Technical Direction Discussions - TheatreFace

Raffia on Tour

2015-06-22T17:34:00.186Z

We are looking at using raffia mats for a touring show. we are wanting to use it like a ground cloth and it would be about 30' x 40'. Does anyone have experience using raffia? I am looking on info about durability, handling, tips for cutting and sewing it. Does anyone have any sourcing information. I have contacted Joseph Stern, but am just looking for more options.

If you were building a new theater space...

2014-01-27T23:48:57.801Z

The theatre company I co-founded five years ago is growing and we're starting to talk about creating our own home instead of producing in other people's spaces. Assuming we wanted to create a flexible space that could seat 100, and assuming we're building it inside a structure that was not built to be a theater, what do we need to consider? IE, square footage, amperage, ceiling heights, ingress/egress? How might one evaluate a structure for its "weight bearing" capacity, in terms of creating a lighting grid or fly system? I know these are broad brush questions and there's a lot of "it depends" factors, but any experience, examples, and resources you have to offer are appreciated.

Strengthen Your Foam Carving Projects Without Losing the Sculpted Detail Work

2013-05-15T17:34:15.329Z

Read how Haley Polak, a props artisan at the Alley Theatre, used Rosco FoamCoat to protect and enhance the dinosaur bones she carved out of rigid urethane foam to produce a mastodon skeleton in a recent production.

Rosco Spectrum: Bone Up on FoamCoat

Sealing a Drop

2013-03-21T15:30:39.313Z

Greetings and salutations!

We are in the process of building a production of Red(by John Logan), which, if you don't know, is about the artist, Mark Rothko based in his New York City studio between 1958-1959.

The scenic designer has designed there to be a large(~16'x20') drop cloth(unbleached canvas color) taking up the majority of the playing space. This drop cloth will be subjected to red paint(using tempera paint mixed with water) splattered and spilled over it.

The goal is to be able to 'mop up' or remove the majority of the paint from it at the end of every night, without having to repaint the drop cloth after every performance, and without staining the cloth, or having to replace it every other week.

We are currently testing different sealers, from Rosebrand flat acrylic sealer, plastic varnish, etc and different fabrics, poly-muslin, canvas, light-weight muslin, etc, while spattering and spilling the mixed red tempera paint, with clean-up.

Has anyone tried anything like this? The designer is not opposed to just painting on the drop cloth to the stage, instead of fabric. But we all agree that it would look better as real fabric, if this works.

Thanks!

Metal working Books

2012-07-13T14:44:25.256Z

Can anyone suggest a good text to use as a supplement to a class I am teaching in metal working for the stage?

Building a hill

2011-08-05T19:33:46.574Z

I need to find a way to build a Nice sloping hill That can support actors on top of it. the hill will be about 4-5 feet off the stage floor and should hopefully have a nice transition from the floor to the hill. Does anyone have any good ideas how to achieve this easily? We are a College working on a College budget. The show is Eurydice, And the set Might need to travel. Can anyone help me with some good ideas? Im still trying to budget the production so any ideas are helpful. Thank you in advance.

HELP! Need to apply 3D texture to clear, smooth acrylic groundrow

2011-07-21T21:41:43.549Z

Hello,

I'm exploring the use of acrylic sheets for scenery. I'd like to apply a 3D water-like texture to clear plexi or acrylic. Any suggestions? The final result should be dull/non-shiny and durable.Thanks!

...see image.

Paging System

2011-06-08T20:57:02.671Z

I am looking for a new paging system for our backstage area. This system would be used by the SM primarily to get performers into places, etc. Does anyone here have any recommendations?

Stage Lift.

2011-03-16T21:14:49.557Z

Can anyone recommend a lift for differently able persons on wheel chairs to mount 4' high stage? It must be a portable device.

Rules of thumb for set construction

2011-01-20T19:09:02.399Z

I am doing some research into the rules of thumb that we use in the industry when building theatrical elements. The "rules" that I'm most interested in are the ones that people use to choose between wood and steel. Even if its not a rule of thumb, I am interested to see how people choose between the different construction materials.