What is basic makeup in theater?

Question

I am in the cast of a play and the director told us to wear basic makeup. I was thinking it was eyeliner, foundation, and a natural tone of lipstick. Is there more? Also, do I wear it lightly or heavily?

Answer 1

That ahole should have gone over what basic make up is. You could ask him too because he might have a totally different idea.

basic makeup is so you do not look like a ghost under the lights.Even if you have some skin color, the lights can make you look pale and ghostly and your features disapear.
It is a medium base, with eyeliner and natural lipstick and natural blush.
Sometimes though, basic means, blue eyeshadow, red lipstick and pink blush so you show up under the lights.
ben nye has the whole basic kit.

Answer 2

"Basic" makeup just means that you wear enough to counteratct the effect of stage lighting on your features. Some sort of base or foundation, a little eyeliner, perhaps some light shadowing/highilghts (nose, cheekbones, etc.)...

Once you're under the lights, you should show the director what you've come up with, and let him/her advise you as to what more (or less) needs to be done.

Answer 3

if you are doing a play on a large stage with elaborate lighting, basic makeup is alot different than a smaller venure. Basic, to me, sounds like foundation (one shade darker than your natural shade), eyeliner, and mascara, and for guys a pinkish kind of lipstick, and for basic with elaborate lighting, you may need highlight and contour lines. and if you have to play a role drastically older than yourself, wrinkles. but you didnt mention that so i'll talk about highlights and contours. this all goes under the foundation and powder. for caucasion skin, you need a dark brown pencil, like eyebrow pencil, and put lines just under your natural cheekbones. then you put a white pencil in the "T Zone", on your chin and forehead (in between eyebrows to hairline...but not a dark coat) and then you cover this with a fondation and setting powder. for dark skin, you do the same lines, but switch the pencils; dark for highlights, and light for contours. hope this helps, and break a leg in your play!

Answer 4

I'm not so sure about this because I'm a guy, but based on my experience, you need eyeliner, mascara, redish brown lipstick, and some blush on the eyes and cheeks. I'm not so sure, but I think this is accurate.

(You can use eye liner to draw lines on the "curves" on the sides of the nose to make it look like you have a pointier nose.)