They entered as a typical group of Arlington teens and tweens. Within 90 minutes, they had been transformed into, among others, a monster, princess, a pumpkin and a unicorn.
The metamorphosis came courtesy of Encore Stage & Studio, which on Oct. 25 hosted its first-ever Halloween-makeup workshop at Cherrydale United Methodist Church.
“It’s just to have fun — a lot of fun,” said Debra Leonard, who for more than a quarter-century has overseen the makeup as well as costumes for Encore productions and led the program.
Why sign up? “I thought it was cool,” said Olivia Wolfe, who within an hour had transformed from a local middle-schooler to a convincing jack-o-lantern, missing only a stem on her head to make the ensemble complete.
Pulling out a tackle box that for about 30 years has served as Encore’s makeup kit, Leonard explained the uses for powders, brushes, pencils, sponges and a variety of types of makeup.
But before they started in, participants had to come up with both what they wanted to be, and how they would make the transformation.
“It starts with observation — looking at what makes something what it is, what is the essence,” Leonard said. “What makes a dog a dog? What’s the difference between a dog and a giraffe? I always start with drawing a picture, drafting out on paper the key parts.”
It’s not necessary to spend a fortune on equipment for a good result, whether the goal is a Halloween design or everyday makeup application, she said.
“You don’t have to have something fancy,” Leonard said. “You can use small paint brushes, not a [specialized] $50 brush.”
Among those participating was the mother-daughter duo of Haely and Laen Strock. The former transformed into a unicorn, while the latter was aiming for the look of singer, songwriter and noted cat-lover Conan Gray.
Haely Strock, a preschool teacher, said she was impressed by Encore’s efforts “teaching children to be independent” through its workshops, camps and on-stage productions.
“It’s really incredible,” she said.
Strock said she planned to put the lessons to good use, coming to her classroom as a unicorn on Halloween.
Of taking the course, she said, “I wanted to do it and I was, well, ‘I don’t think I can sign up without my daughter,'” she said.
Also taking part were Nola and Mollie Grabowski. Though twins, they had different views on the right Halloween look.
Mollie Grabowski went for a Korean folk-horror character, while her sister Nola took a more low-key design approach in her transformation into a princess.
Too much makeup irritated her skin, which was her reason for keeping things simple, Nola Grabowski said.
It was something Leonard acknowledged as an issue. Younger skin is more sensitive and the pores are more likely to clog. There also is the issue of allergic reactions; the Encore event primarily used water-based makeup to minimize that likelihood.
“My goal is always that the kids are safe,” Leonard said. “At this age, skin is very fragile. I want stuff that can come off easily.”
Their creations were washed at the end of the workshop, but each student took home a kit from theatrical-makeup firm Ben Nye Stage Makeup, providing more opportunities to practice before Halloween arrives.
An educator living in Montgomery County and working in Prince George’s County, Leonard says she appreciates what Encore provides students, both for growth as thespians and as people.
In 2020, she received Encore’s Celeste Groves Award, presented annually to an individual providing sustained, meritorious service to the organization either as a staff member or volunteer.
