Jay Manuel Gives ‘The Bodyguard’ Musical a Must-See Makeover
The late Whitney Houston starred in one of the most iconic ’90s films, The Bodyguard, and we will never forget how incredibly well the pop diva dominated the screen in the role of Rachel Marron.
This past November, the musical stage adaptation of The Bodyguard made a major comeback. And the creators of the new production couldn’t have picked anyone better than Grammy Award-nominated and multiplatinum artist Deborah Cox to play the same role Houston previously took our breath away with.
While keeping in line with the original script, there were modern-day tweaks, including all the stunning beauty moments between scenes. The man behind The Bodyguard musical makeup? Jay Manuel, a fashion and beauty expert and creator of the namesake beauty line Jay Manuel Beauty.
“When consulting with Deborah for her looks in The Bodyguard, I absolutely looked at the glam factor in the original film,” Manuel told Yahoo Beauty. “I wanted to make sure we updated the makeup style to match today’s culture, as the stage production includes cellphones with selfie cams. Basically we brought Rachel Marron to 2017.”
“Keeping with makeup trends of today, the makeup for the show has more luminosity to the skin, brows that are on fleek, and muted lip tones that represent the current fascination with nudes,” says Manuel.
He adds, “I’ve always had a huge passion for the theater, and The Bodyguard happens to be a movie that I loved back in the early ’90s, so I jumped at the chance to have Jay Manuel Beauty be the official makeup sponsor for the U.S. tour. Having synergistic opportunities to feature the brand is important to me. My feeling is makeup should be used to elevate the stage performers’ character look without looking like grease paint like in days past.”
Cox was already a huge fan of Jay Manuel Beauty, so she was delighted to wear looks featuring the cosmetics line for the stage show.
“I really love working with JMB because of the range of colors. It’s perfect for a performer like me who goes from performer to working mom most days. I can easily incorporate it into my lifestyle. The shadows look amazing onstage, and when I need to be low-key, I can still get amazing coverage,” Cox told Yahoo Beauty.
The singer turned actress’s favorite performance scene? “Queen of the Night.”
“What I love most about this musical adaptation for the U.S. is that Jay wanted to go even edgier for the ‘Queen of the Night’ look, more so than the film,” says Cox. “So the look is more bold and fierce! The makeup is more drastic from my own look even, as a performer. Most of my looks onstage are elegant. This gives my audience a chance to see the more aggressive and sexy, bolder side!”
It certainly wasn’t a bad idea to tap makeup master Jay Manuel. Each look was gorgeous, and it’s clear how excited and comfortable he was creating these memorable moments.
“There’s such a magic about live musical theater performances that allow me to relate to all different types of characters and as such, I get an opportunity to experience many different life journeys. I loved having the opportunity to create a modern day interpretation of the original iconic film that is loved by millions all over the world,” says Manuel.
Between the stellar talent and makeup looks, The Bodyguard musical is a must-see. Make sure to buy your tickets before they sell out fast!
Read More:
EXCLUSIVE: Deborah Cox Talks Channeling Whitney Houston for ‘Bodyguard’ Tour, Says She Has Family’s Blessing
Jay Manuel Talks Makeup and Fashion
Quotes: Whitney Houston
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