As I said at the outset of chapter one the three ingredients necessary for drama are a story, an actor, and an audience. Elaborate props and costumes are NOT included in that list. For that matter, neither are cheap, cheesy-looking props and costumes. Therefore, DO NOT PANIC when your youth pastor allocates $20 for your yearly drama budget.

Of course, that doesn't mean you should do with out props and costumes. You can do a great deal by pulling from your own closets, attics, kitchens, and ingenuity. Here are a few suggestions for creative prop and costume usage.

Buy items you find yourself using frequently. Some things we have found ourselves using over and over include candles, lighters,

When unusual prop and costume needs arise, try to borrow or bring items from home. No need to spend forty dollars on a prop you'll only use once if some one already owns it.

If possible, make or sew items you don't have or can not afford. The Dramamaniacs once did a skit on smoking which called for a puppet of Joe Camel. We used a combination of felt, fur, cheeseball cans, dowel rods, stuffing, and styrofoam to bring him to life. The total cost of materials? Around $14: three bucks cheaper than the tie we put on him!

If you must buy, check thrift stores and discount stores first. Don't pay the more expensive costume and novelty shop prices unless you have to.

Get as much use out of costly items as possible! Make those heavy investments pay off. And be creative! Two months after his debut, Joe Camel made an appearance in our Christmas program.

Just in case you do have a generous budget or a generous benefactor, here are a few "must have" items you might want to stock up on.

1. Angel Robes. Also useful for Jesus, Princess Leia.

2. Dress Clothes. Shirts, ties, slacks, dresses. Why? Two words: kids forget!

3. Fantasy Costumes. Whatever gets donated, whatever you've got already. You'd be amazed how much mileage you can get with only a monk's robe, a military jacket, and a Snow White gown.

4. A Graduation Robe. This can be used for Death, judges, etc.

5. Pillows and/or Stuffing. Useful for creating muscle men, pregnant women, big guts, and large rear-ends.

1. Glasses. Nerd glasses, horn-rimmed glasses, shades. You'll use them.

2. Beer bottles. A&E Root Beer bottles work well- no markings or labels.

3. Phones. You need at least two. And make sure they are table phones, not wall phones!

4. Dinnerware. Plates, napkins, cups, forks, spoons, knives. Plastic and paper will work.

5. Poster board. Billions of applications.

1. DUCT TAPE!!!!! A theater professor at Indiana University once told me there were three things that revolutionized the way theatre is done; three things that she cannot imagine how theatre happened before they were brought into being. I've since forgotten the third, but the second was colored light gels and the first was a little miracle known as Duct Tape. Ninety-nine percent of the theaters in this world are held together by this magical wonder! Props, set pieces, costumes, technical equipment, you name it. The silver adhesive is everywhere, making it's all important contribution to the art of the theatre!

2. Scissors. Keep them around so you don't go looking for them. They come in handy.

3. Sound Effects CD. Make sure it has a doorbell, ringing phone, gun shot, and driving nails.

4. Highlighters. To mark scripts. Helpful in memorizing lines and marking tech cues.

5. Markers.

1. A Rubber Chicken. Try giving him CPR.

2. A Gorilla Costume. The fun is endless with one of these beauties.

3. The Sledge-O-Matic. Just like Gallagher. Everybody loves to watch people break stuff!

4. A Mascot. Year ago, we found a Dow Bathroom Scrubbing Bubble for $1.01 at a thrift store. His name is Delbert, and he traveled everywhere with us for moral support. Until he got lost.

5. Stage Make-up. DO NOT buy the cheap Halloween stuff! Professional theatrical make-up is worth the extra few bucks. The basics you'll need are:

-A basic white.

-A color wheel with blue, red, yellow, orange, green, and black.

-Make-up brushes.

-Sponges.

-Baby Wipes. Use these to clean make-up off easily.

A Note about Make-up: Black eyes are not black. Bloody wounds are not all red. Wrinkles are not straight, black lines. And bruises, depending how old they are, may be yellow, green, brown, blue, or any combination. If you're interested in realism, consult a book about stage make-up with a section on wounds and aging. If you're lucky, you may have some one in your group with theater make-up experience who can show you how to do it.

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