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jungle16jim
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bullet Posted: 7/17/08 at 4:55pm
Not sure if this will work for your production, but here's how we handled it.

We had 3 wet areas across stage.

1. A lamppost built into a 4x4 platform upside down, polyurothaned and caulked. It was filled with about an inch of warm water

2. A building with a gutter and another 4x4 trough. Water came from a hose from a sink backstage, into pvc with holes cut in it.

3. More water from the hose, this time onto a brick wall with a sidewalk and 1ft gutter in front.

3a. The entire stage was washed with a rotating gobo of water. This was the most visual part of the effect.

The water is at the end of Act 1. We had a good bit of spillage and spent most of intermission out there with towels and a shop vac. We used thin doormats where Don got out of the gutters so he wouldn't slip in the tap shoes.

IMPORTANT. You've got to light the water from behind to be visible. Onstage, our effect was fabulous. From the audience, you couldn't see it. You need to highlight where it falls with some backlight.

This multiple wet spot effect worked well because of the gobo and the illusion of water everywhere. Hope this helps

Jim
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Charlie328
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bullet Posted: 7/19/08 at 7:00am
Jim,
  Thanks for the suggestions, the idea of backlighting the water is very helpful.   We are going to build a raked stage ,32X12, to facilitate the water removal,.....at least we hope it will facilitate it.  Let you all know how it ends up.   Show is scheduled for Nov. '08.  Laying the first board for the set next Sat.  7/26/08....obviously building the raked stage first....will then try it and attempt to correct all the errors that I know will show up.
Charlie
 
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bullet Posted: 7/19/08 at 3:15pm

Something you might want to consider if building a raked stage that will be getting soaked with water.

Coat the entire floor surface with a gritty additive in your paint (such as sand or silicon).  This will improve traction and hopefully prevent your actors from slipping.

"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone
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Charlie328
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bullet Posted: 7/20/08 at 7:13am
Thanks Topper,
   I had thought of something like that but it is nice to know that it may work.  A lot of trial and error is going into this set i'm afraid.  Would you happen to have an idea on the correct or least amount of slope we could use and still effectively channel the water to the collection point.....my thought was about 1 inch per 5-6 feet?  Thank you for any help you can give.
Have a great day,
Charlie
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jungle16jim
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bullet Posted: 7/22/08 at 4:15pm
Wow. A raked stage is going to be a huge task. More power to you.

I would advise first putting down some plastic (a dropcloth would be fine). That way if water seeps underneath, it will rest on the plastic and not rot out your main stage between now and the end of the show.

Post some pics!
Jim
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Charlie328
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bullet Posted: 7/22/08 at 9:59pm
Jim,
   Yes....a raked stage .....should be "fun".  Also needs to be on wheels...should be a great adventure.   Size is expected to be 28 X 12 and a back end height of 16  in. to a ffront end height of 12 in. with a catch trough in the center of about 10 in......I hope.  Lewt you all know how it is progressing.   Might post some pics of the work in progress just so you could enjoy it as much as I probably will.  If I can pull this off then I think I will tell my wife, The director, that I am going to retire.
    Have a great day,
Charlie
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neilfortin
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bullet Posted: 7/23/08 at 4:09pm
I have a question, thinking about doing this show in a few years and have some great ideas for the water...but what about the costumes?? What kind of suit do u use that isn't ruined every night?
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bullet Posted: 7/28/08 at 10:01am
For the suit...could you use a water repellant product applied to one suit?  I'm thinking either the stainguard products that are used for carpet, sofa or the water repellants sprayed on for suade/leather products.  Would that work?
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bullet Posted: 8/06/08 at 9:08pm
Don't know if you've solved your problem yet but....I directed Singin' in the Rain a few years ago and knew if I ruined our new stage floor, I would be dead (my husband is the supt. of the school). We built a platform with a lip on it and lined it with the rubber that they use on flat building roofs. Then we backed it with our scenery and topped it with underground sprinkling hoses. We tested it for my husband and he told us to turn it up!

All water stayed in the platform base and was easy to clean up because the scene is the last one before intermission. Costume was easy too because the suit doesn't get drenched, and he changes out of it at intermission.

The audience loved it-especially the ones that got sprinkled when he swings his umbrella!
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Charlie328
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bullet Posted: 11/23/08 at 7:04am
Topper,
    Just wanted you to know that we just completed our run of "Singing in the Rain",  The show was great and the Rain was successful.  Thank you for the tips which helped immensely.
    I set up a closed system, longest I ran the water system was one hour, approx. 1000-1200 gallons, for settings and lighting etc.  lost about 3 ounces on the stage, a small drip I was never able to solve, am breaking set this week and can't wait to see where the darn drip came from.
   Again, thank you  for the help,
Charlie 
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