how to make a submarine?
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=4506
Printed Date: 11/24/24 at 7:46am
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Topic: how to make a submarine?
Posted By: pianocatkris10
Subject: how to make a submarine?
Date Posted: 3/08/10 at 4:25pm
I am the music director at my church and this year, I'm directing a mini-musical for the kids which is all about exploring God's underwater world. I've got a good handle on all the underwater scenery & stuff - the kids are gonna dress up as various sea creatures, & i'm painting/cutting seaweed & coral stuff out of cardboard. My problem is that the 5 main characters are to be in a submarine. I cannot figure out how to make a submarine to fit at least 5 kids! First let me tell you that I have basically no budget & very little help. I usually am involved in the musical aspect of my community theatre, so I don't know much of the set design terminology or processes, but I am a very good artist & love designing things. So for the submarine, we don't neeed to see the whole entire thing, just someway to make it look like the kids are in a submarine from the front view. First I was thinking of going the cardboard box route, but i would rather it have a rounded look, like a real submarine, not a boxy look. What are my options as far as different materials I could use?  Any ideas on how to create this fairly cheaply would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!
------------- -Kristen |
Replies:
Posted By: vickifrank
Date Posted: 3/08/10 at 5:23pm
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It would be easier to do the submarine in a side view. You'd cut a submarine (cigar shape with fins at the back) out of cardboard, also cutting five 'portholes' in it for the five kids. You then have a ship's steering wheel on an upright post or on a cylinder. Kid stage hands carry out the submarine holding it from behind during the scene that allows them to shake the sub if needed or rock it, etc... The kid who plays the ship pilot carries out the wheel, steering as he goes
Paint the cardboard black or submarine grey. Now if you want to be more sophisticated you can cut the shape as above just a little bigger and curve it like the real inside of a submarine. Use cardboard (or foamcore) ribs to brace it and hold the curved interior shape.
If you want even more sophisticated add a different child holding the periscope.
A note just in case the realist in you gets worried. You have the kids pretend to look out the sub portholes, not to turn their backs, they 'cheat' the angle so you see them. Similarly the animals and see creatures are not on the other side of the sub wall, but to played to the side of it so the audience can see them. ------------- _____________ http://www.studio-productions-inc.com 1-800-359-2964 The theater scrim people |
Posted By: KEB54
Date Posted: 3/12/10 at 4:32pm
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Does the submarine have to move? If not just designate a part of the stage as the submarine. it could be a grouping of chairs, perhaps a periscope and or a steering wheel. have the kids mime getting in and out. ------------- KEB |