Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: beds?

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joanna
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Joined: 8/26/08
Location: United States
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Topic: beds?
Posted: 8/26/08 at 2:15pm

hello- we need to construct two beds for stage use- the stage is small so using a real bed won't work.

any ideas?

The beds don't need to have a mattress, or too much fancyness- just need to suggest a bed

thanks!

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Nanette
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Joined: 8/01/06
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Posts: 399

Posted: 8/26/08 at 3:22pm

Try using forced perspective. Cut a basic trapezoid (much narrower at the top). Add legs ~ higher on the narrow end ~ and cover the bottom with a skirt (we stapled felt directly to the top of the "bed"). We added a high back and a small box to the top of that and covered/draped the entire thing to give the impression it was a canopy bed. Add your pillows, bedspread, etc.

In a world of margarine, be butter!

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kaelidancer
Lead
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Joined: 8/06/08
Location: United States
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Posts: 49

Posted: 8/26/08 at 10:27pm

We actually have a bedframe we made out of PVC pipe, if you have anyone familiar with plumbing. We needed something a little smaller than a twin bed, so we PVC'd the frame, put in some lauan and foam to suggest a mattress, covered it with a sheet & blanket, and voila. It's on casters too, so it's easy to get on and off.

Kaeli Gardner
Johnson City Community Theatre
www.jcct.us
www.gardnerarts.com

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R-tist
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Joined: 8/27/08
Location: United States
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Posted: 8/27/08 at 11:38am

I bought foldable tables that have adjustable leg height from Sam's Club. They look like toddler size beds and use crib sized fitted sheets. During Annie, we used them on the lowest settings and the kids danced and jumped from them.

Mary H.

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joanna
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Location: United States
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Posted: 8/27/08 at 11:42am

Thanks y'all! those ideas are great!

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whitebat
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Joined: 8/05/07
Location: United States
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Posts: 137

Posted: 8/27/08 at 7:08pm

For "Christmas Carol", we used an ordinary table, made up with bed linens. If the spread goes to the floor, nobody can tell it isn't a real bed. Make sure you use a VERY sturdy table.

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theatremonkey
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Joined: 6/04/08
Location: United States
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Posts: 35

Posted: 9/13/08 at 10:27pm

We did Madeline last year and we had 12 flats with a metal pole that has a blanket attached. The girls stood up against the flat. The metal pole was on a slide, so you could pull it up and down. we painted them like beds. kind of cartoonish but worked good for madeline. i guess it would depend on what show you are doing

theatre monkey

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

Author	Message
joanna Walk-On Joined: 8/26/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: beds? Posted: 8/26/08 at 2:15pm
	hello- we need to construct two beds for stage use- the stage is small so using a real bed won't work. any ideas? The beds don't need to have a mattress, or too much fancyness- just need to suggest a bed thanks!

	IP Logged

Nanette Celebrity Joined: 8/01/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Posted: 8/26/08 at 3:22pm
	Try using forced perspective. Cut a basic trapezoid (much narrower at the top). Add legs ~ higher on the narrow end ~ and cover the bottom with a skirt (we stapled felt directly to the top of the "bed"). We added a high back and a small box to the top of that and covered/draped the entire thing to give the impression it was a canopy bed. Add your pillows, bedspread, etc.
	In a world of margarine, be butter!
	IP Logged

kaelidancer Lead Joined: 8/06/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 49	Posted: 8/26/08 at 10:27pm
	We actually have a bedframe we made out of PVC pipe, if you have anyone familiar with plumbing. We needed something a little smaller than a twin bed, so we PVC'd the frame, put in some lauan and foam to suggest a mattress, covered it with a sheet & blanket, and voila. It's on casters too, so it's easy to get on and off.
	Kaeli Gardner Johnson City Community Theatre www.jcct.us www.gardnerarts.com
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R-tist Walk-On Joined: 8/27/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 8/27/08 at 11:38am
	I bought foldable tables that have adjustable leg height from Sam's Club. They look like toddler size beds and use crib sized fitted sheets. During Annie, we used them on the lowest settings and the kids danced and jumped from them.
	Mary H.
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joanna Walk-On Joined: 8/26/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 8/27/08 at 11:42am
	Thanks y'all! those ideas are great!
	IP Logged

whitebat Celebrity Joined: 8/05/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 137	Posted: 8/27/08 at 7:08pm
	For "Christmas Carol", we used an ordinary table, made up with bed linens. If the spread goes to the floor, nobody can tell it isn't a real bed. Make sure you use a VERY sturdy table.
	IP Logged

theatremonkey Lead Joined: 6/04/08 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 35	Posted: 9/13/08 at 10:27pm
	We did Madeline last year and we had 12 flats with a metal pole that has a blanket attached. The girls stood up against the flat. The metal pole was on a slide, so you could pull it up and down. we painted them like beds. kind of cartoonish but worked good for madeline. i guess it would depend on what show you are doing
	theatre monkey
	IP Logged

Topic: beds?( Topic Closed)