Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Supports for groundrow?

Message

   Hi, I am new to stagecrafting and will be producing my first play (with middle schoolers) in the spring.  I will be producing "Heidi."  

I will need to have some free-standing cut-out trees as part of my set.  To keep costs down, I am hoping to make these out of corrigated cardboard.  Perhaps I could create them as tall as 5 ft. hmmmm???? 

Can someone tell me how to construct the support system to allow these to stand up?  I have poured over a bunch of stagecrafting books.  I have read about "jacks," the triangular piece used for rigid support.  Is that what is typically used for tall cut-outs?  Will corrigated cardboard work for such a tall piece?

Any advice would be greatly taken in (as I am soooo green at this stuff)!

Thanks,

Kim

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Kim L. Star Joined: 2/03/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 86	Topic: Supports for groundrow? Posted: 7/02/07 at 8:03am
	Hi, I am new to stagecrafting and will be producing my first play (with middle schoolers) in the spring. I will be producing "Heidi." I will need to have some free-standing cut-out trees as part of my set. To keep costs down, I am hoping to make these out of corrigated cardboard. Perhaps I could create them as tall as 5 ft. hmmmm???? Can someone tell me how to construct the support system to allow these to stand up? I have poured over a bunch of stagecrafting books. I have read about "jacks," the triangular piece used for rigid support. Is that what is typically used for tall cut-outs? Will corrigated cardboard work for such a tall piece? Any advice would be greatly taken in (as I am soooo green at this stuff)! Thanks, Kim
	Kim

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neilfortin Celebrity Joined: 11/20/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 210	Posted: 7/02/07 at 11:01am
	Depending on how tough/ridgid the cardboard is, 5 foot trees should not be a problem at all, i would say that a jack for a five foot tree would be perfect, although the "christmas tree stand" avenue might work as well, where a base is build that is strong enough to support the weight of the tree, but this would more typically be used for a 3-dimensional form (We just did a Funny THing Happened on the way to the Forum and used the base idea for all of our columns) If your cardboard is too flimsy, the thinner area's (i.e. the trunk) will start to bend and warp if the bottom is the only area supported. This can be fixed by either using a different material, or reinforcing the thinner area's of your set peices. Hope this helps!
	Community Theater makes us smile
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Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 7/02/07 at 11:51am
	Have you thought about using actual fake Christmas Trees? A lot of people buy them, hate them and leave them in the attic forever. Spread the word.....you don't need that many..... and voila.....instant forest. I started collecting them from the local recycling area and it didn't take me long to get a nice group. Good luck.
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
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Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 7/02/07 at 12:04pm
	If I may suggest, white glue wooden battens to the cardboard & attach 'french Braces' ((triangular) you may need to sand bag them. Depending on the 'gsm' of the board, you could also design as a 'display Standee' style. Come to think of it, check your local supermarkets or Cinemas & rework any old ones they normaly chuck out. You may need to profile cut them, recover with butchers paper & paint. Though I like Joans idea!
	Joe Western Gondawandaland turn right @ Perth. Hear the light & see the sound. Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"} May you always play to a full house}
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Kim L. Star Joined: 2/03/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 86	Posted: 7/03/07 at 8:19pm
	Thanks for the great ideas (the artificial Christmas tree forest) and the ideas for supports for groundrow (which I am sure is Stagecraft 101!). Kim
	Kim
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Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup

Topic: Supports for groundrow?( Topic Closed)