The Lion King JR: Costumes for School & Youth Theater

From one volunteer to another:The Lion King JR has a large cast and bold visual moments, but the costumes don’t need to be complicated to read clearly onstage—this page shares practical notes on what’s worth building, what’s easier to buy or upcycle, and links to the resources that helped keep things manageable and budget-friendly for school productions.

How It’s Made

Lion King JR – Elephant Headpiece Costume: Side view of an oversized handmade elephant headpiece worn by a performer for a school theater production.
6. Lion King JR – 3D Printed Headpieces: Collection of six custom 3D-printed Lion King JR animal headpieces displayed on mannequin heads, featuring different characters and designs for school theater.
Lion King JR – Giraffe Costume: Two young performers wearing brown and African-print costumes standing beside tall handmade giraffe puppets with long necks and spotted faces for The Lion King JR.

ELEPHANT HEADPIECE

3D PRINTED MASKS

GIRAFFE COSTUME

Pumbaa Costume – Puppet Construction: Handmade warthog head foam head with white horns and a backpack-style harness designed to support the foam head during a school theater performance.
Lion King JR – White Bird Costumes: Two performers wearing matching cream-colored bird costumes with puffed sleeves, flowing skirts, and oversized white feathered headpieces for The Lion King JR.
Lion King JR – White Bird Headpiece: Handmade white bird headpiece constructed using a tennis visor, EVA foam wings, and packing material feathers for The Lion King JR.

PUMBAA BACKPACK HACK

“SHEER DRAPE” SKIRT

WHITE BIRD HEADPIECE

Lion King JR Costume Inspiration Gallery

Performer portraying Rafiki in Disney's The Lion King JR. wearing a dramatic feathered headdress, red and black costume, and decorative necklace while holding a tall staff during a theatrical performance.

Performer portraying Rafiki in Disney's The Lion King JR. wearing a dramatic feathered headdress, red and black costume, and decorative necklace while holding a tall staff during a theatrical performance.

Handmade Rafiki-inspired staff for The Lion King JR. musical, decorated with feathers, beads, and hanging fabric strips for a school theater production.

Handmade Rafiki-inspired staff for The Lion King JR. musical, decorated with feathers, beads, and hanging fabric strips for a school theater production.

Black lion costume mask with dark faux fur mane, green eyes, and sculpted facial features, designed for Scar in Disney's The Lion King JR.

Black lion costume mask with dark faux fur mane, green eyes, and sculpted facial features, designed for Scar in Disney's The Lion King JR.

Handmade gold lion headdress featuring a stylized lion face surrounded by radiating gold mane pieces, displayed on a mannequin head for The Lion King JR. musical.

Handmade gold lion headdress featuring a stylized lion face surrounded by radiating gold mane pieces, displayed on a mannequin head for The Lion King JR. musical.

Metallic gold lion face mask with sculpted features and a textured mane, displayed against a rustic background for a Lion King JR. stage costume.

Metallic gold lion face mask with sculpted features and a textured mane, displayed against a rustic background for a Lion King JR. stage costume.

Handmade lion face headpiece featuring tan and orange facial details, dark eyes, and flowing orange fabric, displayed on a mannequin for The Lion King JR. school musical.

Handmade lion face headpiece featuring tan and orange facial details, dark eyes, and flowing orange fabric, displayed on a mannequin for The Lion King JR. school musical.

Decorative lion costume mask with a tan face, dark facial outlines, and a golden mane, paired with gold fabric for a Lion King JR. theatrical costume.

Decorative lion costume mask with a tan face, dark facial outlines, and a golden mane, paired with gold fabric for a Lion King JR. theatrical costume.

Performer wearing a handmade lion mask with a large textured mane, flowing patterned costume, and layered fabric during a theatrical performance of Disney's The Lion King JR.

Performer wearing a handmade lion mask with a large textured mane, flowing patterned costume, and layered fabric during a theatrical performance of Disney's The Lion King JR.

Collection of handmade lion costume masks and headdresses featuring sculpted lion faces, textured manes, and natural-colored materials, displayed on mannequin heads for The Lion King JR.

Collection of handmade lion costume masks and headdresses featuring sculpted lion faces, textured manes, and natural-colored materials, displayed on mannequin heads for The Lion King JR.

Two performers wearing lion masks, patterned costumes, and colorful African-inspired fabrics during a stage production of Disney's The Lion King JR.

Two performers wearing lion masks, patterned costumes, and colorful African-inspired fabrics during a stage production of Disney's The Lion King JR.

Performer wearing a large lion headpiece, beige long-sleeve top, and colorful patterned pants against a golden background, showcasing a handmade theatrical lion costume.

Performer wearing a large lion headpiece, beige long-sleeve top, and colorful patterned pants against a golden background, showcasing a handmade theatrical lion costume.

Two young performers modeling Lion King JR. costumes featuring lion-inspired headpieces, patterned tunics, loose white pants, and coordinated accessories for a school theater production.

Two young performers modeling Lion King JR. costumes featuring lion-inspired headpieces, patterned tunics, loose white pants, and coordinated accessories for a school theater production.

Two young performers wearing coordinated black tops and colorful African-inspired patterned pants. One wears a handmade lion mask with a straw-like mane and feathered collar for Disney's The Lion King JR.

Two young performers wearing coordinated black tops and colorful African-inspired patterned pants. One wears a handmade lion mask with a straw-like mane and feathered collar for Disney's The Lion King JR.

Handmade giraffe puppet costume featuring a long patterned neck, sculpted giraffe head, and brown fabric body, designed for a school theater production of The Lion King JR.

Handmade giraffe puppet costume featuring a long patterned neck, sculpted giraffe head, and brown fabric body, designed for a school theater production of The Lion King JR.

Two views of a handmade animal costume headpiece featuring oversized blue eyes, a black nose, tan facial details, and textured faux fur, displayed against a black background.

Two views of a handmade animal costume headpiece featuring oversized blue eyes, a black nose, tan facial details, and textured faux fur, displayed against a black background.

Wildebeest costume- Geometric antelope-inspired animal mask with long horns and angular facial features in brown, black, and white, created for Disney's The Lion King JR.

Wildebeest costume- Geometric antelope-inspired animal mask with long horns and angular facial features in brown, black, and white, created for Disney's The Lion King JR.

Lion King JR. Hyena Masks: Three handmade hyena costume headpieces featuring gray faces, large pink ears, yellow eyes, black faux fur, and exaggerated expressions for The Lion King JR.

Lion King JR. Hyena Masks: Three handmade hyena costume headpieces featuring gray faces, large pink ears, yellow eyes, black faux fur, and exaggerated expressions for The Lion King JR.

Lion King JR. Grassland Costume: Cream-colored theatrical bird costume featuring a woven-texture dress, decorative collar, and oversized white feather-inspired headdress, displayed on a mannequin with additional headpiece views.

Lion King JR. Grassland Costume: Cream-colored theatrical bird costume featuring a woven-texture dress, decorative collar, and oversized white feather-inspired headdress, displayed on a mannequin with additional headpiece views.

Lion King JR. Zazu Costume: Young performer wearing a blue-and-white bird-inspired costume with a white jacket, blue pants, and coordinating blue hat, posing in front of a painted landscape backdrop for The Lion King JR.

Lion King JR. Zazu Costume: Young performer wearing a blue-and-white bird-inspired costume with a white jacket, blue pants, and coordinating blue hat, posing in front of a painted landscape backdrop for The Lion King JR.

Pumbaa

Pumbaa

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