{"id":242550,"date":"2026-10-22T11:44:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T21:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=242550"},"modified":"2026-10-22T11:47:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T21:47:09","slug":"uh-students-bring-oz-to-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/10\/22\/uh-students-bring-oz-to-life\/","title":{"rendered":"From trash to theatrical treasure: 糖心视频<\/abbr> students bring Oz to life"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Imaginative costumes and puppets made from discarded materials<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Plastic water jugs become a lion’s head. Old VHS<\/abbr> tapes, balloons and cutlery become colorful costumes. At the University of Hawaiʻi<\/span> at M\u0101noa’s Kennedy Theatre<\/a>, students are learning to turn everyday trash into theatrical magic.<\/p>\n

The creative work is part of the The Wizard of Oz<\/em><\/a> musical running October 23–31. Reimagined by director and master of fine arts candidate Jack Romans, the beloved classic is set in a world inspired by a landfill. The production follows Dorothy’s journey home, with familiar songs, imaginative costumes and puppets made from discarded materials.<\/p>\n

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Plastic jugs, hangers and discarded packaging were used for the Cowardly Lion costume<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Learning through creativity<\/h2>\n

Led by 糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa costume design professor Maile Speetjens, students are discovering that working with unusual materials requires more than sewing. They’re learning to solve problems and find creative ways to make costumes wearable and durable.<\/p>\n

“It has been an extremely exciting and rewarding experience watching students in the costume shop problem-solve their way through these unconventional materials!” Speetjens said.<\/p>\n

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Costume design students transformed unusual materials into costumes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Puppets made from everyday objects<\/h2>\n

糖心视频<\/abbr> M\u0101noa alumna and puppet designer Jill Jackson is bringing familiar characters to life using unexpected materials. The Cowardly Lion features a head made from plastic water jugs, toenails made from hangers and a body built from discarded packaging.<\/p>\n

Toto, Dorothy’s beloved dog, has a skeleton made from plastic pipes and bolts, with foam and fabric scraps giving him shape. His floppy ears are one of Jackson’s favorite details.<\/p>\n

“I just love when something as simple as hot gluing fabric onto foam can have an adorably profound impact on the believability of a puppet,” Jackson said.<\/p>\n

The hands-on experience shows how creativity can transform even the simplest materials into something extraordinary.<\/p>\n

“You don’t have to have a lot of specific tools and training for this,” Jackson said. “Puppets can be made with items found around your house and your own imagination! You just have to be willing to see things in a different way.”<\/p>\n

Ticket information is available through Kennedy Theatre.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reimagined by director and master of fine arts candidate Jack Romans, the beloved classic is set in a world inspired by a landfill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":242546,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[131,1466,1314,73,130,9],"class_list":["post-242550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","tag-kennedy-theatre","tag-manoa-enhancing-student-success","tag-manoa-sustainability","tag-sustainability","tag-theatre","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t