A Short Guide To Theatrical Makeup

By Amanda Bean


For a stage show to be successful, there are a number of factors that have to be just right. Naturally the performers have to do a great job but theater is about more than acting, dancing or singing skills. The set, the costumes, the lighting and the theatrical makeup all contribute to a performance that will entertain and inspire.

The cosmetics that the performers use can help enhance their performance. Because the audience sits far away from the stage, it's difficult for them to see the facial expressions that the actor, dancer or singer uses. Underneath the stage lights, the performer's features can appear 'washed out'. With the right makeup, however, every feature and every change in facial expression are enhanced.

Of course the application of color can help create a more convincing character too. If you're 25 but playing the part of someone who's 80, nobody's going to believe the performance if you don't seem to have any wrinkles at all. The same goes for a character who is supposedly dying but sports a rosy, glowing complexion. Cosmetics create infinite possibilities. They can help you be anything from a cat to a clown.

The cosmetics that performers use on stage is usually different from what they would wear in everyday life. The provide more coverage, tend to be more intense in color and are longer lasting. They're often water resistant too because they not only need to withstand the sweat produced by the physical exertion of the performance and the heat generated by the lights.

You may have noticed that when performers are wearing their makeup, they usually look like they've been overdoing it. In normal light the cosmetics do show up much more intensely but under the stage lighting, the performers will look just right. If the performers apply their makeup too subtly, you won't be able to see it on stage. Those thick layers of powder are essential too because they reduce shine.

A good performer will never decide on which makeup to use without having an idea of what the stage lighting will look like. The reason for this is that colors look different underneath certain lights. The most flattering lighting is pink or flesh pink in color. Light in cooler colors tend to enhance similar tones but will make warm tones look grey, while lights in warmer colors will have the opposite effect.

Good theater courses include training on how to apply stage cosmetics. Older performers are often a wealth of information too since they usually have more experience in what works and what doesn't. A good investment to make for important performances, such as opening night, is to employ a professional makeup artist with training in how to apply cosmetics for the stage.

There is a wide variety of theatrical makeup ranges available online and from suppliers for the theater industry. You'll even find kits specifically for certain types of characters, such as clown kits or animal kits. They make a fun present too, because they don't necessarily have to be used on stage. Imagine what a great Halloween costume you can create with the help of some good, durable cosmetics that won't coming off during tricking or treating.




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