Haylee Morris preps Sandra Roberts' (Adriana) wig before the cast arrives.
This SUNY Fredonia senior wasn’t alive in the 1970s, but wigs she’s created for a unique Shakespeare In Delaware Park production fit like a glove.
Being lodged in the Gen Z demographic didn’t get in the way of Haylee Morris, wardrobe supervisor in the Shakespeare in Delaware Park’s production of “The Comedy of Errors,” from conveying the 1970s vision of costume designer Todd Warfield that’s based on vintage TV shows such as “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” “The Match Game” and “Let’s Make A Deal.”
The wardrobe can be easily described as outlandish, even garish.
The online digital platform Buffalo Rising described the “The Comedy of Errors” production, whose three-week run concludes Aug. 18, as set within the “tapestry of 1970s variety and game shows.” Mr. Warfield’s costumes were hailed as the “main thing” that was the ʼ70s.
The big appeal to me is interacting with the actors; my whole goal as a supervisor is to make sure my actors feel comfortable and cared for.” - Haylee Morris
In fact, a Buffalo Rising reviewer remarked, “My favorite head-to-toe look was the leopard patterned suit, afro wig, and the pick in the wig.”
That’s where the Theatre Arts major from Tonawanda, NY, exceled. Morris created and styled wigs for six principal characters. Her daily worklist includes preparing the costumes for the actors to wear, making quick repairs as needed, assisting actors with quick changes and laundering costumes.
“The big appeal to me is interacting with the actors; my whole goal as a supervisor is to make sure my actors feel comfortable and cared for,” Morris explained.
SUNY Fredonia Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus Tom Loughlin remembers “Laugh-In” as one of the most outlandish shows ever on television, very much over-the-top. “I do know the director (Lawrence Gregory Smith), and he is quite fond of bad jokes, puns, etc., which I am sure is the root of his concept,” he said.
Originally an Early Childhood Education major, Morris promptly switched to Theatre Arts during her first semester. Her goal then was to do a lot of acting, but she quickly “fell back into love” with costume work, which she had also done alongside acting at Tonawanda (NY) High School.
“Haylee is great,” said SUNY Fredonia Lecturer in Costume Design Jessica Lustig. Though acting was her focus, she volunteered in the costume shop, and soon discovered that she really loved making costumes, with a primary focus shifting to costumes, Ms. Lustig said. Acting majors are not required to work in the costume shop, but Morris was more than an eager participant.
One of Morris’ major undertakings in the Theatre and Dance program was “Into The Woods,” which Ms. Lustig recalls as a particularly large musical, “and she was in the shop almost every day, helping to build the costume pieces.”
Morris has been immersed in a wide range of campus productions that include “Die Fledermaus” and “Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812.” She’s also been wardrobe head for well-known productions such as the Fredonia Dance Ensemble in 2023 and 2024, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “The Crucible” and “Abigail/1702.”
Morris interned last summer for Lustig, the director of costumes at Chautauqua Institution’s School of Dance. “We built over 200 costume pieces last summer, and Haylee had a hand in most of them.” Dance concerts open every seven to 10 days throughout the nine-week season, so it’s virtually non-stop work.
“As a wardrobe supervisor and work crew member, she’s incredibly organized, really good at doing paperwork and organization, and is really good at making her crew and performers feel comfortable,” according to Lustig. “She creates a supportive work environment.”
Morris sought out summer costume work in the Buffalo, NY, area this summer, and her aunt, who’s attended Shakespeare in Delaware Park numerous times, suggested she inquire there. She applied, did research that included watching YouTube clips of old “Laugh-In” episodes, and was offered a contract for wardrobe supervisor in May.
One of Morris’ favorite aspects of Shakespeare in Delaware Park is the unique spin that’s put on classic works, remarking that it “broadens the spectrum of people who are interested in seeing the productions.”
According to the “The Comedy of Errors” program guide, Morris credits her passion for sewing to her grandmother, who taught her the craft from a young age, and takes pride in knowing that her grandmother is watching over her and would be proud of all that she has accomplished.
It’s been an immensely rewarding and learning experience for Morris.
“I have never worked as a one-person team before; I’m used to me and two to three other people, so it’s definitely been a learning curve, trying to figure out how to do everything, [but] it’s gone pretty well every day.”
Lustig believes it’s highly desirable in to have a wide range of different professional experiences when seeking work in the theatre industry, “and Shakespeare In Delaware Park is radically different than the Chautauqua Institution Dance Department, so she has a really diversified skill set.”
As a wardrobe supervisor and work crew member, she’s incredibly organized, really good at doing paperwork and organization, and is really good at making her crew and performers feel comfortable." - Jessica Lustig
Shakespeare in Delaware Park presents up to four outdoor productions each season, each with its own team, while the Chautauqua School of Dance, on the other hand, has a resident designer and costume staff for the entire season. “So, while they might have as many as eight different choreographers and 20 or more different ballets to design, the team working on them remains consistent,” Lustig said.
Shakespeare is in the public domain, so infinite liberties can be taken in the design, she added. “So, while we have liberty with new works, the classical ballets have very strict rules.”
Shakespeare in Delaware Park is also great preparation for Morris ahead of her senior year, according to Lustig. “She’s going to be wardrobe supervisor for ‘Legally Blonde’ at Fredonia, which is a massive musical.”
After graduation, Morris plans to apply to different theatres in the Buffalo area so she’ll be close to home for a while. “My dream is to be on a touring production of a show, to see the world, but also do what I love.”
