Makeup workshop encourages children’s imaginations
Written by Phil Cerroni
By Jess Paniszczyn
Youngsters became fantasy princesses and monsters of the night through the magic of makeup during the West Irving Library’s Glam & Gore Stage Makeup Workshop on Aug. 18. Through the workshop, professional stage makeup artist, Stefanie Glenn from the Plaza Theatre Company taught the kids how to apply basic stage makeup, as well as fantasy and gory makeup.
“Stage makeup isn’t typically taught in the public school curriculum,” Glenn said. “A lot of these kids do theater in school or locally, and stage makeup is a good skill to have.
“This is a good group of kids, and they are really creative. They are doing fun things with makeup and asking good questions. They really seem interested in what is happening.”
Jade Coyle (13) coaxed her younger sister, Jenna, into attending the workshop.
“I’ve always liked the fantasy makeup, so I wanted to come and learn how to do some of the makeup,” Jade said. “It is interesting to learn about the different types of makeup and how much you should use, instead of just putting it everywhere.
“I really liked putting makeup on my sister. I just put it all over her face. She kind of didn’t want to do it, so now she’s taking her revenge out on me by doing my makeup.”
Activities like the makeup workshop bring people into the library and encourage reading, according to Debra Miller, the West Irving Library’s Volunteer Coordinator.
“Off and on throughout the year, we are doing more drama related projects, because theater is a good gateway to literacy,” Miller said. “There are kids who couldn’t care less about reading, but you give them a chance to perform and with a script in their hands all the sudden there is some motivation to read.
“Through theater kids learn a form of self-imposed self discipline. The focusing skills learned in theater can help improve a child’s grades and behavior.
“We are bringing more and more drama into the library, because there is a huge desire for theater in this community. I moved here from New Mexico, and I have never seen so much musical theater going on in such a small area. So we are definitely filling a demand, and it brings people into the library.”
