One of the top dogs at California Musical Theatre once called Ron Swanson the “Mary Pickford of Music Circus” because everyone loves him and he makes them look beautiful. “I get them out of trouble, saving the orphans from the alligators, just like Mary” Swanson says with a sweeping hand gesture and an easy laugh. Early screen star Mary Pickford was well known as a victorious victim in her film roles so it stands to reason that saving actors from bad hair days makes Swanson a real treasure in the realm of making people look good on or off the stage. Swanson is the Director of the Hair and Wig Department for Music Circus and California Musical Theatre. Brilliant actors travel from both coasts to perform here each summer season and Swanson transforms them in to every manner of character one can imagine and he’s been doing hair and wigs at the theatre for nearly 14 years.
Why does he love doing hair? “I love the people, the hair artistry, the service performed, it’s fun.” Swanson adds that there is an enormous difference between Salon hair and Theatre hair. “Theatre can be very creative but salon has very strict parameters– contemporary, street level styling so it blends in with every one else out there. But in the theatre you are free to get completely lost in any time period you’re in and you can do anything, it will never be wrong. People are happy to wear great big ugly hair in the theatre because they know they can take it off.”
After a moment of reflection Swanson adds “Theatre people and actors are some of the bravest people in the world. When you are someone who makes a living with your looks, are noted for that, and you’re on stage in something that makes you look like your grandma– in front of two, three, four thousand people– that takes real courage! Most of us don’t ever leave our homes if we don’t look a certain way, I can’t! And then stand there singing like it’s all natural? Oh no no no no noooo, no, nooooooooo” he says with a dramatic and hearty laugh… the final nooooo trailing off to a thoughtful silence…..
However, in the interest of the Moonlighitng blog premise it turns out Swanson also has a sideline– an appreciation for doll collecting and restoration, which began ten years ago but got serious about five years back. (Check back because I’ll be photographing him doing restoration on a Shirley Temple doll in the next week or so and will have photographs as well.)
Though Swansons doll collection is large and varied with approximately 75-100 dolls, his favorite is Judy Garland as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. “It’s an investment, I’m not selling them now. I’m sitting on the collection because it’s going to be part of my old age retirement.”
