Stage makeup
comes in a variety of colors.
Stage makeup is an art form unto itself. It can be the subtlest part of a stage production or the most lavish. Theater is all about creating the illusion of reality, or in some cases, a reality very different from our own. By applying appropriate makeup effects, an actor can make the leap from just another person in costume to a living, breathing character.
Skin
Even if your production isn't flashy or abstract, going on stage without basic makeup on will make your skin look washed out under the stage lighting. Foundation helps to keep your skin looking vibrant and healthy--unless, of course, your character requires the opposite effect. Using various shades of flesh-colored foundation, makeup artists can create the appearance of age or death just by adding a few shadows and the illusion of contours.
Eyes and Lips
The eyes and mouth are two of the actor's most important tools. As one of an actor's many jobs is to create facial expressions, eye makeup and lipstick become useful in helping to display these expressions to the audience. This is particularly true for large theaters, where some audience members may be sitting very far away. Enhanced eyes and lips make the movements of the face easier to see.
Accented eyes and lips also add spectacle to the production. Imagine a big, flashy musical where the performers are not sporting dramatic eyeliner, glittery eyelids or brightly painted lips. Something of the effect would be lost.
Latex and Prostheses
Adding to an actor's features is yet another way of reinforcing the illusion of reality for the audience. Noses can be lengthened. Faces can be scarred. Teeth can be sharpened. Genders can be changed. Fantastical features such as horns or pointed ears can be seamlessly attached. By using prosthetic attachments, the character is made even more convincing to the audience.
Stage Blood and Wounds
Some plays prefer to use symbolic representations of wounds or blood, such as flowing red ribbon. On the other hand, if you are working on a piece that allows for a more realistic style, few things pack the same emotional punch as injuries that look real. Stage blood capsules can be hidden under the tongue or beneath clothing, ready to be crushed on cue. Bullet holes, stab wounds, stitches, scabs--all of these can be realistically created by a skilled makeup artist. If the production allows for it, effects can even be changed during the show; cuts can slowly heal or bruises fade from purple to yellow, to create the illusion of the passage of time.
Finishing with Powder
Stage makeup offers endless possibilities when it comes to building the look of a character. For magical creatures and monsters, skin can be turned every color of the rainbow. Scales or feathers can be added. Glitter, face paint, wigs--all are used to help create the spectacle.
Once all the makeup has been applied, the actor's face is given a heavy dusting of powder to set the makeup in place. Powder is sometimes reapplied when the actor goes backstage. Stage lighting can be hot to work under, so powder helps to keep the makeup from smearing, as well as keeping down the shine on the actor's face.
