Marshall Allen
About 100 children enjoyed workshops in stage makeup, dance,
singing and art at Descanso Gardens on Thursday as a part of
BradyLock Productions' summer performing arts workshops.
The three-week workshops have been taking place for the past nine
years at Descanso Gardens, and give children between 8 and 12 an
opportunity to be trained by industry professionals. The stage makeup
class was taught by freelance makeup artist Carolyn Simon, who
recently did film makeup for Kirk and Michael Douglas. On Thursday,
the students were learning "corrective" and beauty makeup.
Corrective makeup "brings out the best features in your face and
hides the not so good features," said Shana Friedman, 9.
The students also learn to do old age, clown and mime and fantasy
makeup, Simon said. But their favorite is bruises and cuts, where
they give each other black eyes and big gouges in their arms, she
said.
"They love to go into the ladies room and scare the heck out of
the little old ladies," Simon said.
BradyLock Productions is owned by Roger Lockie and Angie Brady.
Brady is an opera singer and Lockie has been involved in
entertainment for about 50 years, acting, performing music and
directing Broadway plays.
"I've had a long and varied career, but I'm very proud of this
camp," Lockie said.
Part of Lockie and Brady's passion for having the performing arts
workshop comes from the public school system, which has taken to
cutting arts programs when budgets get tight, Lockie said.
"I've never thought of the arts as a frill," Lockie said. "It's
one of the largest industries in the United States."
At the end of the session, the students hold an Open House for
their parents to show off what they have learned.
