What local and regional theaters lack in money they make up for in creativity. The actors know that beyond learning lines, meeting marks, and striking the right tone, they will also be responsible to getting themselves ready for the stage. That means learning how to apply theater makeup in such a way that the character they are portraying is believable. Newcomers make common mistakes that pros can help them avoid.

You might be great at making yourself up for work or a night out, but creating an effective appearance for the stage is something else entirely. The stage is not the place for cosmetic understatement. The lights will completely wash out subtlety. A good foundation is key, as is remembering to apply it to your neck as well as face. If you aren't sure about the right color, you can ask a store consultant at your department store's cosmetic counter.

In order to create a dramatic effect you will need a good set of eyelashes. Cheap eyelashes never fit correctly, and they itch. You don't want to be worrying about whether or not your eyelashes are falling off when you are in the middle of a dramatic moment. Brown, gold, and pink eye shadows are good, and liquid eyeliner works better than a pencil.

You have to learn how to highlight your face without overdoing it. It's hard to use too much blush though. It might make you look like a clown on the street, but not on the stage. Some inexperienced actors overlook their brows when they are making up their faces. You need to fill your brows in using a good pencil. This is especially important for blondes.

If you get a good role that calls for you to be shot or knifed, you will need to know how to create the effect of an open wound. A simple trick is to apply liquid latex around the wound. Once removed the puckered skin can be painted or smudged with red and black eye shadow to create the effect of blood.

You might have a role that requires you to be beaten up or involved in a minor accident. You can use the same eye shadow colors, with the addition of purple to create the appearance of bruises. If the bruising is part of the script, you may have to change the tones to green and yellow to simulate old bruises.

Hopefully at some point you will have the opportunity to play a character that requires you to age or start out as a much older person than you actually are. To make this role believable, you will need some liquid latex to make wrinkles. Once it dries on your face, you will remove it and apply plenty of makeup, making sure it gets into the creases in your skin.

You might never become an internationally acclaimed actress, but you will have lots of fun on the stage. It will give you plenty of chances to express yourself creatively. Applying your own makeup is a good way to make your character uniquely your own.