Feb 19 – Mar 1, 2026
A Conversation with Edith Head
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By Paddy Calistro and Susan Claassen
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Meet the Woman Who Dressed Hollywood
Step inside Edith Head’s world through Susan Claassen’s award-winning performance, inspired by the designer’s own words and Hollywood recollections.
MOXIE Theatre proudly presents A Conversation with Edith Head, starring Susan Claassen in her internationally acclaimed portrayal of one of Hollywood’s most influential creative forces. Inspired by Edith Head’s own words and developed in collaboration with author Paddy Calistro, the show blends wit, wisdom, and a whisper of insider gossip to reveal the stories behind the stars and the designs that shaped film history.
Across six decades and more than eleven hundred films, Edith Head became a defining figure of Hollywood’s golden age, earning thirty-five Academy Award® nominations and a record-breaking eight Oscars®. Claassen captures her voice with remarkable authenticity, offering an intimate portrait of the designer whose sharp humor, resilience, and artistry continue to resonate today.
Runtime: 85 minutes, no intermission
Season Sponsors: Beth Goodman and Diane Berol
Join Them in Supporting The Talent Behind This Show!
So many talented artists, designers, and technicians are coming together, on stage and behind the scenes, to make this production come to life. Become part of our crew with a tax-deductible donation today! Donors receive recognitions and unique benefits. (For any questions on how to give, or more information on benefits, email philanthropy@moxietheatre.com.)
THANK YOU!
Tickets
Schedule
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays Evening @ 7.30 pm
Saturday and Sunday Matinees @ 2 pm
Thu, Feb 19: Pick-Your-Price Preview
Fri, Feb 20: Opening Night – reception with Press, Cast & Crew
Prices
Regular Tickets: $20 – $51 (all fees included) – Discounts available for Seniors, Military, Students, and Groups of 10+
Pick-Your-Price Tickets: To break barriers to accessibility, MOXIE offers the option to choose the ticket price based on your budget:
– Preview dates: ALL tickets sold at Pick-Your-Price rates
– All other performances: Limited number of seats available at Pick-Your-Price rates. These are NOT the “crappy seats” and they sell out quickly!
RUSH tickets $20: Limited number of last minute tickets available for purchase in person at the Box Office one hour before each performance, subject to availability.
Hardship tickets at no cost are available upon request. Please call the Box Office for more information.
Box Office
(858) 598-7620
boxoffice@moxietheatre.com
Monday & Tuesday: 10 am – 3 pm
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday through Sunday: 3 hours before showtime
Online sales close 2 hours before showtime. Over the phone and in person sales continue until showtime.
Meet The Artists
Susan Claassen
Creator, Playwright, Performer and Designer
Susan Claassen is an actor, director, producer, and arts educator with a career spanning more than five decades. A resident of La Jolla, California, she recently transitioned to Emeritus status after 50 years as Managing Artistic Director of Tucson’s Invisible Theatre, where she produced and directed over 700 productions. In 2024, she received the Women’s Foundation of Arizona Award for Daring Generations and has been a member of Actors’ Equity Association for more than 50 years.
As a performer, Claassen is known for roles including Alice B. Toklas in Gertrude Stein and a Companion, Shirley in Shirley Valentine, and her acclaimed solo work in The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, which toured nationally. Her production of A Conversation with Edith Head has toured internationally, appearing at the Republic of Georgia International Theatre Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and London’s West End. Her portrayal of Edith Head earned an LA Stage Alliance Ovation Best Actress nomination, Phoenix New Times Best Actress, and a San Francisco Bay Area Critics nomination for Best Solo Performance.
Beyond the stage, Claassen is a leader in arts education, founding innovative programs including a state prison drama initiative and Project Pastime, featured in the award-winning documentary Such Good Friends.
Stuart Moulton
Host and Technical Director
Stuart Moulton, host of A Conversation with Edith Head, is in his second decade with the production, serving as a key collaborator, technical director, and steward of the show’s accuracy and integrity. In addition to supporting the international tour, he is the CEO of Circus Arts International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to circus arts across diverse communities. Moulton is also the Producing Artistic Director of Austin Cabaret Theatre, now in its 25th year of presenting world-class artists in Austin, Texas. Beyond the theatre, he is an aerial and trapeze coach, working with several respected circus schools and continuing his commitment to performance, education, and artistic excellence.
Paddy Calistro
Playwright
Paddy Calistro is one of the leading authorities on Edith Head and is the coauthor of Edith Head’s posthumous autobiography, Edith Head’s Hollywood. The only authorized biography of the world’s most famous costume designer, the book was the first of several books written by Paddy Calistro. She was selected as Ms. Head’s official biographer based on her experience as a fashion journalist. A former staff writer for the Los Angeles Times in the fashion and beauty department, Paddy wrote the weekly “Looks” column featured in the Los Angeles Times Magazine for four years as well as contributing several feature articles to the daily Times and its weekly magazine. She also was the West Coast reporter for Allure from its inception. Additionally, she contributed to Glamour, Mademoiselle, House Beautiful, Elle, Four Seasons Magazine and frequently to Fitness and Los Angeles. For more than a decade Paddy was the lead interior design writer for Los Angeles magazine, coordinating and writing sections on trends in home design. She was the editor of American Style, a bilingual fashion magazine sold in Mexico and South America. She was the co-founder of Angel City Press, an independent book publishing company.
COVID-19 Safety Policy
For the safety of our performers and our community MOXIE encourages patrons to wear masks, especially when feeling unwell. Masks are provided free of charge at our box office.