Q: How large of a grant did the theater program earn? How did you earn this grant?
A: It is a $10,150 grant from The Tallmadge Foundation.
Q: What was your first thought when you received the grant?
A: My first thought was that I cannot wait to get the lab up and running because so many of our students and community members are going to learn some very cool things that will impact our school.
Q: What made you decide to use this grant towards a makeup workshop?
A: We are moving our theater program away from the traditional drama school model and towards a comprehensive entertainment arts model. As such, I realize the need to do special f(x) makeup. In addition, I have had many, many students over the years very interested in special f(x) makeup and costuming, as well as filmmaking . . . this lab will serve those types of students. There are very few, if any, high schools in the state that have special f(x) makeup capabilities to the degree that our lab will enable.
Q: What things will the stage crew be learning in the makeup workshop?
A: Anybody who wants to learn special f(x) makeup will learn 3D effects, sculpting and curing foam latex prosthetics, airbrushing, as well as character creation. We will be able to do full prosthetics and masks.
Q: What are you hoping the stage crew members will learn from the experience of having a makeup workshop?
A: The lab will not be just for stage crew — it will be for any student who wants to attend training sessions, workshops, help do makeup for sporting events, pep assemblies, plays, musicals . . . there will be workshops for adults and students — our lab will be a magnet for artists within and outside the city of Tallmadge to come and learn and create!
Q: How are these new things helping the stage crew and actors?
A: Stage crew and performers in the building will have more opportunities to be involved in different types of shows! We realize that theaters are not just for plays and musicals and our students need to learn to stage and tech different types of shows. We want to reach more students in the building with more types of shows. The theater department wants students in our audiences having fun seeing Lip Sync Battle, Tallmadge Idol, music festivals, micro performances . . . even a movie night series! There will be a lot happening this year!
Q: How will you be using this makeup workshop in the upcoming fall play, Puffs?
A: Depending on how quickly the equipment orders are processed and delivered, we will have the capability to do some very cool makeup for Puffs, but it;’s not exactly that type of show. So we will see. But, depending on timing, we may be able to roll out some fun stuff for a Halloween fashion show.
Q: Is there anything else you would like me to know?
A: The Theater Arts Career Academy (TACA) is looking to rebrand and the curriculum has expanded in order to serve more students in more ways. This special f(x) makeup lab is just the first step in building toward something much, much larger! We envision having full in-house production capabilities and a live venue that will attract regional music acts, comedians, and dance . . . we want more people seeing more types of performances and we want to partner with other programs, community members, and local businesses to host more events and create content — both live and recorded!
