While this show is challenging on many levels, one particular aspect has proven to be far harder than any of the rest: the makeup. Having never needed extensive prosthetic makeup before (aside from my Stage Makeup class in college), this entire process has been a new experience for me! Here’s a typical pre-show schedule for me in creating the makeup for my role as “The Creature”: 5:45pm: Arrive at the Memminger Auditorium. 6:00pm: Clean face and apply the prosthetic pieces with Spirit Gum (a glue-like adhesive)—one covering my forehead to my top lip and cheek, one on my bottom lip, and one across my neck. 6:20pm: Begin blending edges of prosthetic pieces into my skin with creme-base makeup. 6:30pm: Fight call, where my makeup is tested for strength. 6:45pm: Reapply pieces that fell off during fight call (because SOMETHING always falls off). 7:00pm: Finish blending makeup from prosthetics into my skin. Also, the house is open. 7:15pm: Add bruises and char marks across neck, chest, and face with the creme makeup. 7:30pm: Get into microphone and costume. Also, the show starts now. 7:45pm: Add bruising on hands, spray face with makeup sealer and run onstage for the Creation scene. This doesn’t include the re-application of makeup that falls off or the addition of a knife slice during intermission. Luckily, I have the help of our costumer, Barbara Young, and propsmaster, Mike Christensen, and occasionally Andy McCain (Victor Frankenstein) to make the process go smoother. Yet, even with four people, the makeup process takes about two hours! Although it is long and hard, the end product makes everything worthwhile—I love looking like the Creature, regardless of the damage that three weeks worth of makeup does to my pores J
(Right: Resident Actor Michael Lasris as “The Creature”)