Cami Herr and Rylee Starr Cherry can make you look like you've survived a roadside bomb, all with makeup.

  • Herr and Cherry are theatre interns
  • Teacher at Blake High School got them involved
  • Herr and Starr on YouTube: Beauty, Scars, and Latex

The two Blake High School theatre students are special effects makeup "rock stars."

"This is kind of like our dream to be in theatre," said Cherry.

The two have been living their dream as interns at Jobsite Theater's latest production "Time Stands Still," playing at the Straz Center through July 31.

"Time Stands Still" tells a story of journalists carrying physical and mental scars as a result of their war coverage.The main character, Sarah, survived an IED in Iraq, and has a massive scar on her face.

Every night, Herr and Cherry make that scar happen.

Cherry uses a product called 3-D gel, a gelatin-like substance that, when heated, can be spread on the skin to create texture that looks like a laceration or burn when added to the right makeup.

For the character’s body bruises and road rash, Herr uses a palette of Ben Nye cream make-up and a sea sponge. She loads the sponge with color, and after creating the initial point on impact for bruise, she drags the sponge across the skin with a dark, reddish color.

It looks like long scrapes as result of being thrown onto a road or gravel.

"These girls are experts in makeup. They are rock stars," said show director Summer Bohnenkamp.

But who discovered these rock stars?

It was a fellow Jobsite Theater member and Blake High School teacher Matt Ray.

"When Matt Ray told us, ‘Hey, you want to work at the Straz and help us with a show that's going on?’ I was like ‘What, what? Us? Your students?’" said Cherry.

"For me, I was kind of excited because make up had always been just like a hobby on the side," said Herr.

The two 16-year-olds have their own YouTube Channel with tutorials on creating bruising and gore effects on the skin. They are also helping out as stage hands in the production.

“Every time there's a black out and you would see things, like, move around? That's us,” said Cherry.

Cherry says they also learned what it takes to put on a professional performance.

"It's also really fun to be a part of it like ‘yeah! I did that!’” said Cherry.

Herr and Cherry both say the summer experience has solidified their desire for a life in the arts. While Cherry has her sights set on the theatre, however, Herr hopes to bring her talents to the movies.