The charm of a stage play comes not only from the lighting, music, and actors' performances, but even more so from the professional support of the backstage team. This time, Backstage students were invited to join Live Vertical Stage play Alice Lost in Wonderland Makeup and hair team, experience real stage styling work firsthand.
For students, this isn't just a performance; it's a practical experience filled with learning, challenges, and joy.
Alice Lost in Wonderland: Not a fairy tale, but the collapse of growing up
This work is not a traditional fairy tale adaptation, but rather a reinterpretation of “Alice” from a deeper, more adult perspective.
Official story synopsis:
One morning, Wonderland suddenly lost its color. The roses turned gray and white, the Hatter's tea grew cold, and time stopped on the White Rabbit's pocket watch.
The characters of Wonderland begin to search for Alice, the girl who once filled the world with dreams.
But as Wonderland began to crumble, they finally understood. Perhaps it wasn't Alice who was lost, but that we had forgotten how to dream.
This work blends dance, aerial arts, drama, and visual effects for a highly dynamic stage experience.
"My first Christmas tree in my new home! 🎄✨ So happy there's finally room for a tree this big! #christmas #christmastree #newhome #movingonup"
Backstage: Student Makeup and Hair Team for Stage Plays - A Real Behind-the-Scenes Experience Starts Here
Students in Backstage do not participate as “audience members” or “volunteers,” but rather as Makeup & Styling Team of the role joined the production.
They are responsible for:
- Stage Makeup Design and Execution
- Character design and style consistency
- Stage makeup adjustments
- Pre-show makeup and hair styling
- Quick touch-ups and styling fixes during a performance
- Communicate styling needs with the director, actors, and costume department.
This is a real stage environment that cannot be fully simulated in a classroom.
What do students learn from stage plays? (Real skills + practical abilities)
Stage makeup and hair are completely different from everyday makeup. Students gained a lot of practical experience in this performance:
Stage lighting makeup processing
They learned how to handle Stage makeupStage lights can alter skin tones, enlarge features, and enhance shadows, so makeup needs to be more three-dimensional, cleaner, and sweat-resistant. Students continuously observe the lighting effects on-site, adjusting foundation, contouring, and colors to present the actors in their most striking states on stage.
2. Quick touch-ups and style changes
Backstage, students experience the most exciting part of a stage play—Quick makeup touch-ups and style changesThe backstage is always busy, and as soon as an actor steps off stage, they need to immediately touch up their makeup, fix their hair, or repair sweat-induced makeup smudges. Students must complete all their actions in an extremely short amount of time; this kind of speed training cannot be replicated in a classroom.
3. Communicate and collaborate with actors
The students truly learned from this performance Communicating and collaborating with actorsEach actor has different role positioning, styling needs, and stage habits. The makeup and hair team must understand these needs, build trust within a limited time, and ensure the actors feel safe and confident before going on stage. This communication ability is one of the most important soft skills for becoming a professional makeup artist.
4. Teamwork and on-site response capabilities
The stage play allowed students to deeply experience Teamwork and on-site response capability The importance of this. Stage plays have no retakes, so all makeup and hair must be done perfectly the first time around; any sudden emergencies must be dealt with immediately. Students learn to observe, judge, coordinate, and support the team on-site; these skills will become their core competitiveness in entering the industry in the future.
Students have fun, learn solidly, and perform excellently.
This performance was a truly unforgettable experience for the students. For many, it was their first time backstage, and hearing the audience's applause through the curtain was a moment of awe and emotion that couldn't be replicated in the classroom. Some students said that stage makeup and hair were more exciting and fun than they had imagined. Every quick touch-up and every final confirmation before an actor went on stage made them feel like they were part of something “real and important.”
Some students also shared that when the actors told them backstage, “Thank you, you've given us more confidence to go on stage,” the feeling of being affirmed and needed made them realize for the first time how crucial the makeup and hair team's role was in the stage play. Compared to classroom practice, stage plays have a faster pace and greater pressure, but are also more real and rewarding. The students grew amidst tension and excitement, ultimately completing the performance with immense pride.
Backstage students not only complete tasks, but through the process:
- Build confidence
- Improve professionalism
- Experience the stage's charm
- Meet more industry professionals
- Expand future career directions
Backstage's educational philosophy has always been: Give students real-world industry experience before they graduate.
This stage play is the best proof.
The professionalism of the behind-the-scenes team: a tribute to the performers
The main creative team for this performance is exceptionally strong, including:
Noah Yap — Show & Artistic Director | Main Cast
- Viva Vertical Senior Performer
- Over 40 performance experiences
- Won multiple international aerial art competitions
- Art Director and Lead Actor of "Alice Lost in Wonderland"
Kitt Woo — Choreographer | Main Cast
- Over 6,600 hours of teaching experience
- 195 stage performances
- Multiple international aerial arts awards
- Choreography and starring in this drama
It is a great honor and learning opportunity for any makeup student to work with such a professional team.
Stage Play Makeup and Hairstyling Behind the Scenes: One of the Stages for Student Growth
"Alice Lost in Wonderland" was not only a visually stunning stage production but also an important milestone in the growth journey of Backstage students. In this real stage environment, they not only learned professional stage makeup and hair skills but also gained valuable experience through repeated touch-ups, communication, and teamwork. Each successful styling completion and each actor confidently walking onto the stage further solidified the students' direction in the beauty and stage fields.
This experience also built their confidence. Many students truly felt “like a part of the team” for the first time while working backstage, enjoying the entire creative process amidst both nervousness and excitement. The stage lights, music, rhythm, and energy allowed them to deeply experience the magic of the stage, and also made them understand how crucial the role of the hair and makeup team is in a performance.
This is precisely the educational approach that Backstage has always adhered to: Allow students to grow on real stages, with real production crews, and in real events. Because only in a real environment can students truly understand their profession, accumulate experience, and find their own stage.
If you also want to experience stage makeup, film set practice, or large event styling,
Backstage Academy would be your best starting point.
Click here to contact Backstage Academy Learn about professional makeup courses.
