Edith Head and Me!
We can honestly say that A Conversation with Edith is based upon the words and thoughts of Edith Head - the 'Edith-isms'.
by Susan Claassen
Susan Claassen is celebrating her 34th anniversary with the Invisible Theatre (IT) and has been a resident of Tucson since 1972. As Managing Artistic Director, she has produced more than 350 productions and directed more than 50. Susan Claassen has been a member of Actors Equity Association (the professional actors’ union) since 1969. Some of her most memorable roles have been Bella in Lost In Yonkers, Alice B. Toklas in Gertrude Stein And A Companion, Hannah in Crossing Delancey, Shirley in Shirley Valentine and Trudy in The Search For Signs Of Intelligent Life In The Universe. In addition to her work with the Invisible Theatre she has been a consultant and director for the Waterfront Playhouse and The Red Barn Theatre in Key West, Florida, and directed I Won't Dance at New York’s famed Rainbow and Stars Cabaret and St. Paul's prestigious Ordway Theatre. Ms Claassen is a national board member of PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY–A Constitutional Liberties Organization. She is the recipient of the 1985 Governor’s Award for Women Who Create, the 1993 Humanitarian Torch Award for her efforts on behalf of people living with AIDS and a 1996 Distinguished Service Award from the State Federation for Exceptional Children for her commitment to arts education for special populations. Susan was the 1999 City of Hope “Spirit of Life” recipient, and performs as a clown in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She was recently selected as one of Tucson Lifestyle’s 10 Most Admired Women and one of Tucson’s Ten Best People.
I first got the idea to create a theatrical presentation when I was watching a television biography. I contacted Edith' Heads estate and they granted me permission to pursue this project. I madly read anything I could find and when I came upon Paddy Calistro's book, Edith Head's Hollywood, I decided to attempt to locate its author. I called telephone information for where I thought Paddy lived, and voila, she was listed. I placed the phone call and it was kismet. At our first meeting in Los Angeles we knew the connection was right and we agreed to collaborate.
With Paddy’s connections we received the blessings of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. They prepared a reel of film clips of Miss Head’s appearances. I was able to study her physical traits. The way she walked, a tilt of the head, how she gestured - really, how she carried herself. I also studied her speech patterns and rhythms. She had been a school teacher so she had a distinct way of speaking - clipped and to the point! I work with a voice and movement coach in order to constantly perfect the details of her mannerisms and vocal qualities. My studying is ongoing.
