Gee Wiz!

After my flurry of wax impressions on paper, I switched to a different canvas. These gorgeous children were the major characters in The Wiz at my son's old school. It's a magnet elementary school that is rich in arts education. It is also lucky to have the brilliant Bruce Hirsch as director. Bruce has been putting on a production the quality of a high school musical for 27 years. He gave my budding thespian his start and I believe is singularly responsible for the rich theater community in my town. 

Last year I volunteered to do the age make-up for My Fair Lady, to make the children playing older characters look, well, old. Afterward, I promised Bruce I would return even though my own character was flying up to middle school. Lo and behold, Bruce chose The Wiz, a very heavy make-up show. With the aid of the dedicated and hard working costume chair Ann Marie Hubbell, we ordered supplies and I had the great fun of turning children into art. 

Here's our Scarecrow, with his painted-on eyes. Each performance we collaborated on a new "pattern" for the right side of his face.

The Tin Man wanted to look rusty but was vetoed by the Bruce and his co-director Rich Tallberg. In compensation, I gave him a ratchet jaw -- or at least tried to!

Our fearless lion grew out his dark hair and let his mother bleach it for his role. Such dedication!

Along with our male leads, we had our witches. Here's Addaperle, the wacky Witch of the North. Despite the 90+ degree heat, no air conditioning and bright lights, our Addaperle looked as perfect at the end of the show as in the beginning. Was it magic?

Evilene, the wicked Witch of the East. She let me make her as fearsome as I could. What an actress and what a great sport!

And the fairy-tale Glinda, the good Witch of the South. This cherub was the hardest to do because she had to look beautiful and sparkly all the way to the back of the theater, without anything being too exaggerated. 

Let's not forget The Wiz himself! (Here without his crazy black and silver wig.)

While there was melting going on due to the unexpected heat wave (I believe we may have reached 100 on Sunday) the kids were real pros and delivered a great show for five performances. Bravo and brava to everyone!