Fall is definitely in the air. The kids are back in school, pumpkin dessert recipes are popping up on Pinterest, and the Halloween decorations are almost up and ready to fright and delight at the Disneyland Resort. It is one of the most festive times of the year! With the shift of the season, I thought it would be fun to change gears on the blog as well and create something spooky. But, since my house is filled with children under the age of 10, spooky really isn't a good idea. So, we went with mysterious instead!
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am happy to introduce our Shadow Puppet Theater. Step right up and enjoy creating a cast of Disney silhouette puppets. But, that's not all folks, this tutorial comes complete with characters, scripts, and printable theater decor. With just a little bit of work and imagination, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy an evening of silly, mysterious Disney inspired entertainment, right from the comfort of your own home.
For the theater, you will need:
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am happy to introduce our Shadow Puppet Theater. Step right up and enjoy creating a cast of Disney silhouette puppets. But, that's not all folks, this tutorial comes complete with characters, scripts, and printable theater decor. With just a little bit of work and imagination, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy an evening of silly, mysterious Disney inspired entertainment, right from the comfort of your own home.
For the theater, you will need:
2 yards of black butcher paper
1 yard of white butcher paper
Mickey's Puppet Theater Printables: Side 1 Download and Side 2 Download
Bright lamp
Tape
Making the Puppet Theater is quite simple. You can build it in a door frame or in a hallway. Spread the black paper across the bottom of the opening. Secure it on the edges with painter's tape or washi tape. Then cut an opening for the stage out of the paper. Add another row of black paper above it. Secure it in place with tape. Continue cutting the theater opening into this section of the black paper. I made a little swish at the top to make it fancy.
Leave one of the bottom edges open so that you can crawl through.
Use the white butcher paper to cover the stage hole that you cut in the black. I just crawled through and taped the white paper right onto the black paper. It is "backstage," so it hides all the tape.
You can add the Mickey's Puppet Theater sign to make it look extra fun. I printed it on 11x17 cardstock. There are two files to print. You will have to print them both and then tape the two parts together to make the sign large enough. They fit together very nicely!
For the puppets you will need:
Downloaded Printable Puppet Templates Below:
Tape
Making the Puppet Theater is quite simple. You can build it in a door frame or in a hallway. Spread the black paper across the bottom of the opening. Secure it on the edges with painter's tape or washi tape. Then cut an opening for the stage out of the paper. Add another row of black paper above it. Secure it in place with tape. Continue cutting the theater opening into this section of the black paper. I made a little swish at the top to make it fancy.
Leave one of the bottom edges open so that you can crawl through.
Use the white butcher paper to cover the stage hole that you cut in the black. I just crawled through and taped the white paper right onto the black paper. It is "backstage," so it hides all the tape.
You can add the Mickey's Puppet Theater sign to make it look extra fun. I printed it on 11x17 cardstock. There are two files to print. You will have to print them both and then tape the two parts together to make the sign large enough. They fit together very nicely!
For the puppets you will need:
Downloaded Printable Puppet Templates Below:
Wooden skewer sticks
Tape
The puppets are very easy to construct. Print the templates onto cardstock.
Cut around the edges of the silhouettes and tape a skewer stick onto the back of each of the characters.
You can also let your kids create their own shadow puppets using black cardstock. My kids enjoyed cutting out their own shapes to incorporate into the stories. Basic shapes, like hearts are a good place to start.
To make the puppets work, you need to add a lamp backlight inside of the theater. The light shines on the puppets and they cast a shadow onto the white paper. The shadow then becomes the show for the audience.
I thought it would be fun to put together two mini scripts for your family to use at home to get the creative juices flowing. Feel free to download them below.
Tape
The puppets are very easy to construct. Print the templates onto cardstock.
Cut around the edges of the silhouettes and tape a skewer stick onto the back of each of the characters.
You can also let your kids create their own shadow puppets using black cardstock. My kids enjoyed cutting out their own shapes to incorporate into the stories. Basic shapes, like hearts are a good place to start.
To make the puppets work, you need to add a lamp backlight inside of the theater. The light shines on the puppets and they cast a shadow onto the white paper. The shadow then becomes the show for the audience.
I thought it would be fun to put together two mini scripts for your family to use at home to get the creative juices flowing. Feel free to download them below.
I hope you enjoy entertaining each other with your own shadow puppet theater.
One of my favorite things about Disneyland is all of the amazing entertainment. It is so much more than a regular theme park. There are musical productions, spectacular parades, action shows, live theater, interactive 4D movies, giant puppet shows, dancing water and so much more. Bring some of that dazzling entertainment home with your very own shadow puppet theater. And keep a close watch on those mysterious shadow puppets. They are pretty spooky. Ok, not really. But, we did try.
One of my favorite things about Disneyland is all of the amazing entertainment. It is so much more than a regular theme park. There are musical productions, spectacular parades, action shows, live theater, interactive 4D movies, giant puppet shows, dancing water and so much more. Bring some of that dazzling entertainment home with your very own shadow puppet theater. And keep a close watch on those mysterious shadow puppets. They are pretty spooky. Ok, not really. But, we did try.
You can make your fall more magical by visiting Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. This year is more be-witching and dazzling than ever before with the Diamond Celebration! The events take place September 11 - November 1, so you'll want to grab your boys and ghouls and go! Book one of our Disneyland packages online or call our spooktacular agents at 855-GET-AWAY.
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