How Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, goes green in “Wicked,” currently playing in Colorado

Wicked is one of the most successful musicals of all time and is currently playing at Denver’s Buell Theater. The show, which follows the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, runs through August 25 at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

Only Dillon Thomas of CBS News Colorado was given exclusive behind-the-scenes access to see Elphaba transformed into the iconic green witch on stage each night.

Elphaba, played by Lauren Samuels, is one of the most iconic characters in any musical, so getting her makeup right is a big task for the cast and crew.

Samuels invited Thomas into her dressing room to watch her become the Green Witch eight times a week.

“How long does the process take?” asked Thomas.

“It’s actually pretty quick, about 30 minutes,” Samuels said.

Samuels sat on a chair while makeup artist Tish Ferguson worked her own magic, so to speak, by covering her in green makeup.

Thomas agreed not to reveal the brand or specific color of makeup used, as Ferguson said it’s sometimes difficult to find. She noted that production tries to buy as much of it as possible at each stop on the tour, but said they can only use a specific color to ensure Elphaba is the right shade.

However, she said the brand and color are available in beauty stores across the country.

“It’s a water-based paint,” Ferguson said.

“It’s very cold,” Samuels said of the process.

Samuels has only been touring with the production for a few months, but she said she feels the magic of her transformation every night just as much as she did when it was first performed.

“The first green is magical,” Samuels said. “I was very shocked when I saw myself green, but it was an incredible feeling.”

Samuels said it was fun to see how applying a unique makeup color can actually help highlight facial features she never thought were so beautiful.

“The green will highlight other features that you wouldn’t normally notice on other days,” Ferguson said.

“My blue eyes caught our attention the first time we painted me green,” Samuels said.

The paint covers Samuel’s entire face, neck, chest, upper back, ears, nostrils, and hands. However, most of the rest of her body does not need to be covered, as the costume hides it for her.

However, green is not the only color Samuels wears at every show.

“If you were sitting way back in the audience and I were just green and had no features, I would look like a garden pea,” Samuels said.

For this reason, Ferguson uses a white powder and also adds dark tones such as blush, eye shadow, lipstick, etc. to give Elphaba more features.

“Because that’s what it’s about. I want Elphaba to be the prettiest girl in the room. I don’t want her to be ugly just because she’s green. So that’s what I focus on every day,” Ferguson said.

Thomas had many different questions for the duo, including unique ones like whether the paint dries or whether it itches.

“It was a little drier in Denver, so my face was drier, but no, I don’t get crusts. That’s a good question,” Samuels said, laughing.

Ferguson helps Samuels create a character on stage that audiences around the world have come to love.

The duo, who both said they built a great relationship over the course of the night-time process, said getting the makeup right was just one of the many keys to creating Elphaba.

“This role in particular, everyone knows it, it’s so popular, it’s so beloved. The green is so recognizable that I still feel like it’s me every day. I’m Elphaba. I’m the one who turns green,” Samuels said. “It’s always a very emotional moment because you always think, ‘Oh wow, I’m Elphaba now. I’m going to play this role.'”

If you want to see Samuels as Elphaba, there’s still time. And when you arrive, be sure to pick up a program booklet to read about Thomas and his work in the performing arts.

Wicked tickets are still on sale and can be purchased on the DCPA’s official website.