Place Cards

• Cards worn in front or on your back

• Especially good for “hard” to illustrate concepts or characters

Hoods

• Hoods are easy to make and can add that extra bit of detail that finishes of a simple costume.

• Details can

be added that

could not be

attached to

the head.

Capes and Robes

• Very simple to make

• Details can be added to suit the character

• Silk for kings and queens

• Sequins for rock stars

• Earth tones for peasants

or Biblical characters

• Velvet for kings

Comical Props

A ventriloquist is nothing without its dummy, right? And a Cupid cannot aim love at the lovers without his bow and arrow. These are great examples of how a costume is nothing without a comical prop to assist it.

What would go along with the costume? What could you add to make it funny? What one or two things takes it from a boring idea to a zany one?

• a police officer? Make a squad car out of a cardboard box!

• an ice cream man? Attach a doll to each of your legs to symbolize kids hanging onto you scrambling to get the ice cream.

• Get the idea? Dressing as a nurse is not too exciting but if you make yourself into a “crazy nurse” and carry a giant cardboard needle, it’s funny! 

Remember, too, that your “prop” can be a person. Adding another member to the group in a related costume completes the  group’s ensemble 

Finding your Props

• Most props can be borrowed or found around the house. If need be, shop at flea markets and yard sales to pick up items for a few bucks. If you can’t find it, make it yourself. Just make sure you add one or two props so that your costume is clever!

Improv Props

• A prop bag is a bag or a box or some sort of container holding really useful items - ones that come in handy during a theatre class or story renactment. These items serve many purposes.

The contents …

1. A large square of white fabric- This can be used as a tablecloth, a surrendering flag, or any manner of garment.

2. A Slinky- This item could be inspiration for a movement, used as an instrument, worn as a bangle, or be a unique hand prop for a character.

3. A Rose (Artificial)- It could be a sense memory trigger, or the unavoidable "declaration of love" prop.

4. A jar of bubbles- Besides creating great atmosphere, bubbles can be used in warm up and concentration exercises. For example, blow several and everyone follows one until it pops, with their eyes or their bodies.

5. A roll of Aluminum Foil- Apart form its mundane functions, which might come up in an improvisation, foil can be molded into pieces of jewelry, armor, or can turn someone into a robot.

6. Several pairs of Sunglasses and Eyeglasses- A pair of glasses will help an actor get into character more easily, and will also cause one to gesture more meaningfully if he is holding it.

7. A Mirror- It could be used for practicing facial expressions, monologues, and concentration exercises.

8. A Flashlight- Used for instant special effects, such as a spotlight. It is also good as a starting point for an improvisation. Simple gobos can be made for prop or effect.

9. A Towel- Like the white fabric, it can be used for many different situations, but its thickness will change the ways in which it is used.

10. Puppets- The puppets' mouths should be moveable, because then it can imitate facial expressions more easily. It can be used as a teaching companion, an extra character in a scene, or a way to get someone shy to talk. Puppets work especially well with younger children, although even high school students can find amusement in them a la Sesame Street.

11. Hats- Ideally, I would have a bowler, a beret, a beanie with a spinner on top, a big floppy lady's hat, and a fedora. The urge to dress up and become someone else stay throughout a person's life, and a hat is the simplest way to signal a change of character.

12. Blue fabric- used for water or sky

Simple Patterns

Some neat ideas

Full Body Puppets

Ideas for a Cardboard Box

• Paint it silver, glue on a few extras a presto.. a robot or suit of armor

• Paint it red, tack on some paper plate wheels, and you are a race car or train.

• Paint it white and a handle and you will be a cool refrigerator or other appliance.

• Wrap it in Christmas paper, add a large bow.. wow a Christmas present.

• Paint it bright colors, and a crank. a Jack-in-the-box.

 

• Rubics cube Using a large card board box and five different colors of contact paper, cover 5 sides, black pants and long sleeve shirt.

• Lego Block, hot glue 6 cottage cheese containers on the top of the box (the flat part)  like a Lego piece.  Spray paint (chose color based on what color sweats and turtle necks on hand) Take a smaller box that will fit on top of head snugly and hot glue one cottage cheese container and spray paint it the same color. 

• A dresser, attach long flat boxes on the front and glue small balls on front for pulls. Cut out holes for arms on the sides and hole on top for head. Put foam in the inside for the shoulders to hold it up.  Paint the dresser, hot glue a doily to top with hairbrush and hair accessories.  Hang underwear, socks, shirt, and pants out of drawers.  Put a small lamp shade on head so neck and face are base of lamp.

Adding Details

• Don’t know how to sew? Start with a sweat suit or jumper and just add the details

It’s all in the Details

• Start simple• Add the details• Add as many details as you

can think of• Have fun and be creative and Remember ….