Seussical
Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Set Design and Construction
Forum Discription: Post your questions or suggestions about designing or building a set here.
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2471
Printed Date: 11/24/24 at 6:09am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Seussical
Posted By: sburger
Subject: Seussical
Date Posted: 6/24/07 at 10:24pm
| Have any of you done a Seussical set? What would you recommend for a really small theatre? |
Replies:
Posted By: Mr. Lowell
Date Posted: 6/28/07 at 12:06am
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I will ask the same question. I'm designing the show for February, 2008.
Hey http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/member_profile.asp?PF=1403&FID=1 - sburger , when is your production date? Maybe we can swap ideas as we go along. -Dana ------------- Mr. Lowell, Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director, for the Linda Sloan Theatre, in the Davison Center for the Arts, at Greensboro Day School |
Posted By: sburger
Date Posted: 6/28/07 at 4:29pm
| We're doing the show in November. We are a really small school and have a small community theatre, but I think we'll have a lot of community support and I am sure it will be great! Any ideas would be fantastic! |
Posted By: caseyscott07
Date Posted: 6/28/07 at 9:59pm
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Sorry, I'm new, so I hope you don't mind my throwing in a few suggestions.
I think that, essentially, Seussical works best on one basic set through the whole performance - or perhaps a change for act two. There's no reason why details in the set can't change, but I'd probably still be inclined to keep the idea that the whole show occurs on Jojo's mind; and therefore I like the idea that everything sort of grows from the one initial setting.
From the times I've seen it, I've always felt it has worked better on a unit setting with lots of levels, steps and ramps to give a few different nooks and crannies for action to occur in. I also saw a production that I LOVED which set the whole play in a giant "pop up book" style set, with flats hinged together to turn like pages.
The show is supposed to be zany and wacky, and so be inventive with the design - flats with doors could be painted to have the doors blend in, which could work for secret entrances for all of the characters to pop out of. Doors - or, even, trapdoors if you build them into platforms, and are not as difficult as they sound - can have three dimensional set pieces mounted on the back of them. Double sided flats - and trucks with a flat or something else as a divider - could revolve to reveal new settings.
The cat's hat could simply be a flat with profiled edges to give that stylised shape, with red and white stripes painted on. If it can be a flat with a door, then paint the door to blend in with the rest of the flat; and that could work as a secret entrance for the Cat (and other Seuss characters). If you have it onstage the whole time (which could work if you use it for the entrances of a few different characters), the brim could be painted on the stage floor rather than profiled. You could even be tricky and have Horton's nest on top of the hat - which could simply be a two dimensional cut out with a stock staircase, or else an A-frame ladder behind it.
Hopefully my ideas can be helpful (and not too wacky or ambitious!)
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Posted By: ty.gab
Date Posted: 7/18/07 at 11:31pm
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our set designer built one he** of a rake stage. it was built on top of our existing stage. and was the size of the entire stage. the height at the back of the rake was 7'. it was pretty impressive. it had three trap doors, one of which had an elevator that lifted the actor up onto the stage. it was used for the cat's initial entrance. a red and white fabric bulleseye covered a good portian of the stage. the elevator trap door at the center, lifted the cat up halfway to deliver his first line, then fully, allowing him to walk out on stage.
the minimal set pieces popped up out of the stage. from a bathtub, to mayzie's umbrella, to the cat's piano, and a box for horton to sit on.
whoville town hall popped out from behind the rake.
a giant magnifying glass was flown in for the who's first appearance.
the jungle of nool was a custom painted backdrop of seussian trees which was flown in when needed.
a banner was flown in for General Schmitz's Song.
and a lighted sign was flown in for circus mcgurkus.
gertrude's tail, at it's biggest stage, was attatched to a wire mounted in the fly area running SR to SL. the tail was hung on invisible lines, it consisted of blue boas, plumes, feathers, fabric, etc. and was longer than the length of the stage.
there was a custom drop painted with blacklight fish flown in for anything's possible. we rented several blacklights and flew them in front of the drop.
horton's tree was a cutout attatched to an a frame ladder which was mounted on a truck.
um...that's all i can think of set-wise.
oh, i will say a cyclorama is an amazing tool to have for seussical.
you can create great effects by changing the color of the cyc through lighting.
here are a few pics.
keep in mind they were taking during a rehearsal.
not everything is in it's final stage...
http://photos-227.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v15/139/16/50902227/n50902227_30010467_8991.jpg - http://photos-227.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v15/139/16/50902227/n50902227_30010467_8991.jpg
http://photos-227.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v15/139/16/50902227/n50902227_30010468_9116.jpg - http://photos-227.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v15/139/16/50902227/n50902227_30010468_9116.jpg
http://photos-227.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v15/139/16/50902227/n50902227_30010469_9208.jpg - http://photos-227.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v15/139/16/50902227/n50902227_30010469_9208.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005040_2271.jpg - http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005040_2271.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005042_2851.jpg - http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005042_2851.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005044_3443.jpg - http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005044_3443.jpg
http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005047_4333.jpg - http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005047_4333.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005049_4934.jpg - http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005049_4934.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005053_6183.jpg - http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005053_6183.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005054_6489.jpg - http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005054_6489.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005060_8337.jpg - http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005060_8337.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005062_8971.jpg - http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005062_8971.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005066_260.jpg - http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005066_260.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005073_9844.jpg - http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005073_9844.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005074_218.jpg - http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005074_218.jpg
http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005075_642.jpg - http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005075_642.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005080_2591.jpg - http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005080_2591.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005082_3357.jpg - http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005082_3357.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005084_4131.jpg - http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005084_4131.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005086_4906.jpg - http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005086_4906.jpg
http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005087_5292.jpg - http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v47/144/63/1195650081/n1195650081_30005087_5292.jpg
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Posted By: neilfortin
Date Posted: 7/19/07 at 8:20am
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Looks great! costumes are awesome ------------- Community Theater makes us smile |
Posted By: ty.gab
Date Posted: 7/19/07 at 9:26am
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oh, that's my high school by the way.
we used a similar rake stage design for the wizard of oz.
it had about 20 more trapdoors in it though.
one of which was an elevator.
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Posted By: ty.gab
Date Posted: 7/20/07 at 11:49am
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i just found this picture that shows our entire stage...
http://hs.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30010462&id=50902227&op=2&view=all&subj=2233525863&aid=-1&oid=2233525863">
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Posted By: Mr. Lowell
Date Posted: 8/02/07 at 3:47pm
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I am designing Seussical for Feb. 28, 2008 at the middle school level. I have decided to go with the "show package" of seven rented backdrops from the Kenmark company.
They are very colorful! And since my proscenium theatre has a counterweight fly system, this is a good opportunity to free up my wingspace for the large cast.
Here is a link to photos of the drops:
http://www.kenmark-inc.com/pages/packages/packages-seussical.html - http://www.kenmark-inc.com/pages/packages/packages-seussical.html
------------- Mr. Lowell, Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director, for the Linda Sloan Theatre, in the Davison Center for the Arts, at Greensboro Day School |
Posted By: lmar12
Date Posted: 8/30/07 at 11:01am
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Hi! We did Seussical last year--and it was very successful--to see pictures log on to wausau.k12.wi.us/east/Student%20Files/ |
Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 8/30/07 at 7:31pm
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this may work better;- http://wausau.k12.wi.us/east/Student%20Files/East%20End%20Players/EEP.htm - http://wausau.k12.wi.us/east/Student%20Files/East%20End%20Players/EEP.htm Great set/misenscene ------------- 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} |
Posted By: DFTDONNA
Date Posted: 10/01/07 at 6:25pm
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We did Seussical a few years ago on a relatively small stage. We had a series of levels created with bright colored platforms that fit together like puzzle pieces. They could become jungle, whoville or whatever and gave us lots of levels on the stage. The tree was built from wood covered with chicken wire and dutchmaned to become a tree. The top had a platform with a ladder up the back so Horton could climb up. We built a big nest at the top with branches made from dried christmas wreaths from a craft store. It was amazing. Also made a huge egg from paper machet and had a 2nd one we cut open and put in a remote control device so it would make the egg shake before it hatched.
Pillberry bush was made of sticks stuck into a bucket of sand with large colored jelly beans hotglued on. It looked really great!
Clover were made of pompoms glued onto green pipe cleaners and spray painted hot pink. We stuck hundreds of them into a sheet of foam painted green.
Good luck with your production!
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Posted By: labellavie
Date Posted: 3/01/08 at 9:12pm
| Seussical is one of the most successful shows that StageDoor in VA ever did!!! Check out our website archives for photos. www.stagedoorproductions.org. We used scaffolding, painted in vibrant colors The Wickersham Brothers jumped and swung from them too! We did have some wood fronting with WHO-ville too. |