Transformation.

I don't know how many people have seen the show "Strangers With Candy" but I am guessing it is very few. This was a TV show that aired on Comedy Central back in 2000 and starred a then unknown Stephen Colbert and the comic chameleon Amy Sedaris. Sister to writer David Sedaris, Amy is one of the most bizarre and humorous character actresses around today. Whenever I see a picture of her she is wearing some new prosthetic facepiece, some strange wig and inhabiting some new character. For her it seems that in order to express her humor she has to transform herself physically before she can really delve into anything.

(The horns are only the beginning.)

Part of the fun of being in the corps (or in the company in general) is how many times we get to play bizarre creatures or poverty stricken townspeople. The added layers of makeup only help to pull out a side of us that we normally wouldn't tap into.

(Tom works his magic. Almost finished except for the bald ears.)
Nowhere is this example more evident than with the role of Lakeside Von Rothbart in "Swan Lake". We are lucky enough to have a genius by the name of Tom in our makeup department who thrives on seeing how far he can take the makeup design. Once you go to him you slowly start to see your face morphing in the mirror as his brush strokes paint you like they would a canvas.

(While a disgusting mess of a creature....Swamp Thing still enjoys long walks on the beach and Stephen King novels.)

All of a sudden you look in the mirror and who you were before is gone. This is always the true test of Tom's work to me; if I look in the mirror and a smile starts creeping onto my face which slowly spreads to laughter I know he is doing his typically amazing work. Jared was kind enough to let me document this journey from corps boy to malevolent swamp creature. The process takes a little over 40 minutes and that's just the beginning of the transformation.