Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Thoroughly Modern Millie Elevator

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Bbentler
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Topic: Thoroughly Modern Millie Elevator
Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:30pm

I am currently directing a production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. We need to figure out how to the elevator (we cannot do a lighting technique). Any ideas of how to rig this to go up and down? We have a welder. I am also open to a different sort of contraption. I've checked out Flying by Foy and it would cost around $3500. That's just not an option. Help from anyone! :D

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ddave
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Posted: 4/16/09 at 10:31pm

How far does it have to travel?
How big?

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Bbentler
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Posted: 4/17/09 at 12:37am

It has to travel about half the height of the the proscenium in order for to be effective I would imagine, but i'm open to anything. It has to hold two young ladies then tap dance on it.

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David McCall
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Posted: 4/17/09 at 12:52pm

lifting an actor off of the stage can really be a dangerous thing to do.

You really need to have someone that is a professional (insured) rigger.

Lacking a rigger, I would want to consider another option. If it is to be a

modern fully enclosed elevator, then I'm not sure what I would do,

However if it is an elevator that you can see through as in an old

freight elevator or those cage like elevators then I might consider

putting a screen behind it and projecting the movement with video.

David

David M

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Bbentler
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Posted: 4/19/09 at 10:13pm

I am willing to get a rigger to do what they need to do if that is what has to be done. I was thinking about what other ideas might be out there. It's an old fashioned elevator luckily so that should help with the process.

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Bbentler
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Posted: 4/27/09 at 8:15am

Any other ideas?

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GracieGarland
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Posted: 4/27/09 at 3:54pm

www.cougarsalesrental.com/Rentals.aspx

I don't know anything about rigging but this came to mind. You could skirt it on the bottom and the fabric could grow as they go up? I'm sure they come in all sizes and you could build around it to look like an elevator? The have these at our local rental place. They come a lot smaller than the image included on this page. Hope this helps.

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Bbentler
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Posted: 4/29/09 at 6:47am

Are there any of these devices that could be quiet going up or do you think we would be dealing with lots of noise?

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ddave
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Posted: 4/29/09 at 7:54pm

After much contemplation I came up with this:

Get a hydraulic lift table or 2 - depends on the size of elevator. (one would be simpler to control)
Build & bolt the "elevator" to the top.

Manual pump I have one that was under $200.

Downside, it would not move smoothly.

Electric pump cost more, but you have everything.

Depending on $ and skills - Remote the manual pump with a long hydraulic line. This could be done with an electric one also, if it was too noisy. For this to work, the pump and cylinder need to be seperate parts.

Here are a bunch for ideas:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatDsp?storeId=6970&N=1541+774733&cm_ven=natural&cm_cat=netconcepts&cm_pla=Google&cm_ite=lift%2Btable

It might also be possible to build or modify one to make it wider since you have a welder.

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Bbentler
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Posted: 4/30/09 at 1:02pm

These sound like great ideas. I will definately look into the hydraulic pump idea. I wonder how high one of these could go? Do you think a scissor lift would be too noisy? Those are run with a motor not with hydraulics if I remember correctly.

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Topic: Thoroughly Modern Millie Elevator( Topic Closed)
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Author	Message
Bbentler Player Joined: 4/26/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Topic: Thoroughly Modern Millie Elevator Posted: 4/14/09 at 3:30pm
	I am currently directing a production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. We need to figure out how to the elevator (we cannot do a lighting technique). Any ideas of how to rig this to go up and down? We have a welder. I am also open to a different sort of contraption. I've checked out Flying by Foy and it would cost around $3500. That's just not an option. Help from anyone! :D

	IP Logged

ddave Player Joined: 2/21/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Posted: 4/16/09 at 10:31pm
	How far does it have to travel? How big?
	IP Logged

Bbentler Player Joined: 4/26/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Posted: 4/17/09 at 12:37am
	It has to travel about half the height of the the proscenium in order for to be effective I would imagine, but i'm open to anything. It has to hold two young ladies then tap dance on it.
	IP Logged

David McCall Celebrity Joined: 1/28/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 299	Posted: 4/17/09 at 12:52pm
	lifting an actor off of the stage can really be a dangerous thing to do. You really need to have someone that is a professional (insured) rigger. Lacking a rigger, I would want to consider another option. If it is to be a modern fully enclosed elevator, then I'm not sure what I would do, However if it is an elevator that you can see through as in an old freight elevator or those cage like elevators then I might consider putting a screen behind it and projecting the movement with video. David
	David M
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Bbentler Player Joined: 4/26/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Posted: 4/19/09 at 10:13pm
	I am willing to get a rigger to do what they need to do if that is what has to be done. I was thinking about what other ideas might be out there. It's an old fashioned elevator luckily so that should help with the process.
	IP Logged

Bbentler Player Joined: 4/26/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Posted: 4/27/09 at 8:15am
	Any other ideas?
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GracieGarland Player Joined: 11/13/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 23	Posted: 4/27/09 at 3:54pm
	www.cougarsalesrental.com/Rentals.aspx I don't know anything about rigging but this came to mind. You could skirt it on the bottom and the fabric could grow as they go up? I'm sure they come in all sizes and you could build around it to look like an elevator? The have these at our local rental place. They come a lot smaller than the image included on this page. Hope this helps.
	IP Logged

Bbentler Player Joined: 4/26/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Posted: 4/29/09 at 6:47am
	Are there any of these devices that could be quiet going up or do you think we would be dealing with lots of noise?
	IP Logged

ddave Player Joined: 2/21/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Posted: 4/29/09 at 7:54pm
	After much contemplation I came up with this: Get a hydraulic lift table or 2 - depends on the size of elevator. (one would be simpler to control) Build & bolt the "elevator" to the top. Manual pump I have one that was under $200. Downside, it would not move smoothly. Electric pump cost more, but you have everything. Depending on $ and skills - Remote the manual pump with a long hydraulic line. This could be done with an electric one also, if it was too noisy. For this to work, the pump and cylinder need to be seperate parts. Here are a bunch for ideas: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatDsp?storeId=6970&N=1541+774733&cm_ven=natural&cm_cat=netconcepts&cm_pla=Google&cm_ite=lift%2Btable It might also be possible to build or modify one to make it wider since you have a welder.
	IP Logged

Bbentler Player Joined: 4/26/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Posted: 4/30/09 at 1:02pm
	These sound like great ideas. I will definately look into the hydraulic pump idea. I wonder how high one of these could go? Do you think a scissor lift would be too noisy? Those are run with a motor not with hydraulics if I remember correctly.
	IP Logged