Transformation Through Theatre Makeup

Story and Photos by Cat Bloedow

April Moore, costume designer, shop manager, and an adjunct instructor in Shorter’s Department of Theatre, helps students prepare for the stage through her Theatre Make-Up class. Moore helps students recreate a look based on a character by using make up or prosthetics. This class prepares theatre students to accurately communicate words and designs through facial expressions and make-up. Students must create a visual aid presentation at the end of the semester to show their progression of make-up techniques and to display their skills. Will Gowens, a senior theatre major, took this class in order to learn how make-up is used on actors rather than just actresses. Gowens stresses that the importance of theatre make-up is to enhance features that characters need to have. “Different makeup styles that you use on a character emphasize that particular character’s traits,” commented Gowens. For example, someone might use heavy blue eyeshadow to convey that the character is unhinged. Because of this course, Gowen now understands that a lot of effort goes into theatre make-up, and he plans to use his newfound skills after graduation in his future theater productions. Kennedy Neely, a sophomore musical theatre major, loves this class because it will benefit her greatly in her future career path. She elaborates that being cast for a show is not only based on acting. Rather, directors and agents seek out well-rounded individuals who can apply other skills such as doing their own make-up. Recreating wounds really helped Neely push the boundaries of normal makeup application. Neely also opened up about the difficulties of finding the right shade of make-up for her dark skin complexion. Through this course, Neely learned that “No matter what anyone says, you can always find make-up for your skin.”

Emily Tumlin, a senior theatre major, applies eyeshadow to enhance her creative makeup look.

Weston Snell, a junior theatre major, recreates SamWise Gamgee from the Lord of the Rings films.

Hannah Autry, a junior theatre major, uses makeup to try and look like the late Diana, Princess of Wales.