Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: magic circle

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Joan54
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Topic: magic circle
Posted: 7/27/07 at 4:20pm

Here's another interesting problem that I can use some help with for "The "Tempest". There is a scene where Prospero creates a magic circle that ensnares some of the other characters. He casts it down before they walk on the stage. Now here's where my mind has gone......string/ rope whatever.....like a lariat spinning down above......might look pretty good but doesn't exactly "ensnare". Then ( while plowing through a really boring day at work today) I thought about slap bracelets....remember them? Thin layered metal straps encased in fabric and they lay flat until you slapped them over your wrist and they curved and held. What if I could make a big one? How cool would that be if a straight stick could "Crack!" turn into a curve if it were thrown onto the ground. Do you think this will work? Any other strange ideas to play with?

By the way the "Xena Warrior Wings" are still in first place for wing design......think they will actually get built ( see earlier "wings" post)

"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

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Gaafa
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Posted: 7/28/07 at 3:40am

If you can't find the memory steel Joan, you could try doing it with EL Wire;-

http://www.elwire.com/
For your lariat 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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EddyZ
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Posted: 7/29/07 at 9:06am

If your stage is raked, or if the seating rakes down toward the stage such that, for most seating, the actual stage floor itself can be seen, use a circle of rope lights. Coupled with some funky overhead lighting and maybe a bit of smoke, you'd have a nice effect.

EddyZ
http://webpages.atlanticbb.net/~ezahurak/
www.nailsouptheatre.com/

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Joan54
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Posted: 7/30/07 at 2:02pm

What is EL Wire?

Our stage has no rake to it at all......it is a restored music hall with a very high stage.....the people in the front row are level with the actor's feet.....

"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

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Gaafa
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Posted: 7/30/07 at 8:16pm

Ir's all on the site & basicly descibed by it's name - EL {Electro Luminecance}.
It is realy like rope light, but rather than bulky light bubbles strung together in a tube. The thin tube has two wires intertwined within it & when any voltage [EMF] is applied this excites the phrosphor & creates light through out the tube. AC & Dc voltage can be used from General Purpose Outlet mains socket or a battery, the higher the voltage the brighter the wire tube light. It is flexable & can be used in almost any configiration & any length. You can go with Inverters & generator modules, as suggested,but just basic electrical ability is all that is needed.
As your in an old Music Hall I assume there would be 'Dip Traps' set in the stage deck, that can acomodate the electrical gubbins & the EL wire. Which could be run out, thru a fair lead & switched on in view, then dropped onto the deck.
If there is a sight line problem for the punters, you could fly in a plastic mirror, on an angle, above the circle. To let all bos's see the light circle.

You could use stick on mirror or Shrink Mirror may be better;- http://www.rosco.com/uk/propscenic/mirrors.asp#Shrink

It could be put on a shaped board as part of the setting or even dead hung from a Tab track & brought on as a lonely passing cloud, that lingers longer - just a thought?

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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Joan54
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Joined: 10/03/05
Location: United States
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Posts: 207

Posted: 7/31/07 at 7:34am

Thanks Joe...I'll check it out....

"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

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TimW
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Posted: 8/06/07 at 8:24am

I have used EL wire and love it. The great thing is that the wire uses a frequency like Gaafa said and stays cool to the touch. I used about 14 feet of it for a show powered by a 9 volt battery. This makes it conveniant if you want an actor to control it from onstage and not have wires restricting the action.

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Gaafa
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Posted: 8/06/07 at 12:02pm

That's the thing which I like about it, the higher the voltage applied, the brighter it is.[of course voltage loss over length does apply] Wether it be 1VDC to 254VAC I have never known it to burn out.
Therefore it is idiot proof to a certain extent?

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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Linda S
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Joined: 4/16/05
Location: United States
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Posted: 8/06/07 at 4:06pm

You never know what you you are going to find on this board. Gaafa, thank you so much for the information on EL wire. I have a show coming up that needs a neon sign with very specific wording. By using glowire I figure I can make it for about a tenth the price of a neon sign, and in any colors I want. The website you gave is only selling by the full roll. I did find a site www.glowire.com that sells kits and varying lenghts of the EL wire. Thanks again.

Linda

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Gaafa
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Posted: 8/07/07 at 2:40am

thanks for the 'Glowire' alturnative, I'l keep that in mind for the future Linda.
As ELWire is produced there, I guess that Glowire could be made in China cheaper, like every thing else!
The problem for us is it is not stocked localy & is ordered on indent only from theatrical suppliers - So we pay thru the nose anyway.

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}

IP Logged

Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup

Author	Message
Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Topic: magic circle Posted: 7/27/07 at 4:20pm
	Here's another interesting problem that I can use some help with for "The "Tempest". There is a scene where Prospero creates a magic circle that ensnares some of the other characters. He casts it down before they walk on the stage. Now here's where my mind has gone......string/ rope whatever.....like a lariat spinning down above......might look pretty good but doesn't exactly "ensnare". Then ( while plowing through a really boring day at work today) I thought about slap bracelets....remember them? Thin layered metal straps encased in fabric and they lay flat until you slapped them over your wrist and they curved and held. What if I could make a big one? How cool would that be if a straight stick could "Crack!" turn into a curve if it were thrown onto the ground. Do you think this will work? Any other strange ideas to play with? By the way the "Xena Warrior Wings" are still in first place for wing design......think they will actually get built ( see earlier "wings" post)
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"

	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 7/28/07 at 3:40am
	If you can't find the memory steel Joan, you could try doing it with EL Wire;- http://www.elwire.com/ For your lariat 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}
	IP Logged

EddyZ Star Joined: 8/21/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 60	Posted: 7/29/07 at 9:06am
	If your stage is raked, or if the seating rakes down toward the stage such that, for most seating, the actual stage floor itself can be seen, use a circle of rope lights. Coupled with some funky overhead lighting and maybe a bit of smoke, you'd have a nice effect.
	EddyZ http://webpages.atlanticbb.net/~ezahurak/ www.nailsouptheatre.com/
	IP Logged

Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 7/30/07 at 2:02pm
	What is EL Wire? Our stage has no rake to it at all......it is a restored music hall with a very high stage.....the people in the front row are level with the actor's feet.....
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 7/30/07 at 8:16pm
	Ir's all on the site & basicly descibed by it's name - EL {Electro Luminecance}. It is realy like rope light, but rather than bulky light bubbles strung together in a tube. The thin tube has two wires intertwined within it & when any voltage [EMF] is applied this excites the phrosphor & creates light through out the tube. AC & Dc voltage can be used from General Purpose Outlet mains socket or a battery, the higher the voltage the brighter the wire tube light. It is flexable & can be used in almost any configiration & any length. You can go with Inverters & generator modules, as suggested,but just basic electrical ability is all that is needed. As your in an old Music Hall I assume there would be 'Dip Traps' set in the stage deck, that can acomodate the electrical gubbins & the EL wire. Which could be run out, thru a fair lead & switched on in view, then dropped onto the deck. If there is a sight line problem for the punters, you could fly in a plastic mirror, on an angle, above the circle. To let all bos's see the light circle. You could use stick on mirror or Shrink Mirror may be better;- http://www.rosco.com/uk/propscenic/mirrors.asp#Shrink It could be put on a shaped board as part of the setting or even dead hung from a Tab track & brought on as a lonely passing cloud, that lingers longer - just a thought?
	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}
	IP Logged

Joan54 Celebrity Joined: 10/03/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Posted: 7/31/07 at 7:34am
	Thanks Joe...I'll check it out....
	"behind a thin wall of logic panic is waiting to stampede"
	IP Logged

TimW Star Joined: 8/10/06 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 83	Posted: 8/06/07 at 8:24am
	I have used EL wire and love it. The great thing is that the wire uses a frequency like Gaafa said and stays cool to the touch. I used about 14 feet of it for a show powered by a 9 volt battery. This makes it conveniant if you want an actor to control it from onstage and not have wires restricting the action.
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 8/06/07 at 12:02pm
	That's the thing which I like about it, the higher the voltage applied, the brighter it is.[of course voltage loss over length does apply] Wether it be 1VDC to 254VAC I have never known it to burn out. Therefore it is idiot proof to a certain extent?
	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}
	IP Logged

Linda S Celebrity Joined: 4/16/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 312	Posted: 8/06/07 at 4:06pm
	You never know what you you are going to find on this board. Gaafa, thank you so much for the information on EL wire. I have a show coming up that needs a neon sign with very specific wording. By using glowire I figure I can make it for about a tenth the price of a neon sign, and in any colors I want. The website you gave is only selling by the full roll. I did find a site www.glowire.com that sells kits and varying lenghts of the EL wire. Thanks again. Linda
	IP Logged

Gaafa Celebrity Joined: 3/21/04 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 1181	Posted: 8/07/07 at 2:40am
	thanks for the 'Glowire' alturnative, I'l keep that in mind for the future Linda. As ELWire is produced there, I guess that Glowire could be made in China cheaper, like every thing else! The problem for us is it is not stocked localy & is ordered on indent only from theatrical suppliers - So we pay thru the nose anyway.
	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}
	IP Logged

Topic: magic circle( Topic Closed)
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