Halloween is the perfect time to let your creativity shine, and what better way to do that than by dressing up as your favorite musical theater character? Here are a few ideas to get you started, along with tips on how to style your Halloween costume.
Halloween Costume Ideas Inspired by Musical Theater Characters
Mean Girls
- Regina George: The queen bee of North Shore High School and the leader of the Plastics. She is known for her sharp tongue and her ruthless ambition. Wear a pink mini skirt, white button-down shirt, pink cardigan, high heels, and a crown.
- Damian Leigh: Janis’ gay best friend. He is known for his sarcastic wit and his love of fashion. Wear a graphic T-shirt featuring a humorous or pop culture reference, sunglasses, and a fun wig (Damian has short, dark hair.)
- Janis Sarkisian: Independent and edgy. known for her rebellious attitude. Consider a Jean jacket, mesh tank top , shorts, black lace leggings, black socks and black leather boots .
- Karen Smith: One of the Plastics. She is known for her ditzy personality and her love of pink. Try a pink track jacket, pink leggings, and white sneakers, or try her mouse Halloween costume, a gray onesie or leotard with a hood that has mouse ears .
- Gretchen Wieners: One of the Plastics. She is known for her insecurity and her love of gossip. You’ll want a pink miniskirt or babydoll dress with a pink headband and white fur coat (“Mouse” scene); or a pink and white striped vest with a pink and white striped skirt and a white headband (“Stop” scene) white button-down shirt, pink cardigan, and white high heels.
Descendants
- Mal: The daughter of Maleficent and the leader of the Isle of the Lost. She is known for her rebellious nature and her magical powers. Her purple leather jacket, purple mini skirt, black tights, and black boots are iconic.
- Audrey: The daughter of Aurora and Prince Phillip. She is known for her journey of self-discovery and eventually is seen to be a loving person. She is drawn to Mal’s pet dog, Diablo. She is usually seen wearing dresses, skirts, and blouses in shades of pink, white, and blue. She often pairs her outfits with headbands, hair bows, and jewelry. Try a pink dress, white tights, and pink ballet flats.
- Uma: The daughter of Ursula. She is known for her pirate attire in the first two movies and her love of revenge. She is usually seen wearing a turquoise leather jacket with epaulets, a purple mesh shirt, a turquoise fringed skirt, brown distressed boots, turquoise nail polish, and a black tricorn hat.
Beetlejuice
- Lydia Deetz: A gothic teenager who lives in a haunted mansion with her family. She is known for her love of the dark and her dry wit. Known for her black dress, black tights, and black boots. You can also add a black wig, white makeup, and a Beetlejuice doll.
Frozen
- Elsa: The queen of Arendelle and a powerful ice and snow sorceress. She is known for her reserved personality and her fear of her own powers. Don’t forget the long blue dress, white cape, and silver shoes. You can also add a blonde wig and blue makeup.
- Anna: Elsa’s younger sister and princess of Arendelle. She is known for her adventurous spirit and her love of her family. The classic costume for Anna is from the first Frozen movie and from the Broadway starts with a dark blue or turquoise dress or skirt. You can add a capelet, fur trim, and other embellishments to make it look more like Anna’s outfit. You can also make your own reindeer antlers or buy them online. She wears a long green dress embroidered with snowflakes, and brown boots as she becomes more independent (Frozen 2). You can also add a brown wig and red makeup.
EnCanto
- Mirabel Madrigal: The only member of the Madrigal family who does not have a magical gift. She is known for her determination and her love of her family. Try a black-trimmed Andean-styled white blouse with colorful embroidery (butterflies, a rainbow, flowers, etc.). You can find a blouse like this at some costume stores, or you can make your own, and add a long, ankle-length teal Colombian-styled embroidered skirt. Pair it with a pair of espadrille shoes, a brown wig, and flowers and perhaps a pair of eyeglasses. in your hair.
- Isabela Madrigal: The eldest daughter of the Madrigal family and a perfect gardener. She is known for her beauty and her pressure to be perfect. Wear a purple dress, white tights, and purple ballet flats. You can also add a brown wig and flowers in your hair.
Addams Family
- Wednesday Addams: The eldest child of the Addams family. She is known for her dark and morbid personality. Best recognized with a long black dress, a white collar (cut a strip of white fabric and sew it onto the collar of your dress!), black tights, black shoes (Mary Janes or boots), pale makeup, some black eyeshadow and black lipstick, and two black braids.
Here are some important hints for styling your Halloween costume, inspired by musical theater characters:
- Pay attention to the details. What makes your favorite musical theater character’s costume so iconic? It’s probably the little things, like Regina George’s pink mini skirt or Mal’s purple leather jacket. Make sure to find the perfect accessories and details to make your costume truly stand out.
- Accessorize. The right accessories can really elevate your costume. For example, if you’re dressing up as Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice, don’t forget to add her signature black wig and white makeup. Or, if you’re dressing up as Elsa from Frozen, don’t forget her cape and sparkling crown.
- Be creative. Don’t be afraid to put your own spin on your costume. For example, if you’re dressing up as Mirabel Madrigal from Encanto, you could add a personal touch to her yellow dress by adding some embroidery or flowers. Or, if you’re dressing up as Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family, you could add a few personal touches to her black dress, such as a spider brooch or a bat necklace.
The most important thing is to have fun and be creative with your costume! Halloween is the perfect time to let your inner musical theater star shine.
Fun Facts:
Elsa
- The costume for Elsa in Frozen was designed to be as visually stunning as possible, while also being functional enough for the actress to sing and dance in. The dress features a long cape that can flow behind her as she moves.
- The dress is also adorned with over 10,000 crystals, which sparkle in the stage lights.
Lydia
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The black dress worn by Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice was actually a vintage dress that was found in a thrift store.
Regina George
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Regina George’s pink mini skirt in Mean Girls was reportedly so short that it was constantly slipping around and had to be taped in place.
Next Steps for Musical Theater Lovers
If you’re passionate about musical theater, Halloween is the perfect time to let your inner star shine. Choose your favorite character from a musical and dress up to the nines this Halloween! With a little creativity, you can create a costume that is both fun and stylish.
And who knows? Maybe your Halloween costume will inspire you to take the next step in your musical theater journey. If you’re interested in learning more about musical theater, consider attending our summer camp or auditioning for one of our upcoming productions. We would love to help you develop your skills and talents, and to share your love of musical theater with the world.
Summer Camp
Our summer camp is a great place for kids and teens of all ages to learn about musical theater. In camp, you’ll learn about singing, dancing, and acting, and you’ll get to participate in a full-scale musical production at the end of the summer. Stay tuned for this announcement in December!
In the meantime, join us for A Year with Frog and Toad, Kids!
Auditions
We are always looking for talented performers to join our cast. If you’re interested in auditioning for one of our upcoming productions, please visit our website for more information.
We hope to see you soon!
Other Resources for Inspiration:
22 Broadway-Inspired Costumes for You To Make This Halloween
31 Last-Minute Musical Theatre Halloween Costumes
How to create Halloween costumes based on musical theatre characters
