Set Design and Construction: Harvey Design

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Harvey Design

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=4311
Printed Date: 11/24/24 at 6:31am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Harvey Design

Posted By: janetk
Subject: Harvey Design
Date Posted: 11/04/09 at 9:35am

I will be directing Harvey in the spring for our community theatre. I am looking for any ideas that would make the set change easier...from the home to the sanitarium. Any ideas?

Replies:

Posted By: belle
Date Posted: 11/04/09 at 10:38am

We have a 10ft apron with permanent doors L and R. We did the house in front of the curtain with a long antique library table, 2 upholstered chairs @ center, a bookcase (with fake book fronts) @ right, an 8 ft wide flat with books painted on it behind the table, and a fireplace with the protrait above it @ left.

The sanitarium was behind the curtain. We moved a few sanitarium pieces out beyond the curtain line when we changed between the scenes. It was a quick change.

Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 11/04/09 at 12:27pm

We had a wonderful set that was a complete change between the two locals. It was quite complicated with many sliding walls, flaps, and a turn table. but it was and is still my favorite set design. (10 years ago now). It had been done with just changing furniture etc, but I wanted to do more. It took a little under three minutes. The stage crew was dressed as sanatorium attendants and, under the direction of the mansions maid, set all the pieces in place under blue light and set to the Alfred Hitchcock theme. EVERY night they got applause for the transformation. I hope you find a special way to do yours as well.

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Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

Posted By: janetk
Date Posted: 11/04/09 at 12:29pm

Do you happen to have any photos?

Posted By: pdavis69
Date Posted: 11/04/09 at 12:44pm

I helped build Marty's set for Harvey and was in the show. We actually raised the blue lighting level for the set changes because the audience complained they couldn't see what the crew was doing and wanted to see how they made it possible. My favorite part of the set was a disappearing bookshelf. In the Sanatorium the bookshelf was two feet wide and on the upstage side of a set of double french doors leading to a balcony. Eight more feet of bookshelf hid back stage. In going to the Dowd house the bookshelf pulled downstage completely covering the door units and becoming a full wall bookshelf.

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Patrick L. Davis
Fort Findlay Playhouse

Posted By: vickifrank
Date Posted: 11/04/09 at 12:59pm

You could either project (front or rear projection) or print or paint the sanitarium on a scrim. Then you use light to reveal the house behind it.

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http://www.studio-productions-inc.com
1-800-359-2964

The theater scrim people

Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 11/04/09 at 2:18pm

I will see if I cand find them.. It was a while ago.

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Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

Posted By: Nanette
Date Posted: 11/11/09 at 10:08am

Try contacting the Commonweal Theatre in Lanesboro, MN. They recently completed a run of Harvey and had an amazing set.

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In a world of margarine, be butter!