Fifteen Zombies, Ninety Minutes, One Sink

I would group the cast by complexity rather than doing everyone in order. The assistant handles the ten simple looks-pale base, dark eyes, a little blood-while I handle the four prosthetic looks and the one hero look. The two minors go first or in the simple group, and I need written parental consent before any prosthetic, adhesive, or blood product, because the insurance requires it and because a minor cannot consent alone. The actor with eczema should not receive adhesive or prosthetic edges on inflamed skin; I would use airbrush or cream color for the effect and keep adhesives away from the eczema. The contact-lens wearer needs powder kept out of the eyes and no flakes near the lens; I would do eyes before lenses go in or ask them to remove lenses during application. The bearded actor should not have adhesive worked into the beard; I would build the effect on the forehead or cheek instead. I would also do a quick patch test for adhesives before the first night, not on the night of the show.

Shared fake blood is a direct cross-contamination risk because actors may have cuts, acne, or cold sores. I would decant blood into individual cups or squeeze bottles and never double-dip a brush or sponge into the master container. The airbrush is harder: the cup, nozzle, and needle can carry residue from one face to the next, so I would use disposable cups, flush the nozzle between actors, and wipe the exterior with an appropriate disinfectant. Foam-latex prosthetics are porous and cannot be reliably disinfected for another actor’s skin; with four prosthetics and three nights, I would assign each prosthetic to one actor or treat them as single-use for the run. If they must be reused, I would follow the manufacturer’s removal and disinfection instructions, document it, and not share between actors with broken skin. Hands, brushes, and palettes need the same discipline: sanitize between actors, use disposables where possible, and keep blood products away from the eyes and mouth.

Removal has to be planned before application, because the venue has no shower. I would give each actor a written card: use a cleansing balm or cold cream to soften prosthetic edges and makeup, avoid harsh scrubbing, remove contact lenses before cleansing, and keep blood products out of the eyes and mouth. Foam latex needs its remover, not pulling; adhesive residue should be loosened with the appropriate remover rather than picked off. Eczema-prone skin should be rinsed gently and moisturized, and anyone with lingering redness should be advised to see a clinician. For social media, the theater needs parental releases for the two minors and clear consent from all actors before posting close-ups; a cast-wide release may not cover a minor. I would also ask that photos not show a minor’s face with gore in a way that could be misused. Documentation should include consent forms, patch-test results, product names, and removal instructions given.