A Costume Crash Course: Halloween 2024

Posted October 30, 2024

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In need of some quick costume inspiration? APT is here with some ideas from our 45th season.

Halloween is tomorrow, which means now is the perfect time to embrace your own theatricality and let your brilliant creativity shine. And while we at APT understand that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a collection of thousands of historical and fantastical pieces at their disposal (which is very helpful when costuming productions for more than 45 years), you can still try to have a little fun with one of these easy, punny APT-inspired costumes this season.

Be warned: some of these costumes might be a bit more gruesome than desired for trick-or-treating, and while Shakespeare was a fan of gore and stage blood, that doesn’t mean you need to be, too. Bring your own spin to the costumes and remember, commitment to character is always key.

Costume Idea: Messina Fish from Much Ado About Nothing

Harrison Farmer and Aaron Allen, Much Ado About Nothing, 2024. Photo by Liz Lauren. Costume Design by Daniele Tyler Mathews.

What you’ll need:

  • Blue bedsheets
  • Safety pins/ fabric glue
  • White fabric marker
  • Scissors
  • (Optional) Fishing net
  • (Optional) Candy fish

Beatrice and Benedick make a great couples’ costume (you can even carry a heart to eat in the marketplace! Zombie-Beatrice-win!). But if you’re looking to go with something a little less basic, might we suggest The Fish featured in Messina’s festivities this past summer. The homemade-feel of these costumes make it crafty and a little less scary to execute. Plus, the sheer silliness of going as a dancing, life-sized fish is something to be admired and celebrated. At least that’s what The New York Times thought.

Costume Idea: Roaring Twenties from Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Sydney Lolita Cusic & Chiké Johnson, August Wilson's Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, 2024. Photo by Liz Lauren. Costume design by Raquel Adorno and Brandi Mans.

What you’ll need:

  • 1920s-inspired dress or suit
  • Fedora, cap or bedazzled headband
  • Coats, scarves, mittens
  • Musical instrument
  • (Optional) Handheld microphone
  • (Optional) Coca-Cola

Pay homage to the era of the Mother of the Blues, Gertrude “Ma” Rainey and her team of musicians in this 1920s inspired costume. This costume is not only stylish, it’s also practical! Since August Wilson set this play during Chicago’s colder months, you can layer up with coats, gloves, hats and scarves as necessary. Just make sure to dust off your instrument of choice and keep the music hot!

Costume Idea: Ermo from The Virgin Queen Entertains Her Fool

Josh Krause, The Virgin Queen Entertains Her Fool, 2024. Photo by Liz Lauren. Costume design by Haydee Zelideth.

What you’ll need:

  • Jester Hat
  • Fun, patterned clothing
  • Big boots
  • Royal Crown
  • (Optional) Jim DeVita puppet

This one will be a little more on the obscure side, but only because APT did the world-premiere production this past season. Ermo, the juvenile jester, quickly captured the hearts of many patrons thanks to his quippy remarks, melodramatic songs and dirty jokes. You can repurpose some items that may already be in your Halloween collection or really go big on the arts and crafts and construct your own pieces, just like Ermo. And if you happen to have a puppet version of Jim DeVita on hand (I mean, who doesn’t?), all the better.

Costume Idea: The Mundy Sisters from Dancing at Lughnasa

Colleen Madden & Elizabeth Reese, Dancing at Lughnasa, 2024. Photo by Liz Lauren. Costume design by Rachel Anne Healy.

What you’ll need:

  • Wool skirts
  • Sweaters
  • Black Boots or flats
  • Activity of choice (knitting, reading, collecting berries)
  • (Optional) Invisible boy to talk to
  • (Optional) One white rooster

A great group costume for anyone looking to team up with their sisters, biological or chosen. Layers create that lived in feeling while shielding you from the unforgiving winds of the Irish countryside (or Wisconsin in October). Bring along your dancing shoes, a sense of melancholy and, of course, the radio. Oh, and Gerry Evans is NOT invited to this group costume. Not that he’d bother to show up anyways.

Costume Idea: Earl of Gloucester from King Lear

Jim DeVita, King Lear, 2024. Photo by Liz Lauren. Costume design by Holly Payne.

What you’ll need:

  • A blindfold or gauze bandage
  • Red fabric marker
  • Fake blood
  • (Optional) A pair of external eyeballs to carry around
  • (Optional) A “World’s Best Dad” shirt

Now here’s that gore we were talking about. Halloween’s horror has nothing on the twisted tortures thought-up by good old Willy Shakes. Poor Gloucester found that out in one of the most hard-to-watch scenes in all the canon.

Keep it simple with this one. Cover your eyes with a blindfold or bandage with some red marker over the eye sockets to imply something atrocious. Add touches of fake blood here and there or, for added effect, have some fake eyeballs in your pocket. Smell your way to candy bars!

Costume Idea: APT Stage Manager

APT Stage Management team, 2024. Photo by Nora Murphy.

What you’ll need:

  • Black shirt
  • Black pants
  • Black shoes
  • A dauntless sense of teamwork
  • (Optional) headset
  • (Optional) clipboard
  • (Optional) 10-minute timer
  • (Required) caffeination

Looking for something that’s a little bit more practical for managing a busy evening of Halloween activities? Take some inspiration from our stage managers! Their all-black uniform is easy to replicate and might just empower you to handle any amount of stress the night throws your way. And for a fun activity to accompany the costume, you can spend all evening calling cues, jotting down notes and calling a 10-minute break when you need a moment to yourself.