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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, May 13, 2010
Eye Street Editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com
Hillary Haenes CALIFORNIAN STAFF WRITER
‘Wizard of Oz’ enchanting a new generation
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PHOTO COURTESY OF RICHARD FUSILLO
A fierce-looking model struts down the runway in a look crafted by Twist Salon at the 2009 Paso Robles Battle of the Salons.
Taking to the runway Local salons vie for title in cutting-edge contest THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN
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hich Bakersfield stylists are a cut above? A six-week competition — complete with models, a runway, throbbing music and “extreme” Lady Gaga-esque hair creations — hopes to answer that question. “It’s just going to be spectacular,” said stylist Tanya Smith, who will compete tonight on behalf of Mystique Salon & Tanning. “There’s nothing like it in Bakersfield. It’s avant garde, which you don’t see in California, much less in Bakersfield.” In the first round, tonight and next Thursday, two winners each night will move on from a field of four competing salons. Each salon sends out five looks and orchestrates an entire concept around a theme assigned by the show’s organizers. Stylists will perform all the work at their salons before the runway shows. A panel of three judges, which changes every week, will give points in three categories: extreme styling, which accounts for 75 percent of the 100-point total; makeup, 15 percent; and the model’s ability to work the runway, which makes up the final 10 percent. The winning salon earns a $2,000 cash prize and trophy; the models win the
Battle of the Salons runway show When: 7 tonight and every Thursday through June 17 Where: Runway show at Metro Galleries, 1604 19th St.; reception follows at the Padre Hotel, 1702 18th St. Tickets: $10; runway seating, $15. Tickets may be purchased at battleofthesalons.com.
rights to the professional runway-show photos. The competition is the brainchild of Sean Faries, a nightclub owner based in San Luis Obispo, which staged the first such event last year. Faries is looking to produce shows in cities across the state, and Bakersfield is one of his first stops. He said he started putting out feelers in early January. “A lot starts with us doing our research, looking online compiling a list of who’s who of salons. ... We establish who are the hot salons, who aren’t the hot salons and go from there.” Faries said he approached about 20 Bakersfield shops, and 13 expressed interest, but he had to settle on an even dozen to make the competitive brackets work. Gina Paregien is one of five stylists representing House of Colour tonight
against Mystique Salon & Tanning. The two teams are designing looks around “Alice in Wonderland.” “It’s really just a lot of fun,” said Paregien, a stylist for 23 years. “They called and asked if we’d like to be part of it. Every stylist likes to show what they have. We’d like to be part of that, not just to say we’re the best but just to be involved in something like this. This is the first time something like this has come to Bakersfield. It broadens our whole industry.” Smith, at Mystique, feels a little like David to House of Colour’s Goliath because she and Jessica Arevalo are the only two stylists on Mystique’s team. “We’re probably going to start around 9 or 10 (this morning),” Smith said. “We’ve been getting together every single day for the last week and a half since we found out our theme.” Smith agrees with Paregien that, no matter who wins, the competition is exciting for Bakersfield’s salons. “But of course I’ll be more excited if we win.”
Competing salons House of Colour, Mystique Salon & Tanning, Serenity Salon, Regis Salon, Atomic Kitten, Salon Salon, Le Mirage Hair & Nail, Le Chic Spa, La Dolce Vita, Curl Up & Dye, Federico, Rendezvous Salon
rowing up in the Midwest, I remember my parents making a few trips to take me to the annual Wizard of Oz Festival in Chesteron, Ind., because I loved the movie so much. One year, I was fortunate to meet some of the original munchkins and author L. Frank Baum’s great-grandson. It’s been years since I last watched the movie, but seeing Broadway in Bakersfield’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” brought back memories of my childhood. Being such a fan, I was still able to recite the lines before the actors could deliver them. Although there were a few funny casual lines thrown here and there — such as when the Wicked Witch of the West made a theatrical exit in a cloud of smoke and Glinda commenting on the stench of sulfur — the characters’ lines and personalities were similar to the film. My mom was my date for the evening because she also shares a love for the film. Her favorite scene was Munchkinland because of the colorful props and costumes. The production did a great job of keeping the props and background colorless. Dorothy’s dress appeared brown and white until she had a feeling she wasn’t in Kansas anymore. I agree with my mom about Munchkinland being the high point, mostly because a troupe of pint-sized local dancers managed to steal the spotlight. After the show, I spoke with Jenny Hashim, dance director at American Dancers Workshop, who said the girls were beyond excited with their performance. Brooklynn Hughes said it was “the funnest time of her life,” and that she wants to travel with the cast on Broadway, Hashim said. Another dancer, Lexi Lundgren, who has done Barbie commercials, said all of the other stuff she’s gotten paid to do did not compare to the play. She said she loved the entire process and had a much better time dancing in “Oz.” Even with last-minute changes made to the choreography and blocking, the little munchkins were flawless and looked as though they were a part of the tour. What also amazed me was how well the dog playing Toto listened to Dorothy’s commands. With loud applause from the audience and the incredible special effects, Toto remained on cue. Toward the end of the show, my mom recalled that when I watched the movie over and over again at age 2, each time I cried and repeated Dorothy’s line, “I don’t think there’s anything in that black bag for me.” That night I found myself getting tearyeyed when Dorothy said farewell to her Oz friends and returned to Kansas. The entire cast, particularly Dorothy and the Lion, put on such moving performances that it left me with a big smile and my mom singing “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” to our car.
Broadway in Bakersfield 2011 season Nov. 15: “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast”; Jan. 24: “Grease”; Feb. 23: “The Rat Pack is Back!”; April 7: “Fiddler on the Roof” For information or to purchase tickets, call 852-7308 or visit rabobankarena.com.