Greased lightning problems?
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Topic: Greased lightning problems?
Posted By: Islington
Subject: Greased lightning problems?
Date Posted: 7/08/05 at 10:58pm
My high school is going to do Grease.With a low budget, and a
smallish stage, I was thinking of constructing the car for the
play on a simple structure of two 3step stairs placed at oppsite ends
of a moving platform and building the exterior of the car on this
structure with paper mache.Like so (excusing the crapiness of MSpaint): In this way I hope that the car will be somewhat 3D,with minivan seats put between the stairs tfor car seats, and could be moved by the techies (including me) by fishing line(or something of the sort).I would love it, if someone could point out flaws in the design, suggest improvements,etc.. thanks soo much! (BTW the idea came to me when I was reading these forums) |
Replies:
Posted By: Tom_Rylex
Date Posted: 7/10/05 at 12:53am
|
Islington, Help out with a few details: What are the sight lines like from your theater? What you can/should do differs for proscenium, thrust, or arena seating. (I'll assume proscenium, with gradually rising seats.) Your basic rule of thumb is first to build the substructure solid and maneuverable, and make everything else as light as possible. The substructure is where all the blocking and choreography touches the set piece. For the substructure, look at all the parts of the car that take pressure from bodies. If someone leans of part of the car, that needs some reinforcement. If they sit or stand on it, it needs more. If they jump or dance on it, it needs even more. Paper mache over chicken wire could work out really good, especially if you spend some time on it (and tin foil "chrome," if you're careful). I wouldn't use minivan seats, mainly because they're too heavy. They only need to look like seats in the sight line. You'll need something heftier than fishing line to move your car, especially if people are riding in it. Instead of pulling it from the outside, you might want to consider pushing it from the inside. Once again, if your sight lines allow, one or two techs can be in the hood/trunk regions of the car, and enough of your platform cut away to allow them to push the car. You can have a screen in the front of the car that allows you to see out, and the audience not see in. -Tom ------------- The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. -R. Frost |
Posted By: Shatcher
Date Posted: 7/11/05 at 5:52pm
|
I like your design I have a piece just like this that I rent to theatres ( I am in NE) sometimes chicken wire and paper mache are a pain. mine is fiberglass, but I have seen foam carved to look like the front end of a car. If you coat it with foam coat(made by Rosco) it will be hard enough to take a few dings and be nice and smooth. good luck |