Building The Set

In the last post I talked about taking down the set, and it occurs to me that I haven't spent enough time talking about the difficult task of putting together a set.

In a community theatre show, just about everything you see on the stage (not including the actors or the actual theatre) is part of the set - and believe me, it doesn't just spring into existence. Groups like First Stage Theatre or Huntington Outdoor Theatre (and a few other local groups) usually don't have access to a stage until the week of the show, so the set must be built elsewhere, and then transported to the stage and assembled there.

At First Stage, we're lucky enough to have Jack Welch, a board member who oversees the construction of the set. It's a huge undertaking, and takes up a lot of time - but you couldn't ask for a better (or nicer) guy to tackle the job.

In general, it works like this (at least on the last couple of shows I've directed): before the show begins rehearsal, I sit down with Jack and we talk over ideas for the set. Since each show is different, each set requires a different design. We sketch out the basic concept, kick around ideas, and then Jack turns those doodles into actual designs.

Some shows actually arrive with the set already designed - but with most, it's up to the directing team to cook up a design that will work on the stage space you have available.

Then the real fun begins. Jack works with our parent volunteers and cast members as they construct the various pieces that makes up the set. For example, for High School Musical, they built and painted the flats that, when assembled, formed a 45-foot-long wall at the back of the stage. They painted a backdrop (the same size, only taller) that towered above the back wall. They built three movable flats that had lockers on one side and painted backdrops on the other. They built a booth for the radio announcer, a science table - well, you get the idea. It's a lot of work.

None of that would happen without someone like Jack taking the lead and keeping the troops organized and moving in the right direction. It's a huge job, but Jack tackles it with great enthusiasm and energy. He's part taskmaster, part big brother, and all workhorse!

That's why I'm always thrilled to have him on the team - every theatre group needs a Jack Welch (but hands off, you lot - he's ours)!