What is a Periaktoi? Periaktoi, also known as “triple-faced” or “three-sided” scenery, is a rotating scenic device used in theatrical productions for over 2,000 years. First invented in ancient Greece, periaktoi quickly changed the backdrop of...
A set of sliding double doors. These are flats painted to look like panel doors. This same method can be used to build elevator doors. The sliding doors hang from a track that is mounted on a plywood header, aka a truss. The rear view of the “truss.” The truss is held...
How many times have you had to search for old books? Beg the library to lend you boxes of books? Well, no more! This is just one way of dealing with the number of books it takes to fill a set of shelves. This flat is framed with 1×3 lumber, on edge, with the framing...
When it comes to creating an eye-catching and dynamic theater set, few elements have the visual impact of a set of curved stairs. Not only do they add depth and dimension to your stage, but they also offer a unique challenge to the technical production team. In this...
Our production, Two Gentlemen, featured the Sky Line of New York from the 1930s as its backdrop. We attached nine strings of Christmas lights to its back, with almost all of the little light bulbs sticking through small holes. Each string had 100 bulbs, which added up...
We have two trees being built. The 4×4 centers are legs for platforms. The legs will poke through the lid of the platform and the tree framing will hold chicken wire and paper mache. Each plywood half circle is cut to random sizes and placed at irregular distances...
Flats, aka Scenery, Walls, Masking for Theater The Role of Flats in Theatrical Scenery: Creating Illusions on Stage A stage flat, commonly known as scenery, walls, or masking in theater, is essentially a faux wall. It’s a crucial part of scenic design, often...
Asking a student to cut a piece of wood exactly in half will require a fraction. At least one. Remember? It’s the kerf from the saw. Kerf defined is the part of the wood that turns into saw dust. Depending on the saw, it could be anywhere from a 16th of an inch up to...
