During a time when live theater has been devastated by the pandemic, Bethany Majestic’s art students at Commack Road have been studying the magic of Broadway, including producers such as Julie Taymor, who offered an avant-garde visual to viewers in her stage adaptation of Disney’s animated musical “The Lion King.”

Taymor’s complex layering of textures, patterns and colors influenced by African culture, combined with the magical puppetry she introduced to Broadway, made her a master at experimental theater. Students in grades 2-5 allowed themselves to be inspired by the innovative artist when creating their own nature-based costume designs.

While roleplaying in the classroom, students created avant-garde designs to present to “Julie Taymor” herself for her new Earth Day Broadway production. Whimsical student designs, drawn with black sharpie and colored pencils, represented tornados, summer, dirt, fire, rain and other nature elements.

“These designs dance across the page, showing movement, originality, texture and elegance,” Majestic said. “I think Julie Taymor would be proud.”