Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: getting the "theater" dark enough

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Aimee
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Topic: getting the "theater" dark enough
Posted: 3/25/06 at 2:25pm

Well, for the first time we are doing a Sunday matinee. (around 3:30 cst, in May) so you get the idea it is still very light out. Right now we are in a cafetorium which the back wall is an entire row of floor to ceiling windows. They have pull down shades that provide minimal light blocking. Some will also be blocked when we set up our sound area. In general it will be very light in the "theater" (can I call it a theater..no, probably not.)

Anyone have a CHEAP ideas on how to black out the windows? I've thought of paper....but wow that would be ALOT of paper.

I'd like to be able to do something to get it darker in there so the lighting effects will be, well, effective.

Aimee

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Kathy S
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Posted: 3/26/06 at 1:42pm

We had this problem in our theatre when we first started -- lots of very large windows and no shades. We used large sheets of styrofoam insulation placed in the windows. The problem then was that the pink foam sheets sort of "glowed". It just occured to me now that what we could have done was to paint them with black paint. I can't promise that it would work, but it might be worth trying just one panel to see how effective it would be. Good luck!

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Joan54
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Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:02am

I have had this problem too when we perform in vineyards ( in the barns of course). I solved it by buying several hundred used table cloths from a catering company and stapling them over the windows. Like Kathy said...we had a weird red glow in the space ( the tablecloths were burgundy). I realize this may not work for you. The paper isn't a bad idea. You can buy rolls of paper at the lumber yard...we can it resin paper here. It is used under wooden flooring to stop the squeeks. It is pretty cheap and comes in rolls three feet wide. Another idea would be to spray the windows with something that would block the light that would then wash off....I haven't ever tried it..this is just an idea. You couldn't use a permanent black spray because it would stick to the pieces between the glass and be a real bother to scrape off with a razor blade. Maybe there is a washable latex spray product out there somewhere?

"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

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Linda S
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Posted: 3/27/06 at 10:02am

Do you have enough extra flats to use those? If they aren't high enough, you could get a run of fabric to attach to the top of the windows. If this is going to be regular occurance, I would suggest sheets of styrofoam insulation covered in fabric. I have seen this done in a church / theater. It combines Kathy S and Joan54's ideas. It works extremely well and it is pretty too!

By the way, I think it is fine to call your cafetorium a theater. That way I can still call the grange hall a theater.

Linda

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Aimee
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Posted: 4/03/06 at 10:47pm

Well thankfully this will be very short lived as the new auditorium is "supposed" to be finished in Sept 07. I may only have to do this a few more.

Great ideas, now...I just need to decide what will work best.

Aimee

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baydrama
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Posted: 4/11/06 at 11:10pm

Oh my goodness. I have the same thing! Only at nighttime, too. Our auditorium has beautiful, tall windows (like 30 feet high) that back onto a hallway which must always stay lit for safety purposes. NIghtmare!

Thanks for the ideas, everyone.

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Guests
Guest
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Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:33pm

If you will be using this space for a long time, I would suggest biting the bullet and getting some duvetyne curtains made by either Showbiz or Rose Brand (both in the LA area--both have websites). Or, if you have someone handy with a sewing machine, you can buy the fabric from Rose Brand and make them yourself.

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Playwright
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Joined: 4/01/06
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Posted: 4/25/06 at 6:01pm

Our CT went to a bulk plastic place and bought rolls of heavy guage plastic. Easy to measure and cut to right size. It was then staples to the windows. Flexible and easy to use. And doesn't allow any light in!!!!!

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Techiemama
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Posted: 1/22/07 at 5:37am

We just used a roll of black landscaping fabric for just about everything. Masking windows, set pieces, costume pieces, etc. It's super thick and very forgiving.

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P&M Sales
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Joined: 4/18/05
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Posted: 1/23/07 at 3:50pm

I wouldn't recommend the solution given by Kathy S, as styrofoam is highly flammable and if it catches fire will drip lumps of burning 'goo' all over your audience!

I don't suppose for a moment that there's much in the way of a naked flame up near the windows, but it's a risk I wouldn't be prepared to take.

best regards

David
http://www.stagescripts.com

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Lights and Sound
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Lights and Sound

Topic: getting the "theater" dark enough( Topic Closed)
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Author	Message
Aimee Celebrity Joined: 8/31/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Topic: getting the "theater" dark enough Posted: 3/25/06 at 2:25pm
	Well, for the first time we are doing a Sunday matinee. (around 3:30 cst, in May) so you get the idea it is still very light out. Right now we are in a cafetorium which the back wall is an entire row of floor to ceiling windows. They have pull down shades that provide minimal light blocking. Some will also be blocked when we set up our sound area. In general it will be very light in the "theater" (can I call it a theater..no, probably not.) Anyone have a CHEAP ideas on how to black out the windows? I've thought of paper....but wow that would be ALOT of paper. I'd like to be able to do something to get it darker in there so the lighting effects will be, well, effective. Aimee
	Aimee

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Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 3/26/06 at 1:42pm
	We had this problem in our theatre when we first started -- lots of very large windows and no shades. We used large sheets of styrofoam insulation placed in the windows. The problem then was that the pink foam sheets sort of "glowed". It just occured to me now that what we could have done was to paint them with black paint. I can't promise that it would work, but it might be worth trying just one panel to see how effective it would be. Good luck!
	IP Logged

Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 3/27/06 at 8:02am
	I have had this problem too when we perform in vineyards ( in the barns of course). I solved it by buying several hundred used table cloths from a catering company and stapling them over the windows. Like Kathy said...we had a weird red glow in the space ( the tablecloths were burgundy). I realize this may not work for you. The paper isn't a bad idea. You can buy rolls of paper at the lumber yard...we can it resin paper here. It is used under wooden flooring to stop the squeeks. It is pretty cheap and comes in rolls three feet wide. Another idea would be to spray the windows with something that would block the light that would then wash off....I haven't ever tried it..this is just an idea. You couldn't use a permanent black spray because it would stick to the pieces between the glass and be a real bother to scrape off with a razor blade. Maybe there is a washable latex spray product out there somewhere?
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 3/27/06 at 10:02am
	Do you have enough extra flats to use those? If they aren't high enough, you could get a run of fabric to attach to the top of the windows. If this is going to be regular occurance, I would suggest sheets of styrofoam insulation covered in fabric. I have seen this done in a church / theater. It combines Kathy S and Joan54's ideas. It works extremely well and it is pretty too! By the way, I think it is fine to call your cafetorium a theater. That way I can still call the grange hall a theater. Linda
	IP Logged

Aimee Celebrity Joined: 8/31/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 156	Posted: 4/03/06 at 10:47pm
	Well thankfully this will be very short lived as the new auditorium is "supposed" to be finished in Sept 07. I may only have to do this a few more. Great ideas, now...I just need to decide what will work best.
	Aimee
	IP Logged

baydrama Walk-On Joined: 4/11/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 4/11/06 at 11:10pm
	Oh my goodness. I have the same thing! Only at nighttime, too. Our auditorium has beautiful, tall windows (like 30 feet high) that back onto a hallway which must always stay lit for safety purposes. NIghtmare! Thanks for the ideas, everyone.
	IP Logged

Guests Guest	Posted: 4/25/06 at 4:33pm
	If you will be using this space for a long time, I would suggest biting the bullet and getting some duvetyne curtains made by either Showbiz or Rose Brand (both in the LA area--both have websites). Or, if you have someone handy with a sewing machine, you can buy the fabric from Rose Brand and make them yourself.
	IP Logged

Playwright Celebrity Joined: 4/01/06 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 126	Posted: 4/25/06 at 6:01pm
	Our CT went to a bulk plastic place and bought rolls of heavy guage plastic. Easy to measure and cut to right size. It was then staples to the windows. Flexible and easy to use. And doesn't allow any light in!!!!!
	IP Logged

Techiemama Player Joined: 1/02/07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 1/22/07 at 5:37am
	We just used a roll of black landscaping fabric for just about everything. Masking windows, set pieces, costume pieces, etc. It's super thick and very forgiving.
	IP Logged

P&M Sales Lead Joined: 4/18/05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 38	Posted: 1/23/07 at 3:50pm
	I wouldn't recommend the solution given by Kathy S, as styrofoam is highly flammable and if it catches fire will drip lumps of burning 'goo' all over your audience! I don't suppose for a moment that there's much in the way of a naked flame up near the windows, but it's a risk I wouldn't be prepared to take.
	best regards David http://www.stagescripts.com
	IP Logged