Seussical Costume Kits for Volunteers

There is a saying in my Event Management life, "show volunteers HOW its done, and GIVE them the tools they need and Volunteers step up and Make It Happen." And these parents did not disappoint.

In a plastic bag I provided:

1. cutout templates of the pieces volunteers would be assembling & material for cutting.
2. the instruction sheet was hand written with drawn figures. Some people are visual and others do better with written guidelines.
3. scrap felt for decorating.
4. tacky glue.

The Volunteer parents really stepped up!!! Over 35 people contributed to our costume success! Kits were made for ribbon rods (made from FREE paint stirrers), WHO everything (except the sewn shorts and skirts) suspenders, collars, headbands, ties, etc., the hunters reversible vest to fish and a separate kit to make the fins and tails, where the mom took extra effort to decorate them!


Seussical Costume Kits for Volunteers, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Seussical Costume Kits for Volunteers, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Seussical Costume Kits for Volunteers, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Seussical Costume Kits for Volunteers, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Seussical Costume Kits for Volunteers, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

In all fairness, there are two important life experiences that gave me the talen and skillset to complete this project.

I have been both on stage, backstage as crew and behind the scenes in theatre performances all through High School and College. I LOVE the theatre. My background helps me with the vision and effects for costumes.

I work in Event Management Professionally as a Consultant, JK Marketing and Event Management. My organizational skills and attention to detail are a big part of the business success. And fun!

More Inspirational Images for Seussical Costumes

More fun ideas for simple creative costumes!! Yes, it takes 1-2 night of googling ideas to find the right combinations of colors and costumes. But worth the search!

Grinchs hair and costume inspiration was simple and effective, the Wickershams were played by girls, and I loved the boyish charm of these costumes!

Sour Kangaroos actor came to me and said "my character needs to be sassy, and fun, and purple, and totally own it!" She put me on a mission to please her vision!!

I love the elegance of this Sour Kangaroo, her pouch and interesting ears.

More Inspirational Images for Seussical Costumes, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

I loved the EARS on this purple piece:

More Inspirational Images for Seussical Costumes, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

The WIckershams, ours are played by girls. But the Ears on these backwards caps really inspire. As do the clothes colors.


More Inspirational Images for Seussical Costumes, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.


Up close Wickersham Ears Alternative:

More Inspirational Images for Seussical Costumes, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

 Of course the Grinch. And while he is not the Star of the Seussical, every audience member will recognize this character. I loved this hair. And the T-Shirt inspired by the actual movie.

More Inspirational Images for Seussical Costumes, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Final photo to come.... 

Seussical Costumes, The Final Photos - All Homemade

One of my favorite parts was making the WHO costumes. First I sketched out the ideas, and then narrowed them to 4 color combinations: Yellow and Green, Purple and Orange.

There was NO WAY I would have been able to make all the suspenders, bow ties, neck ties, collars and aprons... It would have taken 12+ hours. So I used a trick from my event planning bag, KITS. I made kits with instructions and figure drawings, pre cut felt pieces for examples and excess fabrics and notions. With the schools permission I left a Seuss Pick Up Box in the Main Office or delivered kits to mom who signed up to help. We had over 30 volunteers to help assemble and decorate the kits!! Wow -- great support.

Seussical Costumes Homemade, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Seussical Costumes Homemade, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

The Headbands

Seussical Costumes Homemade, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

We made kits for WHO Suspenders, headbands made from pipecleaners, collars, aprons, neck and bow ties. Admittedly the shorts and skirts were some of the most crude sewing I have done. But their costumes, and as our High School costume queen said, it has to last and be durable for 2 days and look great!! My lesson learned, make costumes bigger and a few smaller pieces if you don't have a chance to measure the kids in advance!

That's me adjusting Horton's ears. Notice those striped arm covers? Yes, those are from Japan, since they use skin covers instead of sunscreen.

Seussical Costumes Homemade, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

Mr. and Mrs. Mayor, upcycles from the Wizard of Oz costumes.

Seussical Costumes Homemade, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

 
Mayzie - I wish I had a shot of her on stage LIVING THE COSTUME. When she first put it on she shook her tush, and waved her hips!! She really owned the costume.

Seussical Costumes Homemade, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

The Bird Girls: These girls wanted their feather colors to culminate into Mayzie's tail colors. 

Seussical Costumes Homemade, a photo by APrincipalandWifeTravels on Flickr.

We made that happen.