Bernie Ardia

BERNIE ARDIA

Having a 40-year career as a theatrical hair designer and wig builder this California native started in print work and television, commercials, and television specials such as Happy Birthday Hollywood. Ardia returned to live theater with David Merrick’s national tour of 42nd St. After many years of touring with live productions such as Chita Rivera’s Can-Can, Tim Curry’s Me and My Girl, Showboat, he then focused on designing hair for productions of Eleanor Bergstein’s Dirty Dancing, Kiss of the Spider Woman, the Kennedy Center’s Ragtime, Cameron Mackintosh’s Oliver, Elf, and Starlight Express at The Las Vegas Hilton among others others. Ardia has now designed for well over 75 productions. Though he semi-retired to allow more time for writing, productions still have his designs onstage today. As a child, after seeing Barbra Streisand open for Liberace in Las Vegas, he followed her career as a hobby—turning that into a book, Barbra Streisand in New York City. For the last several years he has been working on a biography of Streisand’s stepfather. That work was delayed for three years after Patrick Dennis landed on his desk. Falling in love with this adventurous tale he dedicated his time to see it through to publication so this wonderful ‘slice of a life’ story could be shared. As a ‘Dreamer’ he always sees ideas as possible. Most of Ardia’s life expectations have been surpassed. He is proud to have worked with many talented performers and directors in his career including Hal Prince, Melody Thomas Scott, Jeanne Cooper, Eartha Kitt, George Wendt, Linda Carter, Molly Ringwald, Patrick Cassidy, Debbie Gibson, Anita Gillette, Pat Harrington, Michelle Lee, Carole Cook, Kathie Lee Gifford, Sally Ann Howe, Toni Tennille, John Schuck, Mackenzie Phillips, Constance Towers, Jamie Lynn Sigler, and more. Ardia now divides his time between Rancho Mirage, California, with constant traveling. Presenting At Sea with Patrick Dennis: My Madcap Mexican Adventure with the Author of Auntie Mame is another of his dream’s come true.