How Theater Costumes Are Made for School & Community Productions

This page brings together the DIY costume projects behind our school and community theater productions. Each photo below links to a specific build, showing how individual costume pieces were made, structured, and adapted to hold up onstage. These projects reflect real volunteer constraints—budget, time, and large casts—and are meant to be adjusted to fit your own production.

Lion King JR, Lioness, Nala, Sarabi, Sarafina, 3D-mask, headpiece

LION KING JR
3D-printed Lioness Headpiece

ALADDIN JR
Cave of Wonders Tapper Costume Build

Pumbaa Costume "Backpack Hack"

LION KING JR
Pumbaa Costume “Backpack Hack”

Gray elephant headpiece made from a paper mâché base with fabric overlay, featuring a sculpted trunk and white tusks, worn by a youth performer in a Lion King JR ensemble costume and created as a DIY build using an Ultimate Paper Mache pattern.

LION KING JR
Elephant Headpiece Paper Mache

White bird costume worn by a youth performer, featuring a flowing satin-style tunic and a DIY headpiece made with a white visor base, 2mm or 3mm EVA foam wings, and packing foam feathers for a Lion King JR ensemble role.

LION KING JR
White Bird Headpiece

Lion King JR Giraffe Costume (DIY Paper Mâché Head for School Theater)

LION KING JR
Giraffe Costume
Paper Mache

Two youth theater performers wear white bird ensemble costumes with satin silver blouses and DIY sheer drape skirts that are budget-friendly and easy to sew in under an hour for school musical ensembles. Feather headpiece made of EVA foam.

LION KING JR
White Bird “Sheer Drape” Skirt