Some years ago we switched to personal makeup kits. Our students buy them, unless there is financial hardship, and then the production buys it.
Students keep the kits after the show, no matter who paid, and bring them back for the next show, most of the time.
While we do have some stock items (some hair products, latex, spirit gum, items for special effects), we don't have things that we issue to kids that they return, except for items that our professional makeup consultant has taught us how to clean properly. For example, we clean off mustaches after every use, not just at the end. The department brushes and supplies are kept clean daily, cleaned between their use on individuals.
How will this look in the COVID 19 era? I don't know yet, we haven't been in the building since March.
Putting makeup on a fellow student requires one to maskless for a good while.
Once we are allowed back, we will doubtless develop some new procedures
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Nathan Rosen
Atholton High School
theatre teacher/director
Columbia, MD USA
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-16-2020 10:24
From: Stephanie Schultze
Subject: Makeup in Stock and Covid - Now What?
Please do not crucify me if this is the dumbest thing you read all day ..... But.... I know I am not the only high school theatre teacher with a case of stage makeup sitting in storage. High school makeup protocol was sketchy Before Covid, after Covid - if feels like I really need to go downstairs and just throw it all away. But it is hard to wrap my head around all the money I will be tossing. I attended a workshop once where it was said an acceptable practice was to issue each actor their own makeup (for example the creme foundation) for the run of the show. After the show, when the makeup is turned back in, I would "clean" it by removing the top layer of the remaining creme and place it back in stock. We do not allow sharing during a show and we require student to obtain their own mascara and lipsticks. THAT SAID - I would like to know what others are doing with their stock make up now. Are we tossing or keeping?
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Stephanie Schultze
Drama Teacher/Director
Russellville High School
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