig Construction | Huntington Theater Company
Henry IV – Wig Construction / Design / Makeup | Theater for a New Audience
Love’s Labor’s Lost – Wig Construction / Design / Makeup | Theater for a New Audience
Taming of the Shrew – Wig Construction / Facial Hair | Shakespeare in the Park
Belle of Amherst – Wig Construction | Theater by the Sea
Sound of Music – Wig Construction | Bob Strauss Productions
Expectations – Wig Construction / Design / Makeup | Stamford Center
Phantom – Wig Construction / Makeup / Masks | Walnut Street Theater
The Crucible – Wig Construction / Makeup | NJ Shakespeare Company
The Forest – Wig Construction / Makeup | NJ Shakespeare Company
Antony and Cleopatra – Wig Construction | NJ Shakespeare Company
Thirteen Chairs – Wig Construction / Makeup | Alley Theater

OPERA / BALLET
Aida – Makeup | San Francisco Opera
La Cenerentola – Makeup | Western Opera Theater
Merry Wives of Windsor – Makeup | Oakland Opera
Falstaff – Wig Construction / Makeup | West Bay Opera
Albert Herring – Wig Construction / Makeup | SF Conservatory of Music
La Boheme – Wig Construction / Makeup | Opera Company of Boston
Threepenny Opera – Wig Maintenance / Makeup | Opera Company of Boston
Les Arts Florissants – Wig Maintenance | Paris Renaissance Opera / BAM
Don Pasquale – Wig Construction / Design / Makeup | Metropolitan Opera Guild
Madama Butterfly – Wig Construction / Design / Makeup | New York City Opera
Balanchine Festival – Wig Construction / Styling / Latex Pieces | New York City Ballet
Sleeping Beauty – Wig Construction / Maintenance | New York City Ballet
Swan Lake – Wig Maintenance | National Ballet of Canada
Washington Square – Wig Construction | National Ballet of Canada
Mussings – Wig Maintenance | National Ballet of Canada
Don Quixote – Wig Construction / Makeup Design | National Ballet of Canada
Swan Lake – Wig Stylist / Maintenance | National Ballet of Canada
Sleeping Beauty – Wig Maintenance | American Ballet Theater
Nutcracker (7 years) – Wig Construction / Makeup | Balanchine Trust
NYC Opera (1993-96) – Makeup Staff | Robert Baker
Madama Butterfly – Wig Construction / Makeup | Columbia Artists Tour

INDUSTRIALS & INTERNATIONAL
Magnavox Commercial – Wig Construction | John Cleese, Arnold Gurigullio
National Baseball Archives – Wig Construction | M. Lougee / Pete Nice
Olympia Monaco Cosmetics – Wig Stylist / Makeup / Headdress | K. Hyo
Goldman Sachs ’96 – Wig Construction / Design
Buick ’96 – Wig Construction / Design | D. Toser
Toyota ’96 – Wig Construction / Design | D. Toser
Polaroid Spectra – Wig Construction / Makeup | Wellesley, MA
San Francisco Cable Car Fest. – Wig Stylist / Makeup | Bechtel Corp.
Olympia Monaco Cosmetics (Craftwork / Makeup) | NK Hall – Tokyo, Japan
Fujiwara Yoshie – Wig Construction / Styling | Keiko Hyo – NHK Japan
World Vision Dance Co. – Wig Construction | Matsumoto – Japan Expo
Atushi Fukuzawa – Wig Design | Atushi Cabaret Act – Japan
Singing in the Rain – Wig Construction / Design | Gaslight Productions – Tokyo, Japan
Angels in America – Wig Construction | Ginza Seson Gekijo
Kiss of the Spider Woman – Wig Construction | Live Entertainment (US)
Oz on Ice – Wig Construction / Makeup / Masks | K. Feld, F. Krenz
HMS Pinafore – Wig Construction / Design / Makeup | SUNY Purchase
Simple Justice – Facial Hair | PBS
Good Day New York – Wig Construction | FOX 5
Howard Stern – Wig Construction / Makeup | E! Channel