Can you use your mirror ball in the auditorium, from your  FOH LX bar?

 

 

 

Don't do wires, instead do aluminum pipe  for short spans (up to about 20 feet) to temporarily allow you to travel, without travel tracks.  Here's an example:  Two aluminum pipes, each 24 feet, suspended on the ends.   Split the scrim to be two pieces that meet in the center.  Hang the pipe to meet, but have the one about 2 inches behind the plane of the second.  Using a Chameleon Scrim remove the tied from the grommets on top and insert old fashion shower curtain holders to hang this to the pipe.  You are using Chameleon because it hangs square--meaning you will have no gap where the 2 halfs of the scrim meet, and because it's lightweight.  2- 20'w x 15' h scrim sides will each weigh about 5 pounds (as opposed to about 40 pounds for sharkstooth) before the weight you add at the bottom in the pocket.  I suggest you use a lightweight dog chain on the bottom.  In any even you now have a jury-rigged system that weighs only a little.  BTW--with 20 foot spans of lightweight aluminum pipe still support the end with two cables each side.  That gives you a failsafe in case the cowardly lion loses his balance as well as his courage and falls against the scrim.

 

You do aluminum pipe because its very lightweight and rigid for its weight--so it won't sag like cable will.

Instead we have a ceiling over the stage which is becoming a pain in the transom.

 Because the ceiling is deemed to be heritage by the Architect [a.k.a 'daffodil Man'].  We are not allowed to disfigure it by putting holes in it to hang a grid.

The building is in fact not Heritage Listed as yet, because it was built in 1922, just after the 1st world war. However this Archytech has penetrated most of the ceilings with Air con ducting & modern lighting, but that's another story.

So we are going to use an 'Auto Pole' modular system to mount a grid to suspend lighting & masking batten & tab track truss.

To that end I'm going to make up a 'Tumbler', similar to the one we made for the Old Mill Theatre, in South Perth.

Which reminds me I promised to get Vicki a few pictures of it a while back - which is still going to happen! [But don't hold your breath vicki!] It may take a while yet to get them. As Hywell my Welsh mate there, is of to London in December, as the Production manager for a local show, which was invited by the Noel Coward Society to perform it, for the anniversary of Noel falling off the perch,

But as soon as he gets back, which may be a while, as a number of other theatres wish to get them to do seasons in various parts of england.

The show is the 'Two Queens, which is about Noel & Queen Victoria, which is hilarious.

Anyway if he doesn't get back I will forward some photos of the Oleo Tumbler I end up making eventually - I promise again Vicki!

One thing I have done when using cables & pulleys across the space. To reduce the sag I have run two cables in parallel & suspended a hook up at the centre cross over of the drape tabs [butterfly curtains].

However I agree with Vicki using ali pipes would be better or snaffling some tab tracking may be a better option.

With the curtain traveller on cables, I have used plastic conduit body nuts or reusable electric ties for the ease of sliding along the taught cables, with turnbuckle tension at each end of the anchored cables.

Not much help Marty - but I thought I'd chuck my drivel in, just to add to the mixing bowl!

 

 

 

 

 

We also got a fire extinguisher company to donate some CO2 fire extinguishers (in exchange for ads in the program) to create a really cool smoke effect when the witch made her entrances and exits.  

  We just closed a prod of Wiz of Oz in Dec with much of the same limitations.  We also had very little wing/backstage space so everything had to collapse.  We figured out a way to fold most of the set pieces down to next to nothing.  We have many of those pieces left for rent or purchase.  As a non-profit, we would love to recoup some of our outlay.   I would be glad to send you pictures of them if you send me an email address.  We are located in Northern Ca.

Kathye

I just saw your post to Marty. I don't know if he purchased any of your  Oz set pieces however I would love to see your pictures. We are  not profits as well and our budget is very slim.  We are doing Oz in November 09 and we need set pieces and ideas. Any help would be appreciated. Please send pictures if possible  to mailto:jorlrey@yahoo.com - jorlrey@yahoo.com   Thanks

blessings, J.ORey