Clothes might not make the man but they certainly do help an actor create a character. How costume designers employ the same elements of design found in sets (line, color, texture, shape) to realize a character is the focus of a lesson meant for theatre arts students.

Concepts

costume design, costumes, dramatic plays, elements of drama, characterization

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Additional Tags

visual and performing arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Collect and post about the classroom images of a variety of costumes 
• Assign groups to research and craft presentations about famous costume designers

Classroom Considerations

• Presumes students have a basic understanding of how to research the era of the play and how to analyze the characters they will be dressing
• Designers should also understand color theory
• The second in a three-part series

Pros

• Includes video interviews with award winning designers who created the costumes for Wicked and Sweeney Todd

Cons

• None

Common Core

RL.9-10.1 RL.11-12.1 SL.9-10.1.a SL.11-12.1.a