Using 'Fome Cor Board' (or Something Similar) To Create Stage Scenery - TheatreFace

Foamboard that you buy at the…

2009-08-03T01:50:58.645Z

Foamboard that you buy at the craft store is, generally, not thick enough to do what you want. However, 1/2" and thicker is available, in 4'x8' sheets, from wholesalers. Also, I believe that flame resistant foam board is available. There is a wholesaler in NJ that I have used in the past. They have a website at www.foamboard.com

Good luck.

Tim.

That's very helpful, Kim.

2009-07-29T18:19:34.439Z

That's very helpful, Kim.

Thanks for the advice, Paul.

2009-07-29T17:15:00.405Z

Thanks for the advice, Paul.

James Hull Miller's Self Supp…

2009-07-29T15:55:35.805Z

James Hull Miller's Self Supporting Scenery for Childrens Theatre and Grown Ups Too - A Scenic Workbook for the Open Stage, though somewhat dated, outlines using foam and corrugated materials as you have suggested. We used his ideas to create the Tin Man's set in THE WIZ some years ago using 1/2" plywood for the "stylized" trees.

The guy who does the layout and printing of our musicals' programs has a sign business and uses gator board for his applications. We've talked about using it on stage, but hands down the difficulty was price. The best price he could find for our use was at least half again what luan costs (but we teach the fine art of the dutchman while the more gregarious among us pull splinters out of their fingers ).

At this point, we've found it cost prohibitive - it probably would also cause our fire marshal difficulty since there's no way to flameproof it that I'm aware of. YMMV.

Hi, A friend of mine has deve…

2009-07-28T17:15:51.149Z

Hi,
A friend of mine has developed a website, http://www.cortecscenery.com to share
his development of a successful way of using corrugated cardboard as a construction material for scenery and props and related applications. He recently created the CORTEC GUIDE as a manual on how to achieve great results using his methodology. The Website provides this “handbook” FREE as a two part download in PDF format.
I hope you will take a look at the website, download the CORTECGUIDE2008, and give him some feedback and suggestions that you might find appropriate.
Good luck,
Kim A. Tolman

Thanks for your help, Bill.

2009-07-28T16:28:18.163Z

Thanks for your help, Bill.

I have only seen it in Art cr…

2009-07-22T04:08:49.257Z

I have only seen it in Art craft stores. Unfortunately the largest sixe is 36" x 48". Not sure of the pricing. 16 x 22 is lised on the net @ 5.25 per board. We have been using Luann Ply wood 1/8" thk., however it is limited to 4' x 8'. I have created larger sizes by gluing muslin to the entire surface. Unfortunately the cost of the wood has become prohibitive. I am tring to find light weight canvas for our new flats. It worked well in college (45 years ago)

Many thanks for your insights…

2009-07-21T16:26:23.948Z

Many thanks for your insights, Thomas.

Sorry for late post.... I use…

2009-07-21T13:39:30.111Z

Sorry for late post....
I use a standard 1/2" to 3/4" insulation foam available at and Home Depot or Lowes. It can be pink or blue extruded foam if you need it for shaping or durability, or the white "beadboard" expanded foam if you're using it for flat covering. I make a 1X3 or 1X2 flat frame and affix the foam. Then I cover the whole surface and edge with a lightweight muslin available at any local fabric store. This gets adhered with a thinned white glue and then after it's dry, a second top layer of thinned white glue is applied. This makes the surface very durable. A friend and former student of mine uses cheese cloth and wheat paste for his covering, and I've also heard of the use of joint compound mixed with white glue for building realistic textures that wear very well. I've also used a product called Jaxsan (available through Rosebrand I think). I think the trick of using any foam is giving it a cloth surface treatment to make a truly paintable surface. As far as using Foamcor, it's just foam with paper on top so really you're doing the same thing without all the expense of the commercial product. I did do a set that was completely built of 2" beadboard foam covered with two layers of craft paper and a final layer of light weight muslin. No framing needed and it was lightweight and portable as scenery should be. Any piece I needed bigger than 4X8 I used a internal spline of 1/4" lauan which worked incredibly well and was completely hidden. Foams cool to work and build with but like everything else it does have its cautions and caveats.

Robert -- Many thanks for sh…

2009-07-20T17:05:48.166Z

Robert --

Many thanks for sharing your experiences with us, Robert!

Charlie