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set design help needed
Mar. 19th, 2009 02:46 pmSo, my many theater-geek friends out there, I have some set and prop design questions that could use your help.
The first is to make a usable swingset that can be broken down or stored flat backstage, then assembled or opened onstage in less than 3 minutes (on the stage while another performance goes on in front of the curtain). It needs to hold 1 or 2 swings that can hold about 150lbs total. It will be used for about 3 minutes, but it has to stand up to weekly rehearsal and 2 shows, and hopefully longer so it can be used again.
I had thought to base this on the archery target I made for a tourney a few years back: that was 2x4s with sawhorse clamps, and I attached cross braces to make sure it was stable. Two 2"x4"x6' supports screwed into each clamp, holding another 2"x4"x6' as the cross piece at the top, then another 2"x4"x6' cut in half and screwed across the triangles after opening. It broke down easily into the two leg sets, the cross piece, and the braces.
Now I am pretty sure 2x4s are not strong enough to make this swingset piece. I was thinking 4x4s, but the sawhorse clamps only hold 2x4s. So maybe a set up like the archery target above, but reinforced with additional screwed-on 2x4s that don't interfere with the clamps? Or should I go to a different material? DSR thinks that there's PVC strong enough for this.
The second set piece needs to present the front of a car. The stage is flat and raised (typical proscenium) so thankfully I shouldn't need brakes. But I do have to work it so the people sitting down front aren't looking up the car's nose, so to speak. I'm thinking something light and mobile like a frame on casters with a raked forced perspective on the hood of the car up to a fake windshield. They want the car to be pink, so I'm thinking just cover it with pink ethafoam (closed-cell foam sheets). The girls need to appear like they're riding in the car as they enter, then dance out from behind it.
Help?
The first is to make a usable swingset that can be broken down or stored flat backstage, then assembled or opened onstage in less than 3 minutes (on the stage while another performance goes on in front of the curtain). It needs to hold 1 or 2 swings that can hold about 150lbs total. It will be used for about 3 minutes, but it has to stand up to weekly rehearsal and 2 shows, and hopefully longer so it can be used again.
I had thought to base this on the archery target I made for a tourney a few years back: that was 2x4s with sawhorse clamps, and I attached cross braces to make sure it was stable. Two 2"x4"x6' supports screwed into each clamp, holding another 2"x4"x6' as the cross piece at the top, then another 2"x4"x6' cut in half and screwed across the triangles after opening. It broke down easily into the two leg sets, the cross piece, and the braces.
Now I am pretty sure 2x4s are not strong enough to make this swingset piece. I was thinking 4x4s, but the sawhorse clamps only hold 2x4s. So maybe a set up like the archery target above, but reinforced with additional screwed-on 2x4s that don't interfere with the clamps? Or should I go to a different material? DSR thinks that there's PVC strong enough for this.
The second set piece needs to present the front of a car. The stage is flat and raised (typical proscenium) so thankfully I shouldn't need brakes. But I do have to work it so the people sitting down front aren't looking up the car's nose, so to speak. I'm thinking something light and mobile like a frame on casters with a raked forced perspective on the hood of the car up to a fake windshield. They want the car to be pink, so I'm thinking just cover it with pink ethafoam (closed-cell foam sheets). The girls need to appear like they're riding in the car as they enter, then dance out from behind it.
Help?
