Indy's first Black equity theater hosts free classes, including one taught by a Tony winner

Four adult students stood around a table, methodically snipping the buttons off of an extra-large shirt and replacing them with snaps.

This technique allows stage actors to tear off their clothes during short scene changes during a play, instead of wasting precious time unbuttoning them. This technique is called “quick-rigging” and was just one of the essential techniques taught in this costume design class, which is designed to help students maintain careers in theater.

“A lot of the time they are rigged together with snaps or hooks or things of that nature,” said April Elliott, the instructor and founder of small handcrafted fashion business Autonomy . “The lead designer might just be like, ‘I need you to rig this,’ and walk away. I want them to be in a position where they can be like, ‘O.K., I can figure this out.'”

Costume design is just one of six free, theater-related classes the Naptown African American Theatre Collective is offering through their Education for All program this fall. The program was made possible by a grant from 16 Tech .

Students can take courses in costume, set, lighting and wig design. There is also an acting class and a seminar called “ Business of Show ” that provides step-by-step instructions for starting a non-profit theater.

It’s too late to sign up for Costume Design, but the other classes continue through December.

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The instructors are experts in their fields, including Nikiya Mathis, who will teach Wig Design . Mathis became the first person to win a Special Tony Award for wig design earlier this summer.

“The African American theater collective has the desire, we put it in our mission, vision and values, to educate, equip and empower our community through jobs and through education that’s accessible,” said LaKesha Lorene, the CEO, founder and Producing Director of the NAATC .

Education for All is for students of all experience levels. Marcia Jones, a 40-year-old student in Costume Design, showed the class three 1950’s style costumes she’d designed and sewed. Other students were learning to use a sewing machine for the first time.

“It hopefully will strengthen whatever you’re doing outside of the professional theater world,” said Latrice P. Young, Director of Community Engagement Strategy. “Or if you wanted to dip your toes in or if you wanted to have a side job.”

Up to thirty people can register for each class at NAATC’s website .

Who is Tony-award winner Nikiya Mathis?

Mathis won her Tony for her wig design in the play " Jaja’s African Hair Braiding ," which takes place in a Harlem salon. She created elaborate wigs in various stages of style completion so the actresses would appear to braid hair over time. Her wigs have appeared on television in Luke Cage and Jessica Jones. They’ve recently appeared on stage in the colorful romp " Cats: The Jellicle Ball ."

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In her wig design class, Mathis will teach students how to do wig-prep and start the design process for Black actors, as well as the history of natural hair. Her class runs for two sessions on Aug. 17 and 18. Students of all experience levels can sign up at the NAATC website .

“This is a dream to get to have her and work with her in this way,” Lorene said. “Get the Indianapolis community to where I really see us going. The hope is for us to continue to grow into a very culturally rich and industry-aware place.”

Understanding Black hair prep

Black actors aren’t treated with equity when producers, stylists and customers don’t have the knowledge, or interest, to work with their hair. Mathis encouraged people in all areas of theater to attend her class so they understand the best practices around Black hair prep.

“I’ve heard producers say, ‘Oh, well, why do we have to do that?’” Mathis said. “‘Why do we have to have someone to braid hair? We didn’t have to do that for the other actors.’ Meaning, ‘for the non-Black actors.’”

Mathis has heard countless “hair horror stories.” One actress was told she was being difficult when she asked why white actors were provided with a stylist and she was not. Another’s hair was burned off with a straightener.

“The care for all hair types is just something that we have overlooked, and we need to really have a real education on it,” Mathis said.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy's first Black equity theater hosts free classes, including one taught by a Tony winner