The opportunity to go over the top with wacky wigs in Beehive was a big attraction for wig designer Jason Hayes, who already has a full dance card. He’s a hairdresser for the “Fab Five” on Bravo’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”, styled hair for film including “Garden State”, “Camp” and "Party Monster”, and works regularly in the theatre (Hairspray, of course). He also runs a custom design company that counts RuPaul and Singer Kate Pierson of the beehive-prone B-52s among its customers.

For the 1960s musical revue saluting female singers, Hayes called on someone who knows a thing or two about the styles of the period: pop star Lesley Gore. The singer, whose hit “It’s My Party” is part of the Beehive score, emailed her friend Hayes photos of herself from the era. 

“You have to deliver the full visual,” said Hayes. He teased and shaped and sprayed the 43 wigs that eight singers wear in the two-hour show. 

This was no job for Mavis from the Kut ‘n Kurl. Hair plays an important supporting role thematically and visually. “This is a very large element in the scheme of the show,” said director and choreographer Gary John LaRosa. LaRosa called on Hayes because they’ve worked together before on shows including the campy costume- and wig-heavy musical La Cage aux Follies. 

Hayes indulged in creative license with a set of neon-colored numbers, but many of his designs were based on authentic style of the day. Some even had names, such as the “waterfall” - hair teased straight up then curled over slightly at the top.