Stage Makeup - Dirt!

[carebear3885q]

Hey everyone,
I'm working on a show called Urinetown, which I'm sure most of you have heard of... I was just wondering if anyone know how to make dirt for stage makeup. The main question i have is how to keep it on and not come off, and other great tips for a dirty effect. Thanks.

[killerdana]

You can do a lot with basic stippling and sponging of cream makeup in shades of brown.  Otherwise, there are actually a few "dirt" products on the makeup market.  Try http://cinemasecrets.com/ for ideas.

[jspeaker]

You can do a lot with basic stippling and sponging of cream makeup in shades of brown.  Otherwise, there are actually a few "dirt" products on the makeup market.  Try http://cinemasecrets.com/ for ideas.

This really is your best option.  I did a rock and roll Vietnam show a few years back that had plenty of "Mud and blood and water" and the brow cream is the best way to go.

[stopthekitty]

i was in the opera Les Miserables at my high school. we used this stuff called Praire Dust. I think Ben Nye[spelling?] actually made it. it was great and despite how much came off on our clothes there always seemed to be plenty left on our faces!

[MarcieA]

Ben Nye makes great powder dirt in a number of different shades. It's of a good quality, you don't need too much to make it show up on stage and it lasts a while.

[bigak2]

You might not need this anymore. But for the dirty effect I sometimes take a cork from a wine bottle and burn the end. I let it cool and then rub it on the face. The burnt cork is dirty looking and according to how much pressure you use or how much it is burned down it can be lighter or darker. I learned this by helping with a small independent film.

[carebear3885q]

wow that's really neat and helpful! thanks! i've already done the show and we just used like eye makeup with different shades of brown. but that's a really neat and cheap way to make dirt! THanks!

[Jackson876]

We were being filmed as Civil War soldiers and our "dirt" makeup had to last twelve hours on a warm Louisiana day. A makeup tech had us close our eyes and sprayed our faces with spray waterproof sunscreen. Then we were given a tiny cup of burnt umber colored powder and told to smudge and blend it  onto our cheeks, chins, jaws and the backs of our hands to appear as soldiers filthy from battle. The sunscreen held the makeup to our faces through sweating and light rain.