Hair and Makeup
By Helen Zeidman
Musicals may seem to be all about singing and dancing, but appearance is also an important part of performing. Under the bright lights of the stage, actors can be more washed out than zombies. Fortunately, the hair and makeup crew knows that the best weapons to stop the zombie apocalypse are blush and lipstick.
Hair and makeup are especially important in a musical like “The Music Man,” where there is a specific style for the time period. Braids, bows and buns dominated the early 1900’s, when the musical was set. Makeup and hair artists have the responsibility of replicating the styles of the era.
Musicals may seem to be all about singing and dancing, but appearance is also an important part of performing. Under the bright lights of the stage, actors can be more washed out than zombies. Fortunately, the hair and makeup crew knows that the best weapons to stop the zombie apocalypse are blush and lipstick.
Hair and makeup are especially important in a musical like “The Music Man,” where there is a specific style for the time period. Braids, bows and buns dominated the early 1900’s, when the musical was set. Makeup and hair artists have the responsibility of replicating the styles of the era.
First, this article presented an ethical dilemma; unsourced rumors were circulating about set painters and other backstage volunteers being bullied. But instead of going on gossip and hearsay, I went to talk to various sources, who are all credited, to find the truth. This article is an example of a feature that highlights my writing style in a more informal fashion. In addition, the article also includes quotes from various sources.
Makeup is not just for the girls, since even guys and elementary actors are susceptible to looking undead on stage.
“I did makeup for the people who couldn’t do it themselves, which is mostly the boys and the younger kids,” sophomore Jillian Smith said. “It’s a lot harder than it looks to put eyeliner on boys that can’t stay still.”
Even though acting and singing go a long way for bringing a character to life, makeup completes the connection between audience and actor.
“Hair and makeup is important to the musical because it makes the musical more realistic,” freshman Danielle Ott said. “Without makeup, especially for more complicated characters like in past shows, the audience won’t notice the correlation between the students and their characters.”
“I did makeup for the people who couldn’t do it themselves, which is mostly the boys and the younger kids,” sophomore Jillian Smith said. “It’s a lot harder than it looks to put eyeliner on boys that can’t stay still.”
Even though acting and singing go a long way for bringing a character to life, makeup completes the connection between audience and actor.
“Hair and makeup is important to the musical because it makes the musical more realistic,” freshman Danielle Ott said. “Without makeup, especially for more complicated characters like in past shows, the audience won’t notice the correlation between the students and their characters.”
Student Directors
By Helen Zeidman
The musical is a conglomeration of actors, singers, dancers, musicians, artists, and volunteers. All of these different people can create chaos and cacophony throughout the entire musical season. But, the student directors are the force of calm who help the cast and crew keep their sanity.
There is not a set job description for a student director. Due to the demanding nature of the job, student directors are expected to perform a variety of different tasks. They end up completely all of the odds and ends of the musical, helping whenever they can.
“Last year, I did pretty much whatever,” senior Christine Dellinger, who had the role of student director for Beauty and the Beast as well as The Music Man, said. “I helped with costumes. I helped Angie, the director. I helped with a little bit of everything.”
This year’s student directors included Dellinger, senior Justine Newcomer, and sophomore Morgan Shafer. Dellinger and Newcomer were both returning directors who took Shafer under their wing.
The student directors are just one facet of an entire network of background students who never get to shine in the spotlight.
“The musical has a bunch of different stages,” Dellinger said. “Without the background people, there would be no sound, light or set. It’s the background people who make a show a show.”
The musical is a conglomeration of actors, singers, dancers, musicians, artists, and volunteers. All of these different people can create chaos and cacophony throughout the entire musical season. But, the student directors are the force of calm who help the cast and crew keep their sanity.
There is not a set job description for a student director. Due to the demanding nature of the job, student directors are expected to perform a variety of different tasks. They end up completely all of the odds and ends of the musical, helping whenever they can.
“Last year, I did pretty much whatever,” senior Christine Dellinger, who had the role of student director for Beauty and the Beast as well as The Music Man, said. “I helped with costumes. I helped Angie, the director. I helped with a little bit of everything.”
This year’s student directors included Dellinger, senior Justine Newcomer, and sophomore Morgan Shafer. Dellinger and Newcomer were both returning directors who took Shafer under their wing.
The student directors are just one facet of an entire network of background students who never get to shine in the spotlight.
“The musical has a bunch of different stages,” Dellinger said. “Without the background people, there would be no sound, light or set. It’s the background people who make a show a show.”