Q&A: Priscilla Queen of the Desert makeup artist gives us the lowdown on glitter

Date December 15, 2010

Will Swenson (Tick), Tony Sheldon (Bernadette) and Nick Adams (Felicia) in Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical. Photography by Joan Marcus

Last week, we had the unmitigated glittery delight of catching Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical (until January 2, mirvish.com), the story of three drag queens who set out across the Australian desert in the titular bus to do a gig at a casino in Alice Springs. The costumes, all 500 of them, were spectacular, and while it is certainly difficult to compete for attention with a dress made of flip-flops, the makeup–from glow-in-the-dark eyeshadow to glittery lipstick, was pretty great as well. To find out more about the production, we grilled lead makeup artist Justen Brosnan, whose credits include Broadway productions of The Drowsy Chaperone and Legally Blonde: The Musical, about the behind-the-scenes ballet and just how much glitter goes into the show.

Take me through the looks for the three main characters.
“Adam/Felicia has the most extravagant and multiple changes, as which suits a character who is a colourful, self-centered (in the nicest possible way) born-to-perform person. There are a lot of bright, vibrant colours that mimic a lot of what is in the costumes.

“Tick/Mitzi is an interesting character who flip-flops between a sensitive, nervous male, who is the grounding person of the group, but can throw the glitz and panache as well as the rest of the group, to his performance and alter ego as his job and the distinction is very apparent in both modes. His palette is also reflective of what exists in the texture and choices of the costume designer. His changes are less hectic, but still require speed and accuracy as there is a lot going on in these changes. Makeup on/makeup off!

“Bernadette is just a vision of femininity and has an ideal of star quality borrowed from the ’40s and ’50s and her days in the performance group Les Girls in Sydney, Australia, where she was the star attraction in its hey-day. Her makeup has gracefully been designed to reflect a character who has transitioned from one gender to another with great dignity and elegance…even when stranded in the harsh Australian outback with a broken-down bus!”

What’s the most difficult thing to achieve when transforming the actors into drag for the show?
“Time, time, time! Always, the wish is for more time, but with the help and proficiency and talent of the cast, it is a well choreographed ballet behind the scenes to get them back onstage for the next part. I commend all of them for their commitment, and the team in the makeup and hair that puts it all together.”

What about the characters who aren’t in drag? How do you make Bob, the mechanic who rescues the trio when their bus breaks down, stand out against the outrageous costumes and sets?
“The answer is right there in the question. Bob’s simplicity is in stark contrast to the other elevated looks, and this contrast alone accentuates his look, as does the play of the masculine against the feminine in predominantly ‘male’ oriented scenes.”

What products do you order the most of from M.A.C?
“I think I have basically an entire store by now, but I would have to say that my most purchased and consumed product is M.A.C Full Coverage Foundation. M.A.C has an amazing selection of foundations for all skin types and textures. I also use a lot of their eyeshadow palettes and pigments as well as their lipliners, blush and of course their amazing range of tools and brushes, which are essential to achieve the Priscilla look.

“I choose M.A.C Cosmetics, who have been so amazing in supporting Priscilla, for the cast and show, and I am so familiar with the product and appreciate the range of colour/pigment saturation and the longevity that is required for a two-and-a-half hour journey. My favourite products (this list could go on forever, so I will keep it to 5 or 6) are:
-Prep+Prime Skin: A beautiful underbase to prepare the skin.
-Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation: A simple application with a smooth realistic finish for the skin, for both males and females.
-Lipstick in M.A.C Red: A standout red. Fantastic for life and for stage, it’s always in my professional and personal kit. It works so well for so many skin tones and as we near the holiday season, it is the perfect colour for parties!
-Wipes: The ultimate for a quick removal of all facial makeup. They’re safe around eyes, hypo-allergenic, and contain a moisturizer.
-Lip Liners, in various shades: They just go on so well and the colour choice is outstanding.
-Eye Shadows and Pigments: The colour range is vast and the combinations are only limited by imagination. Don’t forget to explore the loose Pigments!”

Let’s talk glitter: How much do you go through in a typical week of the show?
“I would say we may go through about a half kilo per week, and it is applied to lips, eyes and cheeks, and various parts of the body to make Priscilla the sparkly, fun, emotional, joyful ride it is.”

Did I detect some glow-in-the-dark eye makeup on some of women? What did you use for that?
“Well…that is a secret combination of M.A.C products, blended, and with a touch of glitter added. I can’t give you the stats–there has to be some mystery in this relationship! I will say that all products that are used on The Divas [a trio of songstresses suspended, angel-like, from the ceiling] are exactly the same, but each beautiful woman was allowed to play with the application and combination until they found their ‘Diva’ and it was approved.

What are some of the specialized products you use? Is there anything especially out of the ordinary you haven’t mentioned already?
“I do love the Strobe Cream from M.A.C, as it gives such an amazing texture to the skin. And I also love their Cleanse Off Oil, which is amazing for the cast to remove their look at the end of a performance. It’s so gentle and works for any person that is looking for a fantastic makeup remover. I feel that with the choices that are available at M.A.C, and the ability to be able to play with the product, that for stage or street, anyone can create their Priscilla-inspired look!”