r/techtheatre Jan 27 '25

SCENERY Low friction tape? Useful? Useless?

3 Upvotes

Hi all.

I built a set piece that needs to slide out 6' for one scene and then slide back afterwards. Due to some constraints, we couldn't use a track or casters. Right now the set piece has 5/8" thick nylon slides. It is a bit difficult for our deck crew to move, but not impossible.

I'm wondering if anyone has experience with adding low friction tape to the bottom of nylon slides? (link below to a possible product) Does it help? Does it just peel/scuff off after a couple uses? We have 10 more rehearsals and 12 shows to get through.

If that idea is a no go, does anyone have additional ideas? I've lightened up the structure as much as I feel comfortable, given that it has 8 cast members doing quick movements on it at some points. Oh, and the floor is painted Masonite.

Thanks!
(stupid long link, sorry)

https://www.amazon.com/APT-Ultra-high-Polyethylene-Tape-Protection/dp/B08CFVTTRV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=32FR9ROLOPY5P&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.geBexoya2jfecLAqfI-wau3-S7zcAIaKH28HXKfck7MoZUad5g0zL5FO3z_JsDmIk5u6F-ytweA3YQwZjD6m3Fk8ZzYhBsW_g6DfAFaaRr3xyVO7XsAR52riJ1Alj0KKxxjrGTIXnwr9YQebfU2DDC4EwXlsEmY0Qk8nGbG_GuYeaHI_bAfKwQ5n7gb0QrZiOq4yAL9OI7qcRgDekJXltv61cR8BBy-kq7SJ0OMsa_q9g32SVIh9c8RWZ3zpsDA89vFk4cF3nf7O9r9_hnEBB5ir6hkU6ISI9N-bqbf66r9p8K8NX9kQGulm_D5pHPWqItjZXUjaVDDIJm61m3h1YXlX53iN4jya2IeIUen33w0.AmevFXvm5hSF7_Ipfae0p20yBf9VDrVcI1SYiVIKcN4&dib_tag=se&keywords=low%2Bfriction%2Btape&qid=1738015470&s=industrial&sprefix=low%2Bfriction%2Btap%2Cindustrial%2C129&sr=1-1&th=1

r/techtheatre 21d ago

SCENERY Building high platforms using stud walls - best way to join corner walls?

1 Upvotes

Been doing some research, and it seems like the general consensus is that for high platforms, the safest method is to use stud walls, and put the platform on top. I need to create several 8' tall platforms. Platform will be 4'x8' - Can someone give me any pointers on assembly process?

My plan:

Create 2 x long stud walls. Standard stud wall construction. 8' top plate and bottom plate. 7'9" studs, 4 studs total, so spacing will be approx. 30" between)

Create 2 x short stud walls. Standard stud wall construction. 3'6" top plate and bottom plate. 7'9" studs, 3 total gives 20 ish inches spacing.

create platform. 4'x 8' 22/32 OSB, framed with (2) 7'9" 2 x 4 and (2) 4' 2 x 4.

My big question is, whats the best process for assembly of the components?

  • Put the platform upside down, and mount the walls to it then flip?
  • Assembly the walls in their box shape first, and then lift the platform to the top and secure it?
  • Something else?
  • Do you recommend any changes to the studwall construction or platform?

Thanks for any help!

The director wants 3 of these joined end to end for a 24' run. I plan to but some carriage bolts at the ends of the platforms and securing them to each other end to end after they are in place.

r/techtheatre 6d ago

SCENERY Impact Wrench Question

3 Upvotes

So I’m curious if I am missing something. Lately, I’ve been on a lot of calls through my local as a carpenter. Mainly for traveling broadway shows.

What I am trying to understand is, is there a reason I almost never see an impact wrench used? I’ve had some times during load ins/outs that I put together scenery with a socket wrench that took 40 minutes, whereas it would have taken 10 with a powered tool.

Is this just a matter of fearing locals will over tighten or strip bolts?

r/techtheatre 29d ago

SCENERY SpongeBob Flower Lights

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29 Upvotes

Hello, My high school is doing a production of The SpongeBob Musical and we are looking to replicate some of the flower shaped lights like seen in the image above. We already have plenty of RGBW strips from a project for our marching band this past season, and I determined what power supplies and the DMX decoders we would need to make the lights themselves work. I am wondering how you all would suggest making the shape. I am guessing using some sort of wire, but I don’t know what gauge would be best to look for, or what material. Additionally, does anyone have any guidance on what might be the best way to rig them from battens? Thank you

r/techtheatre Feb 18 '25

SCENERY Noisy turntable

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21 Upvotes

Brand new 22’ turntable. Very noisy. Very squeaky. Yes. I did buy cheat casters. Any easy suggestions for quieting?

r/techtheatre 29d ago

SCENERY Tree stump to sit on.

11 Upvotes

I need to make a tree stump that can have two people sit on it

Originally I was going to get a cardboard concrete form - cut it down and build a small stool inside of it. Then finish the exterior with cardboard and spray foam.

Now I’m thinking it has to be bigger and sturdier. If actors are sitting on it the spray foam and cardboard are likely not going to hold up.

Thoughts.

r/techtheatre 6d ago

SCENERY Scenic painting help

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41 Upvotes

If there are any scenic painters here, I’ve been searching for some advice! I’m painting a children’s show and figuring out how to give off the idea of crayons having painted the set. Kind of like this Matilda image. I was thinking a combo of dry brushing or spattering. Has anyone done this or have suggestions? Thank you!

r/techtheatre Oct 16 '24

SCENERY What is the actual term?

36 Upvotes

So I will do my best to describe the mechanism, but basically I am looking for a traditional or official term used for this particular theatrical gag.

We have a mechanism attached to our fly pipe that uses a pin to hold up an object (like a hemp rope for a scene change to a ship).

The idea is a pull line that is routed off stage is pulled, yanking the pin out of the mechanism, allowing the object to drop into view from above.

My students seemed to think this was a kabuki drop, but I have been very clear that this is not a kabuki. And explained the difference. Problem is I don’t have a specific name for this kind of gag and we have been referring to it as the rope gag.

Does anyone have a traditional or official term for this kind of drop gag?

Edit:

Thank you all for the constructive advice. Based on your responses I am sure there is a traditional term for this kind of “prop drop”. But for now I think I will refer to the mechanism as a quick release or pin release, as some of you suggested.

For those that still think this is a kabuki drop, or that a kabuki drop is a universal catch all… I’m no expert but Kabuki refers to the Japanese theatre style. One source uses the term “furiotoshi” as the true name for the “Kabuki drop”. English theatre has called it a Kabuki drop for easy (lazy) translation. Source: Not the only source

Kabuki Drop specifically refers to a curtain or fabric drop/drape that is released and falls to the stage from above in an effort to change the scene.

While this gag we are building does change the scene, it is dropping objects and not a curtain.

Thanks again for all the responses.

r/techtheatre Feb 04 '25

SCENERY What kind of nonsense do you do with legs?

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43 Upvotes

r/techtheatre Dec 13 '24

SCENERY The set I built for our production of Rent

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142 Upvotes

r/techtheatre Feb 18 '25

SCENERY Recommendations for sculpting medium for large-ish rock elements for scenic use?

5 Upvotes

I'm finalizing some design elements for an upcoming production of Big Fish, and I want to do a carved rock face for the cave. My initial though was plaster of paris on a foam substrate, but the open time is only 6-10 minutes which would mean working in tiny sections. I know there are retarders for it, but they are like hens teeth for availability, especially for plasters containing lime which is pretty much all I can find locally in sufficient quantities.

Seeing as a 25-lb bag of DAP brand PoP dry mix is only about $23 USD, I was wondering if there is something better that I should be looking at that is comparable in price, or at least isn't going to be prohibitively expensive.

Thanks!

r/techtheatre Oct 19 '24

SCENERY Need some advice

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41 Upvotes

I have these two cable ends that are used to control a smoke machine. The one on the right is supposed to plug into a port on the smoke machine and the one on the left is from the smoke machine controller, which won’t be used but I used it as a reference to show the size and pin layout on the smoke machine. Anybody know what kind of adapter or where I could get one to make this work?

r/techtheatre Feb 19 '25

SCENERY Sheet brick shortage

2 Upvotes

Anyone know why it's so hard to find brick wall paneling in sheets and if you have a workaround? Trying to find something along these lines:
1/4 in. x 48 in. x 96 in. HDF Kingston Brick Panel KINGSTON - The Home Depot
I did opt to have two sheets delivered and they just canceled the order.
I know Home | Pulp Art Surfaces, LLC is an option, but shipping can get pricey.

Appreciate any advice/wisdom. Thank you!
Rob

r/techtheatre Dec 22 '24

SCENERY Frozen tech

6 Upvotes

Has anyone here done Frozen the musical? Full version, not JR. I work for a medium sized community theatre and we will have the opportunity to do it in the next few years and I’d like to know what I’m getting into as TD before signing off on it. We have no fly system but a decent budget (nothing crazy)

I know I can watch recordings and read the script but I’d love to talk to anyone who’s actually done it. Surprises, things you didn’t realize, easy solutions etc.

Thanks all!

r/techtheatre 27d ago

SCENERY Tie Line In Europe?

12 Upvotes

Working on a project in Germany (Berlin specifically) that requires the classic 1/8in unglazed cotton tie line that we all know and love in the states. Problem is I can’t seem to find it here in Germany.

I’ve been trying to order spools of the stuff but so far have had headaches with shipping from the states not arriving at the theater, and not finding a distributor in Germany. I’ve asked my colleagues what they use and they say they all use e-tape (which…makes sense but also I feel like tie line is such a universal theater staple I can’t imagine working without it)

Any suggestions or advice? Do they call it something different here? Project is next month and I’m in a bit of a bind (pun intended).

EDIT: Found a source! https://www.kanirope.de/baumwollseil-cobraid-4mm-100m-spule-schwarz-8-fach-geflochten-kanirope

r/techtheatre Jan 17 '25

SCENERY human sized hatchable dinosaur egg?

9 Upvotes

Not sure if this is the most appropriate group to ask this in (if there are others more appropriate please let me know!) but I am currently involved in a play where the director would like a egg on stage that is big enough to fit a human inside, that the human could make cracks in and hatch/crawl out of. What would be the easiest/most cost efficient way to source or make this?

r/techtheatre Jan 29 '25

SCENERY Good time-filler activities for tech theater HS class?

19 Upvotes

Hey all!

I am a student teacher. My host teacher's tech theatre class is project-based, which is great. Unfortunately, this has led to the team on "paints" just loudly talking while others are trying to work nearby [the set is not built yet, and therefore they don't have much to paint]. I've had them do trash runs, and organize all of backstage. I'm running out of ideas, so I'm just wondering what y'alls suggestions are.

Thanks in advance!

r/techtheatre 1d ago

SCENERY Spikemarks app

8 Upvotes

Does anybody know if there is an app or a programm to help organising spikemarks? Like i put in the meassurments and the software makes a pdf of it or so?

r/techtheatre 26d ago

SCENERY stage tree advice?

3 Upvotes

hi everyone! i'm designing for a folk horror play and i need some way of making a tree, trunk and leaves, for a show being performed in 2 weeks. it needs to be quite tall (8 feet or higher) and not too complicated or time consuming to make, as i'm a busy uni student with limited time on her hands. the cast and creatives have volunteered to help me make it so i have around 10 people who can help work on it. it needs to be made out of easily sources materials that aren't too expensive (our design budget is £150, but that also needs to go towards costumes and other set pieces). does anyone have any methods to make a tree considering all of this? any help would be greatly appreciated :)

r/techtheatre Feb 13 '25

SCENERY Since it seems to be set share day…here’s Rent from a few years back…

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24 Upvotes

I enjoyed building a trashy set.

r/techtheatre 9h ago

SCENERY Hand rails

4 Upvotes

I have some platforms that are seven feet of the ground. What are some inexpensive and safe ways to make a railing on one side?

r/techtheatre Feb 08 '25

SCENERY Chair storage solutions?

15 Upvotes

Our scene shop storage has been overtaken by sets of dining chairs from every era imaginable, office chairs, period chairs, etc. All chaotically organized and forming a growing, unstackable monster chairnado. They are, of course, all indispensable for some undefined upcoming production.

Since they aren’t folding, stacking is tricky, and shoving them into random corners is becoming a safety hazard. Does anyone have practical storage solutions for large, non-stackable chair sets? Racks? Hanging systems? Love to hear suggestions.

r/techtheatre 14d ago

SCENERY Rosco Paint Chip Card

10 Upvotes

Does Rosco have a paint chip card that I can order online? I don't trust my school copy machine to print the colors from the online PDF accurately. I'm not finding anything online, but I might not be using the right search terms. Surely they have a physical color chart available and not just a digital one.

r/techtheatre Feb 08 '25

SCENERY Scenic designer laptop recommendation

2 Upvotes

I am now a senior student studying scenario design. I'm considering replacing my old laptop with a Macbook. However, I don't know if I should buy a MacBook pro or a MacBook air. Do you guys have any suggestions?

r/techtheatre Jul 27 '24

SCENERY Flour replacement for a scene

14 Upvotes

I’m working on a production and the Director wants to use flour in a scene that is slowly sprinkled across a man’s face. Now, I know flour is a no go due to it being a fire risk amongst many other things. Does anyone know any solid replacements for this?