Set Design and Construction: beds?

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beds?

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=3387
Printed Date: 11/24/24 at 9:48am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: beds?

Posted By: joanna
Subject: beds?
Date 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!

Replies:

Posted By: Nanette
Date 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.

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In a world of margarine, be butter!

Posted By: kaelidancer
Date 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.

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Kaeli Gardner
Johnson City Community Theatre
http://www.jcct.us - www.jcct.us
http://www.gardnerarts.com - www.gardnerarts.com

Posted By: R-tist
Date 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.

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Mary H.

Posted By: joanna
Date Posted: 8/27/08 at 11:42am

Thanks y'all! those ideas are great!

Posted By: whitebat
Date 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.

Posted By: theatremonkey
Date 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

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theatre monkey