The announcement gave me pause. The Makeup Artists and Hairstylists Guild announced five nominees in the new category of “Broadway and International” for its 12th Annual MUAHS (Makeup Artists and Hairstylists) Awards. The guild, IATSE Local 706, dates back to 1937, and now has more than 2,300 members working in motion pictures, television, commercials, music videos…and live theater.

Normally, theater awards are given for shows that opened during the year, yet three of the nominated shows opened a while ago — one of them in 1996.

That’s not what gave me pause. After all, it’s a new award and all five (see below) are still running.

What this new award underscores is how little attention has been paid to these crafts in the theater community. Only one New York theater award acknowledges either field: The Drama Desk Awards include a category of Outstanding Wig and Hair, which earlier this year was given to Nikiya Mathis for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. This felt especially well-deserved, since her designs took center stage in Jocelyn Bioh’s play, which was set in a hair salon.

To be fair, even the guild tacitly recognizes that the work of their members is more visible, literally, on screens than on stages. (Notice the film reel in their trophy.) But makeup and hair are arguably as integral as costume design in the creation of character — for the audience, yes, but especially for the performers.

And the nominees are:

& Juliet (Broadway)
Jared Janas, Anthony Lauro, Sara Donovan, Ni’Kia McDaniel

Cabaret  (Broadway)
Jamie Amadio, Brian Strumwasser, Erick Miralles, Antoinette Massiah

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club (London)
Sam Cox, Guy Common 

Chicago – The Musical (Broadway)
Barry Ernst

The Great Gatsby (Broadway)
Kevin Thomas Garcia, Christine Hutcheson, Michael Duschl, Britt Griffith

The ceremony announcing the winners in the MUAHS twenty-three categories will be held on February 15th at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.