Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Quick Change Exterior to Interior

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MrBill
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Topic: Quick Change Exterior to Interior
Posted: 5/27/10 at 8:19am

I have a bit of a dilemma and thought I would toss it out there for the creative minds. We are doing Anne of Avonlea, (think Canada, late Victorian/Edwardian) and there are two quick scene changes in full view of the audience, one from the exterior of Green Gables (Anne's farmhouse home) to an interior space holding a kitchen table and chairs. The other from the school to the same interior space in Green Gables). I can probably get away with not striking anything that is onstage during these changes as long as the interior has a back "wall" to mask the school benches. My stage area is roughly 40' x 15' behind the grand drape with a curved 11' apron in front of the drape. For larger design reasons that have to do with the overall look and other scene requirements I don’t really want a fixed interior scene that is visible throughout nor do I want to close the main curtain for this scene. (Though I could be persuaded with great ideas!) Any thoughts?

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Mr. Lowell
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Posted: 5/27/10 at 8:42am

No fly system, right?

Does your design style call for fully realized walls or can they be fragmentary elements?

How much open wing space do you have on the sides and in the back?

Mr. Lowell,
Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director,
for the Linda Sloan Theatre,
in the Davison Center for the Arts,
at Greensboro Day School

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gelcat
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Posted: 5/27/10 at 9:29am

a revolve?

www.actorsguildonline.org
Actors Guild of Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV

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David McCall
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Posted: 5/27/10 at 9:31am

I did She Loves Me on a small stage recently. The director wanted to go between inside and outside seamlessly. I hinged the 2 walls. The wall with the door also had a platform that extended to the inside. An actor could step onto the outside platform and 2 other actors would swing open the walls revealing the inside. Then the actor would come through the door into the shop. The set got applause the first time it opened. Use non-swiveling casters and keep in mind that they will move along an arc when placing the casters. Also note that the display counters and the ottoman move with the walls.

http://techshop.net/shows/SLM/SLM_composte.jpg

Edited by David McCall - 5/27/10 at 10:02am

David M

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MrBill
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Posted: 5/27/10 at 2:46pm

no fly to speak of, also a rented facility so no chance of testing anything before show week. I have about a 14x15 space on stage left. Stage right is pretty full. There is a some space behind the drop we are using as well but it will also be used by actors crossings and some quick costume changes so I can't fill it up.

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vickifrank
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Posted: 5/27/10 at 3:58pm

How about a printed scrim? Print the exterior. Reveal the interior. The scrim can travel away when not needed.

Could be a fragment of the exterior.

We have something similar that we rent for Into the Woods. In that case it's the exterior of Grandma's cottage, printed to a size 20'h x 15' w. (So a scrim that can be printed and set up as a 'cut drop' tab) When you change the light you reveal the interior scene. Recently for another customer we made two printed scrim 'legs' that were each two building exteriors that extended offstage. Because the customer printed only a small area we were able to keep the cost modest.

Interior scenes can be played in a silhouette, or a full color and light reveal. The scrim can stay in place, or be travelled off after the reveal.

Edited by vickifrank - 5/27/10 at 4:06pm

_____________

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

The theater scrim people

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MrBill
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Posted: 5/28/10 at 2:10pm

I love the "She Loves Me" set and it makes me wonder if I could create a wagon that is say 4 x 12 and shows an exterior view that opens to reveal just a portion of the interior I am thinking space for an entrance door and maybe a buffet, so that some prop pieces could be loaded into the wagon making the change quicker. Any thoughts on the practical issues caused by a rolling piece that also opens in that way? I am thinking that I need to be concerned that what ever brake I use on the wagon needs to still allow the barn door front to open. Am I over thinking here?

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David McCall
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Posted: 5/28/10 at 4:58pm

There was an interesting thread on wagon brakes (locks) here is a link to one of my post in that thread. I hope it works.

http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4463&KW=wagon+brake&PID=23281#23281

David M

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tristanrobin
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Posted: 5/29/10 at 7:26pm

Our designer created a five sided "box" set, which sat in a romantic street scene.

The backs of the front three portions were the exterior, and when they were rolled open, it became the full store, with some nice interesting angles.

http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com

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JoeMc
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Posted: 5/29/10 at 9:49pm

A simple brake of sorts, which works well on flats, is a fairly flat paint brush. The handle of brush is screwed flat, so it can pivot & swing down Thus allowing the brush to swivel & the bristles to jam on the deck. Also a screw is placed to act as a rest for the brush handle along side, when the brush is not used.
Rather than using castors, attach some old carpet strips, underneath the base stile of the flat, so the carpet pyle is on the deck. This gives a smoother flat movement without the need for outriggers or the like & stablises the flat when moving it.

Edited by JoeMc - 5/29/10 at 9:52pm

[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

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

Topic: Quick Change Exterior to Interior( Topic Closed)
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Author	Message
MrBill Walk-On Joined: 5/26/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Topic: Quick Change Exterior to Interior Posted: 5/27/10 at 8:19am
	I have a bit of a dilemma and thought I would toss it out there for the creative minds. We are doing Anne of Avonlea, (think Canada, late Victorian/Edwardian) and there are two quick scene changes in full view of the audience, one from the exterior of Green Gables (Anne's farmhouse home) to an interior space holding a kitchen table and chairs. The other from the school to the same interior space in Green Gables). I can probably get away with not striking anything that is onstage during these changes as long as the interior has a back "wall" to mask the school benches. My stage area is roughly 40' x 15' behind the grand drape with a curved 11' apron in front of the drape. For larger design reasons that have to do with the overall look and other scene requirements I don’t really want a fixed interior scene that is visible throughout nor do I want to close the main curtain for this scene. (Though I could be persuaded with great ideas!) Any thoughts?

	IP Logged

Mr. Lowell Celebrity Joined: 1/30/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 269	Posted: 5/27/10 at 8:42am
	No fly system, right? Does your design style call for fully realized walls or can they be fragmentary elements? How much open wing space do you have on the sides and in the back?
	Mr. Lowell, Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director, for the Linda Sloan Theatre, in the Davison Center for the Arts, at Greensboro Day School
	IP Logged

gelcat Celebrity Joined: 6/12/09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 106	Posted: 5/27/10 at 9:29am
	a revolve?
	www.actorsguildonline.org Actors Guild of Parkersburg Parkersburg, WV
	IP Logged

David McCall Celebrity Joined: 1/28/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 299	Posted: 5/27/10 at 9:31am
	I did She Loves Me on a small stage recently. The director wanted to go between inside and outside seamlessly. I hinged the 2 walls. The wall with the door also had a platform that extended to the inside. An actor could step onto the outside platform and 2 other actors would swing open the walls revealing the inside. Then the actor would come through the door into the shop. The set got applause the first time it opened. Use non-swiveling casters and keep in mind that they will move along an arc when placing the casters. Also note that the display counters and the ottoman move with the walls. http://techshop.net/shows/SLM/SLM_composte.jpg Edited by David McCall - 5/27/10 at 10:02am
	David M
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MrBill Walk-On Joined: 5/26/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Posted: 5/27/10 at 2:46pm
	no fly to speak of, also a rented facility so no chance of testing anything before show week. I have about a 14x15 space on stage left. Stage right is pretty full. There is a some space behind the drop we are using as well but it will also be used by actors crossings and some quick costume changes so I can't fill it up.
	IP Logged

vickifrank Celebrity Joined: 9/21/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 332	Posted: 5/27/10 at 3:58pm
	How about a printed scrim? Print the exterior. Reveal the interior. The scrim can travel away when not needed. Could be a fragment of the exterior. We have something similar that we rent for Into the Woods. In that case it's the exterior of Grandma's cottage, printed to a size 20'h x 15' w. (So a scrim that can be printed and set up as a 'cut drop' tab) When you change the light you reveal the interior scene. Recently for another customer we made two printed scrim 'legs' that were each two building exteriors that extended offstage. Because the customer printed only a small area we were able to keep the cost modest. Interior scenes can be played in a silhouette, or a full color and light reveal. The scrim can stay in place, or be travelled off after the reveal. Edited by vickifrank - 5/27/10 at 4:06pm
	_____________ http://www.studio-productions-inc.com 1-800-359-2964 The theater scrim people
	IP Logged

MrBill Walk-On Joined: 5/26/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1	Posted: 5/28/10 at 2:10pm
	I love the "She Loves Me" set and it makes me wonder if I could create a wagon that is say 4 x 12 and shows an exterior view that opens to reveal just a portion of the interior I am thinking space for an entrance door and maybe a buffet, so that some prop pieces could be loaded into the wagon making the change quicker. Any thoughts on the practical issues caused by a rolling piece that also opens in that way? I am thinking that I need to be concerned that what ever brake I use on the wagon needs to still allow the barn door front to open. Am I over thinking here?
	IP Logged

David McCall Celebrity Joined: 1/28/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 299	Posted: 5/28/10 at 4:58pm
	There was an interesting thread on wagon brakes (locks) here is a link to one of my post in that thread. I hope it works. http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4463&KW=wagon+brake&PID=23281#23281
	David M
	IP Logged

tristanrobin Celebrity Joined: 4/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 704	Posted: 5/29/10 at 7:26pm
	Our designer created a five sided "box" set, which sat in a romantic street scene. The backs of the front three portions were the exterior, and when they were rolled open, it became the full store, with some nice interesting angles.
	http://tristanrobin.blogspot.com
	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 5/29/10 at 9:49pm
	A simple brake of sorts, which works well on flats, is a fairly flat paint brush. The handle of brush is screwed flat, so it can pivot & swing down Thus allowing the brush to swivel & the bristles to jam on the deck. Also a screw is placed to act as a rest for the brush handle along side, when the brush is not used. Rather than using castors, attach some old carpet strips, underneath the base stile of the flat, so the carpet pyle is on the deck. This gives a smoother flat movement without the need for outriggers or the like & stablises the flat when moving it. Edited by JoeMc - 5/29/10 at 9:52pm
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged