This is both a technical (sound) and very much a directorial/choreographic question: how to handle the dilema of getting mics on nude/semi-nude actors for the striptease finale as well as the rehearsal scene at Howard's home. Obviously, no place to hide a RF transmitter & lav mic cord. Ironically, the finale might be the easier problem of the two, using handheld RF mics on stands that are preset d.s. in a row, there for each of the six men to come down and grab when their time comes. This would need to be worked into the choreography, of course, particularly as the mics would have to be replaced in their mic holders each time the actor must remove another piece of clothing, then grabbed up again as the singing continues. Not exactly condusive to bold, fluid choreography, but at least somewhat of a solution. Furthering the difficulty is the men don't have down time (only Jeanette's brief intro) to remove their RF transmitters/laveliers before the strip scene--my philosophy is that you mic the entire show, both dialog and musical scenes. Additionally, during the rehearsal scene at Howard's house, the men go down to their shorts, so the same problem there, except this time a handheld, obviously, won't solve it. We do use a combination of hanging mics & floor mics (flat, boundary mics at stage edge), but these are only somewhat useful, such as to fill out the chorus during musical numbers or the occasional, spoken line from a chorus member (who would not be wearing a body mic). I've found reliance on these none-body mics to be unsaticefactory, the sound quality vague and not condusive to getting the words out. And this is a bawdy, loud, rock 'n roll musical! It's vital that quality be maintained. Solutions? Rental of 6 handheld wireless mics would be expensive enough, but I keep wishing for some ultra-compact, not obscenely obvious, behind-the-ear (transmitter) / lav mic over-the-ear (ala Britney Spears, but adhered to the upper cheek with TopStick tape), and oh did I mention it not be rediculously expensive? (I don't even know if such a around-the ear mic arrangement exists.) What have other theaters done? You might gather that we try to do up the sound for our musicals BIG, or as much as we can afford. Thanks for opinions.

The mics that you are dreaming of KINDA partially exist..... the mic part is no problem.... for my choir, i rented six of them for soloists for $25 each from my local sound store.  They came with the transmitter/reciever that you need.  The problem with your dream microphone is the transmitter/battery pack.  I don't know what the pro's use, but you will have to find a way to hide the pack.... my thoughts, maybe talk to your local store, let them know your problem and see if they have any mics with enough extra cord to hide the pack in the actor's socks? or maybe you could attach it on their side under their arm?  If i have to, I could draw ya what i'm thinking of... lol  

Wow!  I like the hat idea.