Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Christmas Carol NO SET CHANGE

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Legacy Theater
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Joined: 4/26/11
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Topic: Christmas Carol NO SET CHANGE
Posted: 7/07/11 at 2:48pm

Hello Everyone,

We are looking into doing the traditional Christmas Carol, Dickens. We have never had it done in our area and we are looking forward to the challenge.

The problem . . . We use a church sanctuary for our stage. There really isn't an option for set changes. We have no curtain and if we do set changes, the audience will see everything.

Do you think it's possible to do Christmas Carol in this fashion? I know there are numerous set requirements, but if anyone has a "non-traditional" idea, I'd love to hear it!

Thanks,
Erika

Erika Hose
President Legacy Theater Company

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vickifrank
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Posted: 7/08/11 at 9:12am

What about rear projection? The projection surface hangs in place, the image changes--interior, streetscene, graveyard.

I'd personally for Christmas Carol prefer alternating between silhouette screen and rear projection. So for instance Kratchett's family is shown seated a table behind the screen in silhouette, while the exterior scene shows a street projected on the screen. Scrooge's gravestone is in silhoutte, but the party scene is rear projected with the performers in front.

_____________

http://www.studio-productions-inc.com
1-800-359-2964

The theater scrim people

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Majicwrench
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Posted: 7/08/11 at 6:37pm

THe last few years I have so gotten away from sets. It is amazing what you can do without a set. Keep stuff to a bare minumum, just take it off and on. Dim lights if you like. A lamp post. A gravestone (stryofoam works great) a small table. A simple bed.

Less is more. The audience will fill in the blanks, and the whole thing will take on a magical quality.

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Legacy Theater
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Posted: 7/28/11 at 10:49am

Thanks for the advice everyone. I am with you Maji. I have also simplified things. I think if the actors and story are top quality, the show will be awesome.

Thanks for the advice on projection. Unfortunately right now we don't have that ability :(

I will keep thinking out of the box for set ideas!

Erika Hose
President Legacy Theater Company

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Majicwrench
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Posted: 7/28/11 at 1:25pm

Some of the most amazing theatric things I have seen have been done with almost nothing. Never underestimate the power of your audience's imagination.

Working with less...you need to start with less, right from the start of the show. The audience will "get it" right away.

Projection, skrims etc, all that is wonderful in a full theatre setting. But not at all neccessary. I work in so many diff venues, the shows I put together are all kept simple. And like I said above, it has been sooooo good for me, less to hassle with, more time to spend on cast/show, easy to load in/out, just so much better. Go for it.

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ctguerin
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Joined: 8/02/11
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Posted: 8/26/11 at 9:13am

I have always been a fan of keeping the set to a minimum, let the actors "set" the stage. Do you have many lighting options? We recently did The Crucible with a bare stage and only a few set pieces and lots of lighting changes. It was an incredible production. You don't have to get that elaborate with the lights, going with warm tones for happy, upbeat scenes and cool tones for scenes with Scrooge will provide a wonderful under tone for the actors. Good luck!

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Set Design and Construction
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Set Design and Construction

Author	Message
Legacy Theater Lead Joined: 4/26/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Topic: Christmas Carol NO SET CHANGE Posted: 7/07/11 at 2:48pm
	Hello Everyone, We are looking into doing the traditional Christmas Carol, Dickens. We have never had it done in our area and we are looking forward to the challenge. The problem . . . We use a church sanctuary for our stage. There really isn't an option for set changes. We have no curtain and if we do set changes, the audience will see everything. Do you think it's possible to do Christmas Carol in this fashion? I know there are numerous set requirements, but if anyone has a "non-traditional" idea, I'd love to hear it! Thanks, Erika
	Erika Hose President Legacy Theater Company

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vickifrank Celebrity Joined: 9/21/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Posted: 7/08/11 at 9:12am
	What about rear projection? The projection surface hangs in place, the image changes--interior, streetscene, graveyard. I'd personally for Christmas Carol prefer alternating between silhouette screen and rear projection. So for instance Kratchett's family is shown seated a table behind the screen in silhouette, while the exterior scene shows a street projected on the screen. Scrooge's gravestone is in silhoutte, but the party scene is rear projected with the performers in front.
	_____________ http://www.studio-productions-inc.com 1-800-359-2964 The theater scrim people
	IP Logged

Majicwrench Celebrity Joined: 2/07/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 178	Posted: 7/08/11 at 6:37pm
	THe last few years I have so gotten away from sets. It is amazing what you can do without a set. Keep stuff to a bare minumum, just take it off and on. Dim lights if you like. A lamp post. A gravestone (stryofoam works great) a small table. A simple bed. Less is more. The audience will fill in the blanks, and the whole thing will take on a magical quality.
	IP Logged

Legacy Theater Lead Joined: 4/26/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Posted: 7/28/11 at 10:49am
	Thanks for the advice everyone. I am with you Maji. I have also simplified things. I think if the actors and story are top quality, the show will be awesome. Thanks for the advice on projection. Unfortunately right now we don't have that ability :( I will keep thinking out of the box for set ideas!
	Erika Hose President Legacy Theater Company
	IP Logged

Majicwrench Celebrity Joined: 2/07/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 178	Posted: 7/28/11 at 1:25pm
	Some of the most amazing theatric things I have seen have been done with almost nothing. Never underestimate the power of your audience's imagination. Working with less...you need to start with less, right from the start of the show. The audience will "get it" right away. Projection, skrims etc, all that is wonderful in a full theatre setting. But not at all neccessary. I work in so many diff venues, the shows I put together are all kept simple. And like I said above, it has been sooooo good for me, less to hassle with, more time to spend on cast/show, easy to load in/out, just so much better. Go for it.
	IP Logged

ctguerin Player Joined: 8/02/11 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Posted: 8/26/11 at 9:13am
	I have always been a fan of keeping the set to a minimum, let the actors "set" the stage. Do you have many lighting options? We recently did The Crucible with a bare stage and only a few set pieces and lots of lighting changes. It was an incredible production. You don't have to get that elaborate with the lights, going with warm tones for happy, upbeat scenes and cool tones for scenes with Scrooge will provide a wonderful under tone for the actors. Good luck!
	IP Logged