Monica Viani
Millinery Instructor
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Monica Viani has been a professional theatrical millinery artist for the entertainment industry since 1995.
Since then, she has crafted and generated countless hats, headdresses and accessories for live theatre, ballet, film and television production. Notable Canadian companies include The Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, Mirvish Productions, The National Ballet of Canada, Ballet Jörgen Canada, The Canadian Opera Company, The Citadel (Edmonton) and The Globe Theatre (Regina). Monica has prototyped and led the build for various film/television productions, including Hulu’s original A Handmaid’s Tale (Season 1) and most recently Netflix’s film, Slumberland.
In 2006 Ms Viani formed and opened her own bespoke millinery satellite studio in Toronto. She expanded her client base to U.S. clients, including Kinky Boots the Broadway Musical (Toronto and Broadway tour), Something Rotten! A very New Musical (Original Broadway build and U.S. National Tour), Aladdin the Broadway Musical (Original Broadway build and U.S. National tour), The Lion King Broadway Musical (Toronto, Broadway, Mexico City, Shanghai, Australia, Las Vegas, and North American Tour), Fela! The Broadway Musical (original Broadway build), Spiderman Turn off the Dark (original Broadway build), Hairspray-The Broadway Musical (Toronto), Radio City Musical Hall presents the Rockettes – A Christmas Spectacular! (New York and North American National Tour), Priscilla! The Musical (Toronto and Brazil) and Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Broadway Production).
Teaching Credits include the creation and delivery of curricula at Fanshawe College (Theatre costume program) and at the newly renamed, Toronto Metropolitan University, (Formerly) RU Fashion School, RU Theatre school, RU Chang School of Continuing Education - as well as numerous engagements with Stratford Off the Wall, and various private tutorials – on and off Zoom.
Monica Viani gratefully acknowledges The Stratford Festival as being a solid training ground and an absolute inspiration during the early years of this wonderful and unique career path.
After spending more than a decade in Toronto, Monica now resides and operates her bespoke theatre studio from Stratford, Ontario.

Hat created by Monica Viani from a design by Gregg Barnes for Broadway's Something Rotten!


Hat for the Shaw Festival's production of Ragtime designed by Sue LePage and created by Monica Viani

Headpiece for the Shaw Festival's production of Cabaret designed by Judith Bowden and created by Monica Viani