Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: George Washington Slept Here

Message

   I'm considering doing this play in the spring at the high school where I'm the director. The only thing scaring me is the set....collapsing chair, wrecking it at the end, rain leak effect, etc. We are a VERY small theater department (it's my job to grow it into a viable program and this is my second year). We do not have access to expert set builders, just a few faculty and parents willing to help. This year we have a new teacher who's much better at tech than I am, but I don't want to dump everything on him. Given those conditions, should I forget this wonderful play and choose something with a less challenging set? Or do you think we could pull it off? 

Thanks in advance!

Anna

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ChanaGoanna Player Joined: 10/05/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 16	Topic: George Washington Slept Here Posted: 9/26/11 at 1:00pm
	I'm considering doing this play in the spring at the high school where I'm the director. The only thing scaring me is the set....collapsing chair, wrecking it at the end, rain leak effect, etc. We are a VERY small theater department (it's my job to grow it into a viable program and this is my second year). We do not have access to expert set builders, just a few faculty and parents willing to help. This year we have a new teacher who's much better at tech than I am, but I don't want to dump everything on him. Given those conditions, should I forget this wonderful play and choose something with a less challenging set? Or do you think we could pull it off? Thanks in advance! Anna

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Majicwrench Celebrity Joined: 2/07/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 178	Posted: 9/26/11 at 4:56pm
	Anna, I am a HUGE fan of going minimalist. I'm betting you can find ways to do this WITHOUT going overboard on the "stuff". Never doubt the power of your audience's imagination. Some of that fancy trick "stuff" if not absolutely perfect, is worse than nothing. Keith
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ChanaGoanna Player Joined: 10/05/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 16	Posted: 9/27/11 at 3:13pm
	That's reassuring, Keith, thanks! Do you have any specific suggestions for scenes in that play?
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Majicwrench Celebrity Joined: 2/07/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 178	Posted: 9/28/11 at 10:40pm
	Nope! Have never read the play, I was just spouting my mantra. Heck, might have to read it... Do you have any specific issues you can post here?? Keith
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JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 9/29/11 at 1:19am
	I agree with Kieth & the aude adage of "Keep it simple - stupid!" You can do the rain with a simple gobo lighting effext on a scrim, set or cyc. You might find holding a round table with your helper/techies could resolve the situation, by turning the "impossible into the probable, thus making the improbable into the possible & perfect!". Edited by JoeMc - 9/29/11 at 1:20am
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
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Majicwrench Celebrity Joined: 2/07/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 178	Posted: 9/29/11 at 11:52am
	Rain?? Actors can hold out their hands, and look up, or cover their heads with newspapers, turn up their collars, put on their hats, the audience will get it. Heck, on of em can look up and say "hmm, raining" if it is not already in script. Less is More.
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ChanaGoanna Player Joined: 10/05/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 16	Posted: 10/02/11 at 12:15am
	I guess the biggest issue is that the cast wrecks the house at the end of the play, so it would need to be done in such a way that it can be put back together for the next performance. Has no one on the board actually done this play? It's really quite funny and charming.
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David McCall Celebrity Joined: 1/28/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 299	Posted: 10/02/11 at 11:09am
	If it is a night scene, you could use projections of rain. There is a compositing program called After Effects by Adobe that has a preset that can be tweaked to make a pretty nice rain effect. AE is in many ways like Photoshop with very heavy animation capabilities. You will need a good projector with fairly high resolution, brightness, and width.
	David M
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Set Design and Construction
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Set Design and Construction