GRIFFIN November 24

VOLUME IV | ISSUE 4 NOVEMBER 2024 CWEA SINCE 1958 Behind-the-scenes with The Muny’s wig manager Kelley Jordan The 106th season of The Muny is now a fond memory for the 12,000 nightly patrons who were dazzled by seven fabulous productions this past summer. As Anything Goes was sailing toward its final perfor- mance, wigmaker Kelley Jordan said she has never experienced a season like 2024’s. Jordan, who is manager of the hair and makeup department at The Muny, was also the wig de- signer for four of the productions: By Nicki Dwyer Dreamgirls, Waitress, In the Heights, and Anything Goes . “Everyone felt the pressure,” she said. “There were two big shows back-to-back, Les Mis followed by Dreamgirls , which had 107 wigs because of the play’s timeline,1968 to 1976. It takes five days to get a production ready for tech rehearsal. But in the middle of Dreamgirls prep, there was a holiday and a photo shoot, so we really only had three-and-a-half days to get the actors’ wigs fitted and styled. When we started the season we were geared up for the pace, but even when it slowed down, we still had to hustle.” “After all these years at The Muny, I’m used to operating with speed. We have to be mentally and physi- cally prepared to get everything in and done in five days. When you are committed to ‘The Muny scene,’ this is what you expect. I thank God I learned how to do this job here, so that when I work in other cities, I am ready to go.” “A Muny production is a team effort,” Jordan said. “I didn’t under- stand any of that until I was part of the production team and sat at the table with the others. After that first meeting, I went back to my department and explained that we had been operating in our own bubble instead of as an important part of the whole design team working tirelessly to make the production fall into place.” That in- formation spurred Jordan to work even harder. Jordan’s mother, a self-taught wigmaker who made hairstyles like Afros for back-up singers, taught her skill to her three chil- dren so they would always have something to fall back on. At age 12, Kelley learned to cut wigs up and sew them together. “I learned more from my mom than what is taught in beauty school,” she said. As if out of a play script, Jordan got her start in 1985 while working Kelley Jordan styles a wig for “Anything Goes.” Nicki Dwyer photos Continued on Page 6 The Central West End Associa- tion honored the restaurant Dressel’s Public House and Koplar Properties official Frances Thompson with its two most prestigious annual awards at a celebration held Oct. 11 at Maryland House on Maryland Plaza. Dressel’s Public House was rec- ognized with the 2024 Renaissance Award for its positive impact on the neighborhood. The Renaissance Award annually recognizes select organizations that have made a posi- tive economic or social impact on the Central West End neighborhood. Frances Thompson, vice presi- dent of marketing at Koplar and a past CWEA president, was honored with the 2024 Polk Award. The Polk Award annually recognizes the im- pact and leadership of select indi- viduals who have made consistent, 2024 Polk and Renaissance awards celebrate positive neighborhood contributors By Abby Wojcik long-lasting, and positive contribu- tions to the neighborhood. Generations of change: Dressel’s Public House Over the course of opening in 1980, taking a three-year hiatus dur- ing the pandemic and then reopen- ing in 2023, Dressel’s Public House on Euclid Avenue has seen the CWE through decades of different eras. Owner Ben Dressel purchased the business from his parents, who originally opened the bar as a literary, intellectual social place for students, writers and academics. “What my dad and mom created was sort of their culture, and this was what they wanted to do,” Dres- Continued on Page 4 Ben Dressel, left, speaking to patrons at the bar. Dressel’s Public House officially reopened in 2023. Mailing Label Page 14-15 Weekend in the Park, a photo essay Page 6 Jon Dressel remembrance Page 9 Remembering West End Word co-founder Ellie Chapman