How To Apply Stage Makeup For Theatre

It'due south been a while since I've been in a theatrical production, but I can call up how much fun it was preparing.

Rehearsing my lines. Scene blocking. Practicing my songs with the musicians.

And then the night of the production arrives and I realized…I gotta practice my own stage makeup.

It was the 1 thing I hadn't prepared for. (I don't know what I was thinking.)

Where practise I beginning?

I brought every slice of makeup I had stashed in my bathroom. Mistake #1.

I didn't need all that stuff. For theatrical makeup, you merely really need a few essentials.

Whether you're trying to raise an histrion'south natural features or create a character in makeup, theatrical makeup follows one chief idea.

If I knew this one matter about phase makeup I could've saved myself a lot of problem.

And left my bathroom at home.

Stage makeup is TOTALLY different than goggle box or photography.

With stage makeup, the audience sees the makeup differently.

Details of the makeup are lost, the lights can change the color of your makeup, it'south really a whole new world.

I learned this the hard fashion.

Here is what I know from experience with phase makeup, that I KNOW will help you lot out.

Exaggerate, exaggerate, exaggerate.

The further away yous are from the stage the less you lot see of the actors face.

That's why phase makeup has to exaggerate facial features; it has to be seen from way in the back.

Take a look at the photo in this post of the woman from Cirque du Soleil. It's a cracking instance of what phase makeup should look like.

This is what makes stage makeup pop:

Eyebrows – Pencil them in, line them, darken them, emphasize the curvation
Lips – Line them, colour them, reshape them if necessary
Cheekbones – Contour the face making sure cheeks and facial structure can be seen.
Eyes – Use assuming eyeliner, use vivid, intense colors; enlarge the eyes
Highlight – Use a vivid highlighter effectually the eyes. Our instance photograph blended an nigh white color.
Shadow – Using a color that is several shades darker than the thespian's peel tone, contour as y'all would normally.

Foundation

Foundation used in stage makeup is also different. Here are some tips:

Because stage lights tend to launder out faces, use a foundation a shade or ii darker than your actual skin tone.
A cream foundation works well, one that gives an opaque, high coverage. I personally use Ben Nye's cream foundations.
A good powdering is necessary to reduce the smooth from sweating.

Stage Makeup vs. Television Makeup

From what I assemble, these are the nigh prominent differences between doing stage makeup and doing makeup for television or print.

Stage Makeup

Uses more makeup, over accentuating more features.

Stage makeup is more than dramatic looking and wouldn't normally be worn everyday.

Colors should be intense and heavy.

Idiot box Makeup

Has a more than natural await when close upwardly including character makeups.

Flaws in makeup application are hands noticeable especially when in High Definition.

Intense, heavy makeup will make y'all look like a clown.

What other differences or theatrical makeup tips practice y'all know of? Leave them in the contents.

These are the sites that helped me create this post:

Stage Makeup 101

Theatrical Makeup Tips

Phase Makeup Mistakes to Avert

What is the departure between phase makeup and boob tube makeup?