I'm taking Acting II in my local community college and we're doing the show U.T.B.U. (Unhealthy to be Unpleasent). Since it's a class we're also responsible to construct the set. Well we just got our scripts and a drawing of a suitable set and were informed that we can't start construction until March 1st because of Arsenic and Old Lace running the last two weekends in Feb.

Our Director is kind of freaking out saying how such and such show used 300 hours to make thier set and they weren't also rehearsing and junk. I think we can do it.

We'll be stealing a lot of the arsenic set from when they do strike since we'll begin the next day. it's not too terribly complicated. I think dressing the set will actually take longer. It's got 4 doors and a large window (bout 8 feet wide) that someone (me) will be falling out of. We figure it to be about 20 flats most of which are standard 8X4.

Based on you're experience...how long do you think it'd take to contstruct something like that are should be really be all that worried? We'll start constructing it March 1st and the show opens April 22nd.

Thanks in advance!

Crikey! Thats oodles!

Most community theatre, can turn the seasons around, in a few weeks! From Bump Out to Bump In!

In fact a lot who are not so slack, do it in days!

Just employ the 6 P?s - Pre-Planing Prevents P*ss Poor Productions!

Your Director is just being a Drama queen, playing politics or hedging his bets, just in case there is an unforeseen hiccup, he has an in built excuse!

I?m sure you can do it comfortably.

In saying that, it also depends on the type of flats & construction used.

You mentioned standard 8x4 flats, which suggest to me, that your using TV style hard board flats & not standard theatre soft skin flats!

This also suggest the use of heaps of tek screws or heaven forbid - Nails?

If the flats are cobbled together, as though in a housing construction site & not a Theatre Gaff style. This might take you a few days more days de-nailing & unscrewing.

I think what your Director really wants is to have upto 2 months rehearsing with the set, to reinforce &/or modify his sceneoligy & blocking to suit!

[He definitely wanting to butter ?n Jam his bread, on both sides!]

She?ll be right, no worries mate!

You will pull it off, faster than a dirty shirt! 

HAHA, that's a another thing *he* doesn't like it when I used the expression "pull it off". When I say pull it off...I mean pull it off without a hitch...I think he's thinking "pull it off by the skin of our teeth". That's theatre though right?

BTW...LOVE the 6 P's. I think I'll be writing those on the little chalk board before the next rehearsal.

He sounds over pedantic - that?s frightening!

The 6 P?s are not my doing, I nicked it from some source, that I can?t remember now!

After you have been in the'game' long enough - you can say it's yours! 

Let us know how you ?pull it off??

Chookas mate with the show & bump in!

You can make this happen.  Your director is one of "those" theatre folks who actually enjoys living in crisis!  This director will probably freak out well into the final curtain call! 

The 6 P's are a great guideline.  By being prepared you can actuall get some of your work done during the "strike".

How much of the "Arsenic" set are you using?  Is it in the same space?  If you can make it work, and your show is in the same space my suggestion is to consider how you can use the (re-use) the Arsenic set with minimal changes.  I'm not familiar with U.T.B.U., but Arsenic is a standard sort of thing with windows, doors and etc. and should have all of your basic parts.   I've done two shows where we recycled sets by moving doors and simply re-arranging flats. (In the same space, this would be more difficult if you have to move.)  

For one show we simply covered over a door and moved the window from left or right.  Some paint, stage dressing and change of furniture and voila, 1965 New York apartment to 18th century drawing room!  

Good luck!

As your using soft flats, while your eyeing off the set, of A&OL, just take note of any skin movement & shaking, when a door is closed &/or opened!

If there is, this can be easily fixed, during your Bump In!

Just another little job, but worth, taking out the time to do it! 

Just a thought!