Stage Construction Theatre Workshop I

The Stage Crew  Set construction crew- build the set  Set designer- creates the design/idea for the set that the construction crew builds  Shifting crew- changes the set from scene to scene

Crew continued  Prop crew- gathers and organizes props or properties Props- anything the actors handle on stage Prop Master- manages the prop crew  Lighting, sound, makeup, and costume designers

Scene shop  The primary workspace for the set construction crew and usually for the prop crew  Includes tools, cabinets, storage areas, stock sets, etc.

Equipment and Supplies  See Handout

Basics  Stock units- standard set pieces that can be adapted and used Flats, platforms, drops, furniture, props  Flat- light weight frame covered with canvas, muslin, or wood 2-4 feet wide and 8-12 feet tall

 Platform- set piece with a solid top and braced legs made to support the weight of actors, furniture, and props  Drop/ Backdrop- large canvas or muslin curtain that hangs at the back of the stage Lighted or painted

 Flat and platforms are typically constructed from wood (stock lumber like pine or fur or sheet goods like plywood)

Measuring Wood  Lumber is referenced by its thickness and width  The stock size of lumber is the rough mill cut not the finished dimension 2 X 4 is really 1 ½ inches high by 3 ½ inches wide Could vary slightly board to board

 End, Edge, and Face- edge and end are of the same thickness, the face is the surface showing the width

Saw Cuts  Cross cut- with the grain  Rip cut- against the grain  Miter or bevel cut- at an angle

Saw Joints  Lap Joint- face of one board is fastened to the face of the other board (nails & glue or screws)  Butt Joint- two boards are cut square and joined in one of four ways End-to-face, end-to-edge, edge-to-edge, end-to-end Nails & glue or screws (not very strong will need additional reinforcement)

 Miter Joint- two boards are cut at an angle and joined (a kind of butt joint) Glue, corrugated fastners, strong=glue and nails or screws Used to make frames with a nice 90 degree angle Also used to make corners

 When measuring wood to be joined, subtract the thickness of the wood from the finished dimension  Use a pencil to mark where you want to make a cut & save/cut outside the line Cutting on the line will cause you to lose 1/8 inch of your board

 Guiding a hand saw- keep it vertical and use light pressure, heavy pressure can cause the saw to bind, catch, and possibly spring out of the cut  Circular saws cut upward, put the good side face down b/c the saw may splinter the board

 Toenail- common way to join board by driving the nail at a 60 degree angle from the first board down into the second board  Avoid placing nails in a row along the edge of a board- can split the wood Instead use two nails at the end of a board

 You can use a hand drill to make a starter hole that is the same diameter as the screw Unless you are using a power hand drill

Sources  Taylor, Robert D. and Robert D. Strickland. Theatre Art in Action. New York: McGraw- Hill,       Upload.wikimedia.org 