Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup: hanging someone on stage

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hanging someone on stage

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Forum Discription: For how-to's and where-can-I-find
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2360
Printed Date: 7/26/25 at 4:51am
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Topic: hanging someone on stage

Posted By: neilfortin
Subject: hanging someone on stage
Date Posted: 4/19/07 at 10:14am

Hey guys! any experience with this? we would love for this to be a great effect!!!

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Community Theater makes us smile

Replies:

Posted By: TonyDi
Date Posted: 4/20/07 at 6:58am

Just a word of caution - get someone qualified and professional. RISKS INVOLVED. Requires a unique and specific harness to pull this gag off successfully and SAFELY. I mean I know many I'd like to hang onstage but alas that's called homicide. In this case it's just negligent manslaughter. PLEASE SEEK OUT A PROFESSIONAL TO DO THIS. And to all you who might have done this before on your own successfully, lucky for your poor actor. If you can't find a professional who has the specific harnesses required and a system whereby this CAN be done safely - find another way, a hooded dummy (last second switch) or behind a curtain where they can't see the switch or something other than "for real". NOT being paranoid either - just cautious and safe for the sake of an actor. PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL PROFESSIONAL only PLLLLEEEEAAAAZZZEE!!!

Tony

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"Almost famous"

Posted By: POB14
Date Posted: 4/20/07 at 9:37am

Ditto what Tony says.

PEOPLE DIE DOING THIS.

For example: http://www.dmx512.com/web/accident/judas/judas.htm - http://www.dmx512.com/web/accident/judas/judas.htm

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POB
Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard

Posted By: neilfortin
Date Posted: 4/20/07 at 3:12pm

very good advice...thanks guys...we will definitely be careful, and i wasnt even talking about ACTUALLY doing it...just an illusion if you will...

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Community Theater makes us smile

Posted By: P&M Sales
Date Posted: 4/20/07 at 6:19pm

One of the musicals in our catalogue calls for this.

You obviously need the harness and 'invisible' wire support as the primary safety measure, but the rope noose should also have a break in it with the two ends joined with velcro.

If the harness and wire fail, then the weight of the actors body pulls the velcro apart. He/she might then drop onto the stage floor, but that's a lot better than the alternative!

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best regards

David
http://www.stagescripts.com - http://www.stagescripts.com

Posted By: TimW
Date Posted: 4/20/07 at 11:15pm

I agree that safety is first in line with anything of this matter or any variation.

When I did I'll Be Back Before Midnight, I had to hang a person behind a door, the door opens with her already there. Remembering that all you want is an ILLUSION, this is what I did.

On the noose end, a stop was placed so it would only travel far enough to look like is was on.

Next, the top point( tied off end) was attached to a narrow piece of trim that would break with no more than 10 pounds hanging from it.

The actress then STOOD ON THE FLOOR with her costume, a robe I think, touching the floor.

The actress then just gently swayed back and forth without moving her feet.

Whatever is done, just remember, theatre is family!

SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY !

Posted By: Shatcher
Date Posted: 4/23/07 at 11:32am

I have also done this with a break away rope. Make up your noose, make sure to glue the wraps in place and sucure the end well. Then cut rope right above knot. Use a small piece of velcro or some hot glue to put it back together. This way if any weight is put on the rope it breaks. just make sure the drop is not so big the poor guy breaks a leg. I have done this on stage and it works great timed with a black out and a good sound effect. Our guy went through a trap door in the gallows. as soon as he started down the lights go out and the sound cue. for our show the lights came up just a touch so the folks could see the rope swing.

I have also seen people just have the actor jump with the noose on. BAD IDEA!!! even it you think you have enough rope or the drop is only a few feet! even with a harness use a break away rope, you can never be too safe.

Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 4/25/07 at 2:58pm

We did Assassins a number of years ago and one of the men was hung in the end of the scene. This was staged very well by our director. Our actor walked up the gallows, put on his hood, donned the noose, then the stage went black. As the lights went out, the sound effects kicked in with the trap door drop, the thud then the sound of the rope swinging back and forth. Give the audience something to use their imagination on. My bet is that the thought of it happening in the blackout will be more gruesome than anything you can do without hiring a real professional to asure the safety of the actor.

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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

Posted By: neilfortin
Date Posted: 4/25/07 at 3:02pm

Thanks for the answers all!!!

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Community Theater makes us smile