Backstage

The Ladies Auxiliary for Cultural Enrichment is pleased to invite you backstage to catch a glimpse of the tremendous skill, talent, and organization that go into each and every appearance of LACE…

While LACE may appear at first glance to be a carefree troupe of traditional “drag” performers, these talented actors are actually dedicated professionals who spend up to four hours in wardrobe for a single appearance. Every appearance, no matter how trivial, is treated like a legitimate theatrical performance with the actor scheduled to arrive to the makeup department at a particular interval to be transformed by our LACE makeup artist into their designated granny character.

Each LACE costume has been carefully researched, designed, and assembled to represent the consummate matronly style of each era from the 1900’s to the 40’s. All of the costumes and accessories, including the jewelry, are either authentic to their time or fine reproductions. Some items were custom-made just for LACE.

Each set of wardrobe is carefully examined and catalogued before and after each LACE event from the vintage feathered hats to the lace up oxford shoes to access any damage and ensure every costume item is present for each appearance. This can be tricky as each LACE granny may have up to sixty different wardrobe items of various types or styles and these items must travel great distances at times.

Once the actor is in the makeup chair, it can take up to three hours to apply the stylized makeup required to age these normally youthful looking actors into the mature matrons that comprise LACE.

Four different makeup bases are required, up to a dozen various color shadings, four shades of powder, three grades of eyeliner, four colors of eyebrow pencil, four mascara, two rouge, three shades of lipstick and about two dozen brushes.

After each actor is painstakingly aged fifty years through layers of highlights and shadows, they receive their trademark granny “street” makeup of vintage style rough, eye shadow and lipstick.

Even before their custom styled, high grade gray wigs are finally donned, “Edna, Agnes, Pearl and Maud” are in character and ready for their wardrobe which must be fitted over or around their made up faces.

A final check list is consulted; gloves, purses, parasols, flasks... and the Ladies Auxiliary is ready to mount their chair scooters and ride proudly into their next public appearance…

We hope you enjoyed the quick look backstage!