Wicked has returned to the Smith Center for a month, bringing the songs, story and set that have made it beloved. It will also bring the green. The green wicked witch has been iconic since the Technicolor premiere of The Wizard of Oz, but part of Wicked’s allure is how it plays with tropes to tell a new story.
“Honestly, Elphaba, this witch, she is the most beautiful person in the show—she’s just green,” says makeup artist Christina Tracey, who’s responsible for getting the look right every night. “What is really intriguing about her character is that everybody initially is like, ‘Wow she’s not ugly. She’s beautiful, and her skin is actually beautiful.’ And when most of the actresses play the role they say, ‘I feel so beautiful green.’”
Tracey gets the look using MAC makeup available over the counter—Landscape Green—and painting it on using traditional Japanese calligraphy brushes. (Airbrushing would kick too many makeup particles into the air, which could interfere with a singer’s voice.) “A lot of the girls say getting green feels like getting dog-licked, because it goes on really wet, and then I sort of buff it out and make it really dry with the brush.”
Tracey has just 20 minutes to get the actress prepped for the show, but that doesn’t stop her and the rest of the backstage crew from checking to see if anyone in the audience has come in makeup, too. “I love it when audience members come to the show in character,” Tracey says. “Especially when two girlfriends will come with one made up as Elphaba and one as Glinda. We all love it so much backstage.”
Wicked Through November 9; Tuesday-Sunday, 7:30 p.m.; October 9, November 5, Saturday & Sunday, 2 p.m.; $45-$161. Smith Center's Reynolds Hall, 702-749-2000.
