Submitted by Karen Reynolds, Nebraska

Idea posted January 20, 2003

Question: I'm going to be doing The Elves' Impersonator for my Christmas program this year. I need some ideas/resources for costumes and props. My budget is very limited, and the parents at my school are VERY uninvolved.

Answer: I had two long tables on stage, with the fronts and sides covered with green paper and decorated with snowflakes and the words "Santa's Workshop." The elves with speaking lines lined up at the tables, pretending to fix/make toys or wrap presents. (I had a big pile of boxes wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper next to each table, too.) Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Elfis generally stood between the two tables for their lines.

This was so easy - one class made the snowflakes, another class was responsible for bringing the wrapped "presents," and another class brought toys and "tools" from home.