Title: Chef du Service Coiffure

Company: La Comedie Francaise

Location: Issy-les-Moulineaux, Paris

Currently chef du service coiffure for La Comedie Francaise, Beth Thompson has gathered 28 years of experience in various design-related fields, specializing in wig making, makeup and creation of hairstyles. Along with these artistic elements, her duties at La Comedie Francaise (a
Parisian center of the theatrical arts) include payroll, hiring, production documentation, inventory control, personnel organization and other administrative tasks. Ms. Thompson’s involvement with the performance arts began when she became acquainted with an opera wig master, and she attributes her success in the creative field to her open mind, positivity and belief that anything is possible.

Ms. Thompson has enjoyed a fruitful and interesting career, highlights of which include working with Eartha Kitt in a 1999 production of “The Wizard of Oz,” and winning the Hollywood Guild Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Award in 2001. She also worked with Cirque du Soleil from 2001-2003, the Walt Disney Company from 2000-2001, and spend 13 years providing hair and makeup services to assorted opera companies as an independent contractor. Her current position utilizes her artistic as well as managerial skills, and she hopes to design hair and makeup for music videos in the future. Ms. Thompson prepared for her career by completing coursework in fine arts and linguistics from the University of Chicago, studying business at the Gemological Institute of America, Inc., participating in MAC master classes, and achieving a barber’s license in Ohio. She encourages hopeful professionals to choose a specialty and follow their passion.