Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: SEUSSICAL PROPS to a good home...

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   Hi friends, I designed the set and lighting for a middle school production of "Seussical Jr." in February.  I have several props that are just too cool to trash!   If you are doing the show soon, I would be glad to sell you the big props at a VERY cheap price.  I just don't have room to store these things...so I would love to see them find a new home!  UPDATE AS OF JAN. 1, 2009:  ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN SOLD.

1) Horton's "Egg, Nest and Tree".   
A very sturdy and well-built steel-framed tree with spray-foam texture and bright Seussian colors.  The practical "egg" opens up to reveal the baby "Elephant Bird" at the end of the show.  

See these rehearsal photos-

The style is inspired by Dr. Seuss and my color scheme is intended to compliment the colorful backdrops rented from Kenmark.
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest20.jpg

My crewmembers, dressed as "Thing 1" and "Thing 2", roll the wagon on stage...(they refused to were their blue mylar "Thing" wigs for this photo!):
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/IMG_2266.JPG

The egg is a weight-bearing seat for the actors. 
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest19.jpg

Horton meets Mayzie:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest14.jpg

Horton agrees to sit on the egg as the Bird Girls sing"
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest15.jpg

Horton is sold to the circus:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest22.jpg

At the end of the show, the egg cracks open to reveal the cute little Elephant Bird...and the audience screams with delight:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest16.jpg

The final courtroom scene:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest18.jpg

How it was made-
1) The tree pedistal is a very sturdy 5" wide steel pipe that is welded to two 1/2" steel plates top and bottom.  (I previously used this pedistal as part of a steel staircase for "Midsummer Night's Dream" and again for "Return to the Forbidden Planet"...so it is well-tested!)  It worked very well for this application:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest25.jpg

My welder climbs the ladder to test it.  It's very strong.  We bolted it to a stock 4'x8' plywood wagon with 2"x6" framing:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest26.jpg

The nest at the top was scratch-built from stock steel framework:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest28.jpg

2)  Next I covered the rebar branches with chicken wire:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest30.jpg

The bushes to the left and right of the tree served to hide the "handle bars" for the crew, as well as provide a hiding place for the kid who later appears as the Elephant Bird:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest29.jpg

3)  Next I used industrial expanding spray foam insulation to cover the chicken wire:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest35.jpg

Here, my scenic artist gets her turn at using the spray foam.  This was lots of fun!   But very expensive.  (To cover the tree and bathtub it took three tanks of spray foam, at $250.00 each):
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest34.jpg

Yay, it's done!  At this point the cast thought I was making a "snow creature for Narnia"!  The foam dries fast and is ready for paint:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest02.jpg

I added rocks at the bottom to mask the stock platform and to match the look of the "Jungle of Nool" backdrop from Kenmark:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest06.jpg

The foam is very lightweight and easy to carve, if needed:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest07.jpg

The side bushes have holes that hide the handlebars for the crew to push the wagon around the stage during the show:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest08.jpg

One bush has a seat for the tiny kid that plays the Elephant Bird at the end of the show.  Since Horton's nest never leaves the stage, the kid has to ride in this hiding spot until his cue to climb up and pop out of the egg:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest10.jpg

Here is a view of the back side of the tree and nest.  The actors climbed up the ladder and sat on the welded egg seat, (which was added later):
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest09.jpg

The welded egg frame has a hinge on one side so the kid can open it up for his crowd-pleasing appearance:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest17.jpg

Overall, this was a very effective prop, and one that is highly crucial to the show:
http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest23.jpg

See below for more Seussical props.

Thanks, Dana

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Mr. Lowell Celebrity Joined: 1/30/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 269	Topic: SEUSSICAL PROPS to a good home... Posted: 3/11/08 at 12:06pm
	Hi friends, I designed the set and lighting for a middle school production of "Seussical Jr." in February. I have several props that are just too cool to trash! If you are doing the show soon, I would be glad to sell you the big props at a VERY cheap price. I just don't have room to store these things...so I would love to see them find a new home! UPDATE AS OF JAN. 1, 2009: ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN SOLD. 1) Horton's "Egg, Nest and Tree". A very sturdy and well-built steel-framed tree with spray-foam texture and bright Seussian colors. The practical "egg" opens up to reveal the baby "Elephant Bird" at the end of the show. See these rehearsal photos- The style is inspired by Dr. Seuss and my color scheme is intended to compliment the colorful backdrops rented from Kenmark. http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest20.jpg My crewmembers, dressed as "Thing 1" and "Thing 2", roll the wagon on stage...(they refused to were their blue mylar "Thing" wigs for this photo!): http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/IMG_2266.JPG The egg is a weight-bearing seat for the actors. http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest19.jpg Horton meets Mayzie: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest14.jpg Horton agrees to sit on the egg as the Bird Girls sing" http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest15.jpg Horton is sold to the circus: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest22.jpg At the end of the show, the egg cracks open to reveal the cute little Elephant Bird...and the audience screams with delight: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest16.jpg The final courtroom scene: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest18.jpg How it was made- 1) The tree pedistal is a very sturdy 5" wide steel pipe that is welded to two 1/2" steel plates top and bottom. (I previously used this pedistal as part of a steel staircase for "Midsummer Night's Dream" and again for "Return to the Forbidden Planet"...so it is well-tested!) It worked very well for this application: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest25.jpg My welder climbs the ladder to test it. It's very strong. We bolted it to a stock 4'x8' plywood wagon with 2"x6" framing: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest26.jpg The nest at the top was scratch-built from stock steel framework: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest28.jpg 2) Next I covered the rebar branches with chicken wire: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest30.jpg The bushes to the left and right of the tree served to hide the "handle bars" for the crew, as well as provide a hiding place for the kid who later appears as the Elephant Bird: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest29.jpg 3) Next I used industrial expanding spray foam insulation to cover the chicken wire: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest35.jpg Here, my scenic artist gets her turn at using the spray foam. This was lots of fun! But very expensive. (To cover the tree and bathtub it took three tanks of spray foam, at $250.00 each): http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest34.jpg Yay, it's done! At this point the cast thought I was making a "snow creature for Narnia"! The foam dries fast and is ready for paint: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest02.jpg I added rocks at the bottom to mask the stock platform and to match the look of the "Jungle of Nool" backdrop from Kenmark: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest06.jpg The foam is very lightweight and easy to carve, if needed: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest07.jpg The side bushes have holes that hide the handlebars for the crew to push the wagon around the stage during the show: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest08.jpg One bush has a seat for the tiny kid that plays the Elephant Bird at the end of the show. Since Horton's nest never leaves the stage, the kid has to ride in this hiding spot until his cue to climb up and pop out of the egg: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest10.jpg Here is a view of the back side of the tree and nest. The actors climbed up the ladder and sat on the welded egg seat, (which was added later): http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest09.jpg The welded egg frame has a hinge on one side so the kid can open it up for his crowd-pleasing appearance: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest17.jpg Overall, this was a very effective prop, and one that is highly crucial to the show: http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussNest23.jpg See below for more Seussical props. Thanks, Dana
	Mr. Lowell, Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director, for the Linda Sloan Theatre, in the Davison Center for the Arts, at Greensboro Day School

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Mr. Lowell Celebrity Joined: 1/30/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 269	Posted: 3/18/08 at 11:20am
	2) "Jojo's Motorized Bathtub!" Another Seussical prop that needs a new home is the Cat in the Hat's "Bathtub". The script did not call for it to be motorized, but hey, I could not resist!!! (Sometimes designers do things just for kicks). As it turned out, the director really liked having the tub motorized for this scene! The audience loved it! At strike, half the cast begged to buy the tub for Halloween or the 4th of July parade! Photos: 1) The Cat in the Hat makes the tub appear in Whoville. Jojo climbs in and drives it around during the song. Click on this. 2) The scene then changes to some pulsating water gobos on a cyclorama as Jojo drives it into the water. Sorry for the blurry photo! 3) The scene changes again to the "underwater backdrop" with ultra-violet paint. Dancers in black clothes use fish props painted with Wildfire paint that glows under blacklight. 4) By the way, the UV fish backdrop is from Kenmark Backdrops in Kansas. I used a 1000 watt DMX UV cannon, plus 8 fluorescent tubes across the lip of the pit to get the cool effect. Here is a brief clip of the tub in motion during our first Tech Rehearsal. I added foam padding to the seat after this test because the hard plastic tire treads rolling on the hard floor made his voice "bumpy". The tub turned out to be a real crowd pleaser! How it was built: 1) A fun and simple prop to build. First we got parents to donate three electric Barbie Jeeps. Then we caniballized the parts and attached them to a wooden base. http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussTub10.jpg 2) Then an oval wire frame was welded to the top:http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussTub08.jpg 3) Then I put aluminum window screen over the frame to form the shape of the bathtub:http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussTub11.jpg 4) Then the fun part! We sprayed it will expanding styrofoam insulation.(photo missing). 5) Then a thick coat of full strength Sculpt-or-Coat on the "high traffic areas" and a brushed-on watery coat everywhere else:http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussTub12.jpg 6) The coat of paint also had some Sculpt-or-Coat mixed in, to give it yet another layer of protection. http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussTub02.jpg 7) And I painted the undercarriage red. http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/SeussTub01.jpg 8) I had to pad the seat with foam so his voice would not quaver from vibration of the plastic tires as he sang his song:http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/IMG_3288.JPG 9) I also put a bumper sticker on the back fender that says: "My Other Car is a Jacuzzi". (I don't think the audience saw this, but again, sometimes I do things just for me!) http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/IMG_3284.JPG 10) For the finishing touches I added water faucets as the steering wheel; a shower head on a pipe; a lifesaving ring on the back; and a yellow rubber ducky as a hood ornament! The electric bathtub works great and it's a big crowd pleaser. I hope to sell it cheap to another theatre because I just don't have room to store it anywhere. UPDATE AS OF JAN. 1, 2009: ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN SOLD. Thanks, Dana
	Mr. Lowell, Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director, for the Linda Sloan Theatre, in the Davison Center for the Arts, at Greensboro Day School
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kydramagirl Walk-On Joined: 3/27/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 3/27/08 at 10:25pm
	My community theatre may be interested in purchasing your props if you still have them. If you can contact me at pandajoines@hotmail.com, I would really appreciate it.
	Panda " And all that jazz"
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Mr. Lowell Celebrity Joined: 1/30/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 269	Posted: 8/19/08 at 10:13am
	Here are some photos of the other small props that are available for "Seussical": 3) "The Pillberry Bush" - For when Gertrude sees Dr. Dake about a tail. A simple plastic mesh dome with lots of plastic ivy and colored balls on a short trunk made from a carpet tube. http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/DSCF0558.JPG 4) "The Cat's Palm Frond" - A simple styrofoam leaf on a stick for a brief gag in the "Mayzie in Palm Beach" song. http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/DSCF1026.JPG 5) "The Seussian TV Screen" - A styrofoam frame covered in cheesecloth and Sculpt-or-Coat for the TV interview gags at the top of the show. http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/DSCF1148.JPG 6) "The Cat's Piano" - A simple miniature grand piano for a gag by The Cat. It's made of lightweight lauan plywood, foam "keys", and carpet tube legs. (The round rolling wagon is not included...it was struck). http://www.lowell.to/DesignSeuss/IMG_2209.JPG UPDATE AS OF JAN. 1, 2009: ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN SOLD.
	Mr. Lowell, Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director, for the Linda Sloan Theatre, in the Davison Center for the Arts, at Greensboro Day School
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alleah13 Walk-On Joined: 2/04/08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 8/21/08 at 10:40pm
	I'd love to talk to you about these props as we're doing Seussical Jr for our musical this year. I'm in NJ so NC isn't too off the mark for me. Please contact me at your convenience at alleah13@hotmail.com
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Mr. Lowell Celebrity Joined: 1/30/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 269	Posted: 9/26/08 at 3:23pm
	Hello Alleah, here are the measurements for the Seussical tree. From floor to the top of the egg is 9 feet, 9 inches. When you "crack the egg open" and remove the lid, it is 9 feet, 1 inch tall. If you do this AND remove the tree from the rolling platform, it is 8 feet, 4 inches tall. (In other words, the rolling platform is 9 inches high). The "wingspan" of the big leaves is 10 feet wide. But all the leaves will come off, so actually the nest is less than 5 feet wide. My stock wooden platform is 4 feet by 8 feet. Anyway, with a little dismantling, this tree should fit into any large size U-Haul or Ryder rental truck. If you plan to mount Horton's tree in one position on stage, then that will make transporting MUCH easier. Because you will not need the big 4'x8' rolling platform with bushes on it. I added the big bushes merely to hide the two "handle bars" that the crew uses to push the thing around the stage. So if you just mount it right to your stage floor, then you won't need the heavy platform or the fake bushes at all. (In this case I would trash the bushes and save my stock platform). The motorized bathtub is only 6 feet long and a little more than 4 feet wide, and is easy to move. There are four other props available. You can view photos of these in a post above. The Pillberry Bush; the Cat's Palm Frond: the Cat's Piano; and the Seussian TV Screen. I really, really need to get this tree off my stage ASAP because I have a huge production of "Les Miserables" in 5 weeks! Starting next week I have to begin building the giant barricade and turntable! So everything must go!!! We invested about $2,000.00 in steel, spray foam, and paint for these six Seussical items. (This does not include the labor cost to build these, of course, or the cost of the 3 Barbie Jeeps donated to us by parents...there is no charge for any of that). But if you come get these props right away, I will just charge you a token purchase fee to our school of $350.00 for the Tree and Tub together, plus I'll throw in the 4 smaller props for free! Please get these nice items now and store them at your theater until your production in April. This will give your cast and crew plenty of time to practice with them! Thanks, Dana
	Mr. Lowell, Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director, for the Linda Sloan Theatre, in the Davison Center for the Arts, at Greensboro Day School
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Penncora Walk-On Joined: 10/02/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/02/08 at 6:53pm
	We can give your Seussical props a great home, please call me. Thanks. Barbara
	Barbara
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Mr. Lowell Celebrity Joined: 1/30/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 269	Posted: 10/03/08 at 3:52pm
	OK, but I'm still taking to the NJ lady who needs them for her April production. Maybe you can work out the logisitics with her, depending on your show date and location. Thanks, Dana
	Mr. Lowell, Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director, for the Linda Sloan Theatre, in the Davison Center for the Arts, at Greensboro Day School
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Penncora Walk-On Joined: 10/02/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/03/08 at 6:35pm
	In particular I am interested in the Seuss backdrop?? as well as the other items, are they available? I would need them for a December event, but can return them for your NJ production in April. Please call.
	Barbara
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Penncora Walk-On Joined: 10/02/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 10/03/08 at 6:36pm
	Can you give me the backdrop size please.
	Barbara
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Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
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Topic: SEUSSICAL PROPS to a good home...( Topic Closed)
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