What do you need to be sure you have in your kit when doing theatre?

Well if you are doing basic stage makeup, called "straight" makeup, you won't need quite as much as if you are doing special effects makeup. Now, don't get me wrong - you still won't be able to just reach in your caboodle and pull out whatever you happen to have on hand.

Theatre makeup is made especially for stage lights so don't try to cut corners by using regular department store makeup.

Stage Makeup for Lips -Lip liner and several basic lipstick colors.

Stage Makeup for Eyes - Several neutral and basic eye shadows will be needed. Mascara and eyeliner, in both black and brown, are stage makeup essentials as well.

Stage Makeup Foundation -A variety of theatrical makeup foundation shades are needed. You cannot select just one shade that best matches your face, since you'll need to do some highlighting and shading. Setting powder and blush tones are also essentials.

When you are creating special effects such as wounds, bruises, cuts or scars, you'll need some extra theatrical makeup supplies.

• Fake Blood
• Red, purple, blue, and black cream makeup
• Putty or Gum Resin
• Eye Shadow Colors (blue, yellow, green)
• Stipple Sponge 

Stage makeup can take a young beauty and turn her into an old hag, a mermaid or a cat. By using colors, highlighting, shadows and some creative 3D effects, theatrical makeup can create many fantasy effects. For these more complicated effects you may need the following items in your makeup kit.

• Sponges, Q-tips and Orangewood sticks
• Dark cream makeup or liner, at least 3 shade darker than natural tones
• Highlight cream or liner, white or several shades lighter than natural tones
• Colore cream foundation
• Fake hair and gum
• Putty for 3D effects

Fantasy theatre effects can take a lot more time to put together and mean hours in front of the stage mirror instead of a few minutes.