BOSTON – The Grinch is back in Boston, entertaining crowds of all ages at the Boch Center Wang Theater.
Bringing the Grinch to life with makeup
But it’s the makeup that makes Doctor Seuss’ classic holiday story come to life on stage.
“The Grinch is our green guy. He’s there. Everyone knows what he looks like, and translating that on stage is very important to the story,” says Hanna Andruss, who is responsible for transforming singer and actor Matthew Forbes into the iconic furry green creature.
CBS Boston
She uses different brushes and tools to create different textures and lines needed to create the Grinch’s face.
Forbes tells us it’s all worth it because “this hour-long process really turns you into the Grinch. I mean, you look in the mirror and say, ‘I am the Grinch.'”
Forbes has been dreaming of this role for years.
“I grew up with this character. I loved this story, and it kind of feels like something I’ve been preparing to play my whole life…I’ve always had kind of a low voice, so it was just so nice It felt like he was my man. This world was my world and so it’s a huge thrill to play it now,” he said.
Before joining the tour backstage, Andruss helped develop the guide used to create the Grinch makeup, explaining, “It’s the base, it’s the lines, it’s the shadows, it are all the other colors. And so in creating a step-by-step, it creates a kind of order of working in applying the makeup, so it’s consistent every day.
Forbes says the makeup, combined with the costume, really brings the Grinch to life.
“You’re wearing these Grinchy fingers, these gloves, and I remember it was one of the first costume pieces they sent me when I was cast to kind of get used to working. And of course they extend your fingers , and you really feel quite grin.”
And Andruss tells us: “This is kind of a dream job for a makeup artist. It’s fun, it’s bold, it’s loud, but it’s very technical and very exciting and challenging. And you can also make it your own, a little bit, with the artist you work with and that is a beautiful process.”
Tickets to the Grinch Musical
You can watch ‘Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” runs through December 23 at the Boch Center Wang Theater in Boston.
David Wade
