Set Design and Construction: Curtains to hide ceiling rafters

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Curtains to hide ceiling rafters

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=3232
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 11:48pm
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Topic: Curtains to hide ceiling rafters

Posted By: dbeine11
Subject: Curtains to hide ceiling rafters
Date Posted: 6/11/08 at 11:54pm

We are a children's theater group grades 4-8 which meets in a middle school for six weeks every summer. For the last couple of years/shows I have been able to hang fabric from the rafters to sort of cover the rafters because they are so ugly. The stage has no curtains or curtain track. Our backdrops are 4'x8' pieces of styrofoam placed in stands to hold them. Otherwise the stage is just one big open area.

This year we are doing the show Willy Wonka Jr. and I would like to have plain curtains hung in the rafters for the first half of the show and then have colored ones the second half. We cannot do the fabric the way I always have done, getting it up there involves a lift and a lot of time.

I am wondering if anyone out there has a simple, somewhat inexpensive idea for us to be able to have curtains on some type of pulley system to change. The school district will not let us install anything permanent.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

dbeine11

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Di

Replies:

Posted By: mary051756
Date Posted: 6/12/08 at 11:04am

This may be way out there, but what if you hid curtains behind stryofoam or foam core boxes to cover the rafters. Maybe one side could be "hinged" and youcould just attach a string to pull down one side and reveal the curtains behind?

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“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” EMERSON

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 6/14/08 at 12:25am

Not quite sure of what your after, for your Gymeatre or Theatorium?

when you say rafters, could you mean roof truss?

If so it would not be that difficult to rig up a Teaser &/or Boards. on pulleys & drop in or out, as needed.

Depending upon your sight lines, from the punters positions, hanging Boarders might achieve the required results, by breasting [tripping] or 'working in turn', by raising or lowering.

In some respects a false proscenium portal of Teaser & Tormentors. May be a more versatile option, to convert the space. Which again could be handled with pulleys & hemp lines. Counterweighted with sand or shot bags.

I'm sure you would be able to find enough spare parent muscles to assist.

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