Zombie eyes and bald opera singers

So, this weekend I decided to take a theatrical make-up class at The Kennedy Center. It just sounded like too much fun to pass up. The "Diva It Up" class promised to show me how to put on my opera face and create some Halloween looks. How could I resist?

The KC is a very imposing building. I felt under-dressed as soon as I arrived. (I also felt this way walking down Savile Row in London. One must simply hold one's head high and get on with things.) There are red carpets and valet guys everywhere.

The students in the class ran the gamut from professional make-up artists to people like me who just wanted to have fun. One woman brought her 8 year-old nieces.

Perhaps the coolest part of the course was that it was located in the opera house dressing rooms. There were rows and rows of make-up tables with vanity lamps, where all the ballerinas get ready for their performances.

Our teacher, Leslie, has been a professional make-up artist for more than two decades. (Her own make-up was flawless, so that was a good sign.) She works at the Kennedy Center, making up the performers for ballet, opera, and theater.

Here Leslie is teaching us how the ballerinas use a white base for their make-up, how to create a dramatic eye look, and how to make your brows more prominent for a stage performance. Other things she taught us:

• People on stage need lots and lots of fake eyelashes.
• Warm tones like pinks and peaches look best under stage lights.
• If you're putting eye make-up on another person, tell them exactly what you're doing with each step. No one wants any surprises near their eyes.
• Keep your eyes open when applying false lashes so you don't glue your eyes shut. (Good tip.)
• Any eye shadow can be used as a liner - just add a bit of water and use an eyeliner brush.
• Super Matte Anti-shine is the best product in the world. It will mattify even the shiniest bald head. (Which was why, Leslie told us, her tube was nearly empty.)
• Brides wishing to avoid a shiny face would do well to keep a velour pouf of powder tucked into their bras in order to have easy access to some mattifying powder.

Leslie also taught us how to make wounds with paint-on latex and fake blood.

Here is the beginnings of my little pot of congealed blood. Vaseline is the base, then you add some bright red, and soften it up with some blue...

...which allows you to create this disgusting and totally awesome look. Fresh walkers here!

Leslie also gave us tips on how to use liquid latex to create the illusion of wrinkles under the eyes. At this point, two older ladies in the class yelled out, "That is information we do NOT need!"

My goal was to create a zombie look. Here I started with a freshly-washed face.

Then I added a nice base for theatrical eye make-up, or, "the deranged ballerina" look. Leslie had all these wonderful French beauty products for us to try. This white make-up felt really nice and light on my face. I could totally be a mime with this stuff.

And here are my zombie eyes. I was going to start on sunken cheeks next, but they had to kick us out so the opera singers could come and get their make-up on. (sigh) Priorities...

I also learned how to make bruises (but I forgot to take photos) and lots of tips for applying mascara and false eyelashes (which I will probably never use.) Tomorrow night I will get to see some of Leslie's handiwork from the audience when I go to the ballet. Can't wait.

This class was so much fun!