Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Stage Trees with branches

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Jim@ShipStore.com
Guest
Guest

Posted: 5/23/04 at 6:50pm

We made trees for Alice In Wonderland using sheets of luaun
(sp?). An 18 x 24 inch base was made with casters underneath
for mobility.

The tree was sketched and cut out of the sheet of luaun. I
made a shallow arc cut in a 2 x 4 and fastened this to the cart.
The trunk wrapped along the edge of the arc and screwed in
place. This gave a 3-1/2 "depth" to the tree. On some of the
carts, I put a shorter tree in from to give a different visual
perspective to the set piece.

We decorated one side to look like a traditional tree using paint
and plastic foliage. The other side was made to be fanciful for
when Alice was in Wonderland using colored tissue paper for a
"flowering" tree.

When the show was over, the trees were unscrewed from the
carts and stored flat for a future production.

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EvaB
Walk-On
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Joined: 3/26/04
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 5/23/04 at 10:52pm

I saw some lovely trees in a production of The Wizard of Oz (the enchanted apple trees). The base of the trunk was a very large, plastic field tile large enough for a person to stand inside, but this would vary according to the requirements. In this case, arm holes were cut, too. Next, thick carpet padding (the type that is made of bits of foam rubber laminated together) was stapled to the outside -- this was done not smoothly, but so that the surface was irregular, with a rather vertical stratification. Then it was painted with tree trunk colors like brown, grey, black, etc.

The top of the tree in this case was made of a sheet of luan with typical treetop shape, and hole for the face. We later borrowed the trees for a melodrama -- they can be seen at this website. http://www.iowariverplayers.org/orphangirl.html We put little birds and squirrels in the face holes.

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Puzzled in NJ
Guest
Guest

Posted: 7/28/04 at 10:35am

We made a life-sized tree in school to hang "giving leaves" from so parents could pick a request to fill for the classrooms. We started with a 3X3' 3/4" plywood base on sliders. The 12" diameter 5' trunk was formed with chicken wire, stuffed firmly with newspaper. 4 main branches were 3" sections 3' long, wired in, another smaller set of chicken wire (1 foot) thinner branches wired to the ends of those, and from each thinner branch 2 wire branches were taped in using electrical tape, then another set of smallest branches at the ends of each of these. To cover, we used plaster-soaked strips of sheets wrapped vertically and horizontally for strength. The branches were thickened appropriately and all jointings were "lashed" with the plaster soaked strips. A skim coat of plaster was applied to the entire tree and texturized, painted dark gray, and we had planned on spray painting tan and black onto that surface. Fanstastic! Until it cracked. Does anyone know of a tough coating we could apply to the surface that would eliminate the problem of cracking? This is heartbreaking!

Puzzled in NJ

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eagle
Lead
Lead

Joined: 5/12/04
Location: Hong Kong
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 29

Posted: 8/07/04 at 11:17am

I tried using plaster and I found that it cracked, I had wanted to try using it for the donkey mask but it seemed not a very usable material because of this feature.

To make the tree trunk irregular bark we used pulverized toilet paper in white glue. Really gooey stuff like clay. Students experimented with it and found that by mixing in more shredded toilet paper the 'paper mache clay' was harder. So you could actually throw on the harder mixture to create an irregular surface. We used wooden chopsticks to 'throw' the paper mache clay onto the surface. It was a bit difficult to paint because of the irregular surface but the effect was great.

I don't know how you can save the plaster surface. But I think plaster is just a material that does crack, so perhaps instead of trying to save it, you might try covering it with paper mache clay.

I will try to attach a picture to show you the final effect.

Edited by eagle

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Puzzled in NJ
Guest
Guest

Posted: 8/16/04 at 9:04am

Eagle,

Thanks for the reply. It never occurred to me to try white glue and toilet paper. I have been looking at fiber glass for the at-risk areas, but the resurfacing sounds good. If you hear of anything else, please let me know. This is a large project and we must save it!

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multitech
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Joined: 8/11/04
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 0

Posted: 8/16/04 at 5:25pm

I've had great success useing spray on foam insulation. Th etype that comes in a can and grows. I've used a plywood base or even foam insulation sheets to creat the basic shape and then ues the canned foam to create the outer texture. Looks like bark, after you get the technique for allyingit, or work as a team. One person applies and the other shapes, you need to be quick it sets up in minutes.

Multitech.

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eagle
Lead
Lead

Joined: 5/12/04
Location: Hong Kong
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 29

Posted: 8/19/04 at 12:12am

Wasn't able to attach a picture but you can still see the bark of a tree we made at http://www.mss.edu.hk/2003-04/MidSummer04/midsummer_page/ind ex.htm

click on "workmen" under gallery then choose the 11th picture. As the picture enlarges, you can see the irregular surface of the bark between the two actors.

We made the bark with the method I mentioned before i.e. white glue mixed with warm water and shredded toilet paper mixed until clay like. A bit harder than dough-texture and then 'whipping' it on the surface of the column.

We then painted it after it dried. The paint doesn't get on as fast because of the irregular surface but after moving it back up vertical some of the white areas you see horizontally disappeared. We used synthetic paint (used for walls) mixed with water.

Edited by eagle

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Topic: Stage Trees with branches( Topic Closed)
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Author	Message
Jim@ShipStore.com Guest	Posted: 5/23/04 at 6:50pm
	We made trees for Alice In Wonderland using sheets of luaun (sp?). An 18 x 24 inch base was made with casters underneath for mobility. The tree was sketched and cut out of the sheet of luaun. I made a shallow arc cut in a 2 x 4 and fastened this to the cart. The trunk wrapped along the edge of the arc and screwed in place. This gave a 3-1/2 "depth" to the tree. On some of the carts, I put a shorter tree in from to give a different visual perspective to the set piece. We decorated one side to look like a traditional tree using paint and plastic foliage. The other side was made to be fanciful for when Alice was in Wonderland using colored tissue paper for a "flowering" tree. When the show was over, the trees were unscrewed from the carts and stored flat for a future production.
	IP Logged

EvaB Walk-On Joined: 3/26/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 5/23/04 at 10:52pm
	I saw some lovely trees in a production of The Wizard of Oz (the enchanted apple trees). The base of the trunk was a very large, plastic field tile large enough for a person to stand inside, but this would vary according to the requirements. In this case, arm holes were cut, too. Next, thick carpet padding (the type that is made of bits of foam rubber laminated together) was stapled to the outside -- this was done not smoothly, but so that the surface was irregular, with a rather vertical stratification. Then it was painted with tree trunk colors like brown, grey, black, etc. The top of the tree in this case was made of a sheet of luan with typical treetop shape, and hole for the face. We later borrowed the trees for a melodrama -- they can be seen at this website. http://www.iowariverplayers.org/orphangirl.html We put little birds and squirrels in the face holes.
	IP Logged

Puzzled in NJ Guest	Posted: 7/28/04 at 10:35am
	We made a life-sized tree in school to hang "giving leaves" from so parents could pick a request to fill for the classrooms. We started with a 3X3' 3/4" plywood base on sliders. The 12" diameter 5' trunk was formed with chicken wire, stuffed firmly with newspaper. 4 main branches were 3" sections 3' long, wired in, another smaller set of chicken wire (1 foot) thinner branches wired to the ends of those, and from each thinner branch 2 wire branches were taped in using electrical tape, then another set of smallest branches at the ends of each of these. To cover, we used plaster-soaked strips of sheets wrapped vertically and horizontally for strength. The branches were thickened appropriately and all jointings were "lashed" with the plaster soaked strips. A skim coat of plaster was applied to the entire tree and texturized, painted dark gray, and we had planned on spray painting tan and black onto that surface. Fanstastic! Until it cracked. Does anyone know of a tough coating we could apply to the surface that would eliminate the problem of cracking? This is heartbreaking! Puzzled in NJ
	IP Logged

eagle Lead Joined: 5/12/04 Location: Hong Kong Online Status: Offline Posts: 29	Posted: 8/07/04 at 11:17am
	I tried using plaster and I found that it cracked, I had wanted to try using it for the donkey mask but it seemed not a very usable material because of this feature. To make the tree trunk irregular bark we used pulverized toilet paper in white glue. Really gooey stuff like clay. Students experimented with it and found that by mixing in more shredded toilet paper the 'paper mache clay' was harder. So you could actually throw on the harder mixture to create an irregular surface. We used wooden chopsticks to 'throw' the paper mache clay onto the surface. It was a bit difficult to paint because of the irregular surface but the effect was great. I don't know how you can save the plaster surface. But I think plaster is just a material that does crack, so perhaps instead of trying to save it, you might try covering it with paper mache clay. I will try to attach a picture to show you the final effect. Edited by eagle
	IP Logged

Puzzled in NJ Guest	Posted: 8/16/04 at 9:04am
	Eagle, Thanks for the reply. It never occurred to me to try white glue and toilet paper. I have been looking at fiber glass for the at-risk areas, but the resurfacing sounds good. If you hear of anything else, please let me know. This is a large project and we must save it!
	IP Logged

multitech Walk-On Joined: 8/11/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 8/16/04 at 5:25pm
	I've had great success useing spray on foam insulation. Th etype that comes in a can and grows. I've used a plywood base or even foam insulation sheets to creat the basic shape and then ues the canned foam to create the outer texture. Looks like bark, after you get the technique for allyingit, or work as a team. One person applies and the other shapes, you need to be quick it sets up in minutes. Multitech.
	IP Logged

eagle Lead Joined: 5/12/04 Location: Hong Kong Online Status: Offline Posts: 29	Posted: 8/19/04 at 12:12am
	Wasn't able to attach a picture but you can still see the bark of a tree we made at http://www.mss.edu.hk/2003-04/MidSummer04/midsummer_page/ind ex.htm click on "workmen" under gallery then choose the 11th picture. As the picture enlarges, you can see the irregular surface of the bark between the two actors. We made the bark with the method I mentioned before i.e. white glue mixed with warm water and shredded toilet paper mixed until clay like. A bit harder than dough-texture and then 'whipping' it on the surface of the column. We then painted it after it dried. The paint doesn't get on as fast because of the irregular surface but after moving it back up vertical some of the white areas you see horizontally disappeared. We used synthetic paint (used for walls) mixed with water. Edited by eagle
	IP Logged