Production Tips: Costuming Magic

Most Improv Playhouse shows don’t employ a costume designer, which means that directors, student actors, and parents have to work together to make costumes for the shows. The results can only be described as incredible! Below you will find a list of some of my favorite shows, both from the show I’ve had the honor of costuming (Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, Grease, and High School Musical) and the ones I’ve seen and participated in. Read on, and you may just find the inspiration for you next Halloween costume!

1. Alice in Wonderland: The Caterpillar. The actress playing the caterpillar wore a giant green sleeping bag! The effect was remarkable.
2. Into the Woods: Chippy. The little girl playing the mouse wore an oversized sweatshirt with the hood up. I attached giant mouse ears and long tail to the hoodie…she looked too cute!
3. The Dwarves Beards: The Dwarves. iP teacher extraordinaire Lindsay Fussell created bears with faux fur elastic and Velcro that could be “cut” and “regrown” onstage. They made telling the hilarious story possible!
4. Rumplestiltskin: The King. Have you ever seen a king in footie pajamas? I have, thanks to a young actor’s great idea for a hilarious surprise entrance.
5. Beauty and the Beast: Enchanted Objects. With just some cardboard, fabric, and paint, my co-workers Alex Buda, Lindsay Fussell, and I created costumes for Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, Chip, and Madame de la Grande Bouche. Our fantastic young actors even managed to dance in the enormous cardboard creations…now that’s talent!
6. Beauty and the Beast: Gaston. We created muscles for our young Gaston by stuffing old pantyhose with cotton batting and putting them up his sleeves. He looked very manly!
7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Violet Beauregard. A giant, blue, blow-up suit was procured. Need I say more?

Guest blogger Shannon Campe is imProv Playhouse’s Resident Dramaturge. She has worked as both a teacher and an actress during her ten years at iP, where credits include The Glass Menagerie (Amanda), Blithe Spirit (Elvira), and Alice in Wonderland (Alice.) She is currently studying Theatre and Creative Writing at Butler University in Indianapolis.