In order to learn costume construction skills, Technical Theatre has been creating handmade outfits after school for the musical “James and the Giant Peach.”

“I have a lot of students who can’t even sew a rip in their pants or reattach a button,” Technical Director Samantha Dunaway said. “Making costumes is a really good, creative outlet to apply those skills.”

Most of the materials are already in inventory.

“We’re just making a lot of alterations and adding on pieces to create new shapes and different colors,” Dunaway said.

Once the play is over, other schools will be able to use the costumes.

“They (other theatre departments) usually email and ask if we have it (clothing) in stock,” Dunaway said. “If we do, we invite them over so they can look and see If it’s going to work for their show.”

Everyone has been working together on each piece.

“We are all rotating and learning the different skills,” Dunaway said.

Sophomore Marwa Sultani said she is learning new ways to make the outfits realistic.

“It’s fun to play with the fabrics and do different things to make (the) costumes come to life,” she said.

Senior Jordian Amon said she is thrilled to be making something.

“I am very excited because we always build,” she said. “Now we get to focus on the costumes rather than the set.”

Sultani said there have been mistakes, but the students have been able to work through them.

She said, “It’s really time consuming but the thing is, I’d rather give up time for theater than not be in theater at all.”