Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Spiral Staircase

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stagekat
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Joined: 1/02/09
Location: United States
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Topic: Spiral Staircase
Posted: 1/02/09 at 11:43pm

Anyone have an idea where one can get a reasonably priced spiral staircase? We are doing Guilty Conscience and want to use one to get to a second floor library on stage. We don't have a big budget, and would like to rent one if possible. We also have a narrow stage and so building a regular stairs is not really feasible.

Thanks

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lmar12
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Joined: 8/22/07
Location: United States
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Posts: 25

Posted: 1/09/09 at 12:29pm

Where are you located? Our community theater has one that I believe they will rent out. We are located in Central Wisconsin. Otherwise I think they paid between 800-1000 for theirs about three years ago.

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Perry
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Joined: 1/27/09
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Posted: 1/27/09 at 10:48pm

Or if you have a welding class you can make one. we did. we used 1/8th inch steel mesh to cover the 2 inch square tubing. or you can make one like you would see in movies. like the fire escapes on the side of the building they go in a zig-zag pattern we did that also. it would be a long prosses but its much more cost efficent

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Mr. Lowell
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Joined: 1/30/07
Location: United States
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Posts: 269

Posted: 2/03/09 at 12:40pm

I found a terrific spiral staircase in Reidsville, North Carolina, (which is only 30 minutes North of here). But I'm sure you guys are much farther away so the shipping expense might be cost prohibitive. Here's a good picture of it while my crew was adding a wooden landing level to the top.

The staircase is extremely sturdy. It's welded from 1" square tubing. I recall it's a little more than 7' tall. It was my perfect solution for supporting the stage-right end of my flying bridge unit in the beggar scene and Javert's solo in "Les Miserables School Edition". Then in Act II, I used the sprial staircase stage-right of the turntable to complete the look of the barricade. (Click on the pictures to make them bigger).

It was well worth the trouble of getting a trailer and driving up to Rockingham High School to get it. Their drama teacher, Pete Barr, is a cool guy and he loaned it to me for free. (But, who knows, for an out-of-state "stranger" he may ask you to pay a security deposit). But it can't hurt to at least inquire about it. You could send a parent to go pick it up with a one-way U-Haul trailer. Your shipping cost may turn out to be less than the cost of building one!

I hope to use this staircase again in the future. I can think of any number of plays and musicals that could use it.

Good luck with your production. -Dana

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

Author	Message
stagekat Walk-On Joined: 1/02/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Topic: Spiral Staircase Posted: 1/02/09 at 11:43pm
	Anyone have an idea where one can get a reasonably priced spiral staircase? We are doing Guilty Conscience and want to use one to get to a second floor library on stage. We don't have a big budget, and would like to rent one if possible. We also have a narrow stage and so building a regular stairs is not really feasible. Thanks

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lmar12 Player Joined: 8/22/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 25	Posted: 1/09/09 at 12:29pm
	Where are you located? Our community theater has one that I believe they will rent out. We are located in Central Wisconsin. Otherwise I think they paid between 800-1000 for theirs about three years ago.
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Perry Walk-On Joined: 1/27/09 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Posted: 1/27/09 at 10:48pm
	Or if you have a welding class you can make one. we did. we used 1/8th inch steel mesh to cover the 2 inch square tubing. or you can make one like you would see in movies. like the fire escapes on the side of the building they go in a zig-zag pattern we did that also. it would be a long prosses but its much more cost efficent
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Mr. Lowell Celebrity Joined: 1/30/07 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 269	Posted: 2/03/09 at 12:40pm
	I found a terrific spiral staircase in Reidsville, North Carolina, (which is only 30 minutes North of here). But I'm sure you guys are much farther away so the shipping expense might be cost prohibitive. Here's a good picture of it while my crew was adding a wooden landing level to the top. The staircase is extremely sturdy. It's welded from 1" square tubing. I recall it's a little more than 7' tall. It was my perfect solution for supporting the stage-right end of my flying bridge unit in the beggar scene and Javert's solo in "Les Miserables School Edition". Then in Act II, I used the sprial staircase stage-right of the turntable to complete the look of the barricade. (Click on the pictures to make them bigger). It was well worth the trouble of getting a trailer and driving up to Rockingham High School to get it. Their drama teacher, Pete Barr, is a cool guy and he loaned it to me for free. (But, who knows, for an out-of-state "stranger" he may ask you to pay a security deposit). But it can't hurt to at least inquire about it. You could send a parent to go pick it up with a one-way U-Haul trailer. Your shipping cost may turn out to be less than the cost of building one! I hope to use this staircase again in the future. I can think of any number of plays and musicals that could use it. Good luck with your production. -Dana
	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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Topic: Spiral Staircase( Topic Closed)