Set Design and Construction: thoroughly modern millie elevator

thoroughly modern millie elevator

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Set Design and Construction
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URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2922
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Topic: thoroughly modern millie elevator

Posted By: prockter
Subject: thoroughly modern millie elevator
Date Posted: 1/19/08 at 5:57pm

our high school is putting on thoroughly modern millie. most of the set design has been figured out, except for the elevator. we have a nice stage, capable of flying things out, but changing the weights or having an unbalanced fly bar is the problem with flying the elevator platform out. how would you recommend we do the elevator?

Replies:

Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 1/19/08 at 11:28pm

If you do not need an actual, working elevator, you can create the illusion of one simply by using flat, sliding doors with small windows in them. These windows would be covered with translucent plastic or paper (allowing light to shine through, but still be opaque enough to hide whatever was behind them.

The illusion works as follows: On cue, two stagehands hidden from audience view pull open the doors. The doors slide open and your "passengers" enter the elevator car. As the doors close, a light shines from within the elevator, lighting up the windows. Another stagehand (or the actor dressed as the elevator operator) simply (and slowly) raises a horizontal card that blocks the light for BOTH windows and gives the illusion of the elevator car "rising." This gives your passengers the opportunity to sneak out the back, hidden from audience view.

Then, when the elevator "returns," the operator merely lowers the card in the same fashion, revealing the lit windows once again. Doors open and -- voilia! -- either the elevator is now empty or it has been populated with a different set of passengers (who likewise have sneaked in the back way).

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"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 1/20/08 at 2:17am

Originally posted by prockter

but changing the weights or having an unbalanced fly bar is the problem with flying the elevator

If you use an adjacent fly cradle loaded to counter the additional weight of the performers, which is picked up by brail arms atached to the 'platform' argon cradle & move under the other extra weighted cradle. So the two fly line cradles operate in tandum, when the extra weight is required, is farly easy to achieve.

{ the extra cradle can fly out of the way & the haul lines, snotted off with the line brake applied, when not required}

However it needs to be done by a competant Fly Mechanist/Rigger, as there is planned procedual & operational logistics to be considered.

HoweverToppers sugestion would be much safer without a qualified techie.

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

Posted By: lovelylady
Date Posted: 1/24/08 at 2:06pm

We used projections which made it look like the elevator was moving. The elevator was a free-standing piece and when Miss Dorothy and Millie got in to "tap" we lowered the lights on the surrounding set and the projection gave the illusion of movement. We were flying all of our other set pieces and didn't have the space needed for the elevator, plus it would have been too unstable. The high schools in our area did the show after we did and they flew the elevator. Unfortunately, it got stuck with Millie and Dorothy in it about 6 feet up. It is a great effect when it does fly, but it is not necessary, especially when the show grinds to a halt with two leads suspended in the air in a box.

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"it's a crowd favorite-Everybody loves a good jazz square" - Ryan Evans

Posted By: leonarp
Date Posted: 2/05/08 at 2:30pm

We built a large continuous "scroll" that 2 stagehands roll as the elevator "rises". The scroll is painted to depict the interior of an old-style elevator shaft. We also lower the surounding lights to enhance the effect.

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 2/06/08 at 6:58am

Welcome Leonarp! I havent seen a rolling scenic cloth drop used for years in this way great idea.

Very effective if an open exspanding grill are used as the Lift doors.

i have done the moving scene cloths across stage, using a crown & staight rollers off stage.

I assume it could be considered an Olio!

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

Posted By: oeow
Date Posted: 8/30/08 at 2:07am

Are there any further ideas for building a working elevator for Millie?.. I'm thinking about making some type of scissor lift - but I'm not sure.