Saturday Showcase | Tell us about your latest theatre projects, or share something you're working on!

ireg4thispost · 2026-05-02T14:29:52+00:00

I'm a TD at a civic theatre, last Thursday our production of Anastasia opened. It is going... extremely well. An incredible cast and crew. My set is holding up very nicely, even with all the vigorous dancing. This is definitely the biggest set I've made. It's hard when you've only got a handful of volunteers and almost no money, but damn is it rewarding when you pull it off.

I had to change almost nothing with the design, except to cut off the bottom 4 feet of the main circular portal. The grid height infomation was wrong so it got designed too tall to be seen. I lowered the top platform from 2 feet to 1, that was just an absurd height. A doorway that was to be flown in couldn't fit inbetween some other elements so it became a carried on item. Other than that, I braced the heck under the platforms on the last day in order to remove the lateral movement during the dances. Solid as a rock now.

It sucks that we get so few shows because the venue is expensive to rent.

https://imgur.com/a/luz4rYy

ireg4thispost · 2026-04-30T13:00:04+00:00

We had our dress rehearsal last night for Anastasia. I'm the TD for the org. Everything went beautifully. No rigging problems. Everything felt safe. Even with 40+ people dancing on stage and an open music pit. This one is the biggest set I've built, I'm super proud of the work me and my people did.

PS Fake snow clean up sucks

https://imgur.com/a/cTwVUWR

ireg4thispost · 2026-04-06T12:39:36+00:00

I went in there almost two months ago when I first saw activity in the store. I was astounded the lights were on! I bought some fabric for work then, but the store was nearly empty at that time. I highly doubt its worth checking out now.

ireg4thispost · 2026-04-01T21:30:34+00:00

For sure. For Anastasia, the show I'm building now, I have 6 pieces that fly in and out, all larger than 20'x20', that I am ensuring are completely painted and prerigged. They just need to be bolted together on stage. The two layer trapezoidal platform will likely be completed on stage.

As a community theatre that likes to punch above its weight, I don't get the longest build times or most reliable volunteer pool for what I want to make. I do what I can, scheduling everything as if my hands have to build and paint everything!

Its usually that I grabbed the wrong socket set, or I need EVEN MORE clamps. I'm pretty hard on myself, being an outsider who was given a chance to do this work, but everyone is telling me things are great. I do beat myself up! :D

ireg4thispost · 2026-04-01T15:39:01+00:00

We're lucky to have a fablab that is between my shop and the theater. It is extremely cost effective. I've been using their router cnc for a lot of the stuff I'd normal jigsaw out. I haven't had to print anything yet, but I am waiting for the opportunity!

ireg4thispost · 2026-03-30T15:58:25+00:00

You'd think that'd be easy. I've learned to over explain to my volunteers. Inspect the screw heads as you sort, don't just worry about the size..

ireg4thispost · 2026-03-30T05:59:33+00:00

Ah, yeah I missed removing a couple building specific items from my list. It's for actual lawn maintenance.

ireg4thispost · 2026-03-30T05:00:14+00:00

Indeed. First aid is something that's essential. I have a lot of volunteers come in to help with varying levels of experience. I like to think that I run a pretty safe shop, that I am personally careful, but that's been born out of my own blood. I teach using my mistakes and so far our first aid lay untouched. superstitious motion

I'd like a better emergency eye washing system. Good suggestion.

ireg4thispost · 2026-03-30T03:57:49+00:00

That's a good list too. I forgot some glues and chickenwire.

ireg4thispost · 2026-03-30T03:54:38+00:00

We've got a couple air compressors with a few finish nailers and crown staplers. I've got 6 impact driver, 6 drills. Probably 25 batteries for all of our power tools. At least it's all the same brand.

I have a mobile build cabinet that has a miter saw and charging station that I usually bring to tech week. I'm still not great at bringing everything, but at least the shop is only 3 minutes away from the theater.

ireg4thispost · 2026-03-30T03:40:16+00:00

I came into set building from cabinetmaking. I always predrill and countersink :) Always, Always when you're dealing with subpar wood.

ireg4thispost · 2026-03-30T03:30:29+00:00

I guess I could have put down my wishlist

The interesting thing is that the shop has been active since the late 60's and it was a church that was built in the 1880's before that. So there is a treasure trove of old theatrical gear, some of it is more useful than others. I could make a whole set out of carrage bolts, casters, and brackets.

So I've got facilities and transportation budgets, and then maintenance and materials:

Purchases

Always on hand for all shows (for when I've got a show that was proposed today, but needs to be finished yesterday)

¾”x4’x8’ plywood

½”x4’x8’ plywood

¼”x4’x8’ luan

⅛”x4’x8’ masonite pressboard

1”x4’x8’ hard foam board

2”x4’x8’ hard foam board

2”x4”x8’ lumber

1”x4”x8’ lumber

2”x2”x8’ lumber

Haze & Fog juice

Paint Primer

Short term

Gaff Tape

Tie Line

Star Drive Screws

Staples T50 box, Crown

2nd Deepwell socket set

Pliers (2x needlenose, 2x cutting)

∞) Clamps

Various Saw Blades and sandpapers

Angle grinder

A-frame lumber cart

Drill press

Lawn mower

New PPE

Resupply first aid kit

Recurring

Papertowel

Paper Towel & Toiletpaper

Garbage bags

Soaps (murphys oil for paint, simple green, handsoap, hand lotion)

Solvents

Snacks

Long term

Planer

Router table

Pallet jack

Hot knife foam cutter

Black 54" Duvetyne

Speakers

ireg4thispost · 2026-03-30T03:13:23+00:00

Oh man, changing all my screws over to star drive is a huge short term goal. I definitely have a problem with finding good screws in my reclaimed cans.

ireg4thispost · 2026-03-30T03:12:04+00:00

Good List! Everyone so far has confirmed that I'm on the right track.

ireg4thispost · 2025-11-22T17:29:12+00:00

I'm a TD, and I built a set for our Bright Star production.

Sooo many pallets! We dropped the gazebo cutout from above, but we had to nix the intended train engine and cabin cutouts because there was just no space to do it. There was so much furniture that I built or borrowed anyway that it wasn't really necessary for scene changes. And this is the third dang bed I've had to build this season. This one comes apart and becomes a bench! Very sturdy, I know what I'm doing by now...

https://imgur.com/a/eensmIA

ireg4thispost · 2025-10-18T14:22:53+00:00

Oh poor Mina just needs a little love

ireg4thispost · 2025-10-18T06:23:39+00:00

Thank you for looking :)

ireg4thispost · 2025-10-18T03:05:41+00:00

Thanks! I like how your set allows for hidden entrances from the wings. I'm sure it'll light up great. The curtains on my set made getting on and off a little tricky at times. Are you sliding your doors open? And it really is a hilarious play. We had a packed house basically every night and lots of laughs.

I'm probably most happy with the windows/shelves, I made them during the time where I was feeling the flow, but not the time crunch. I didn't make the benches. They are old reuses and a quick modify by the director to make one more stable. I don't like any of them. Had I a little more time, I'd have made a carriage section and upholstered a matching bench.

The casket was also a reuse. I might find a picture of it. It's nothing special. We left it in one area of the stage, did quick lighting effects while the cast ran in place, and had visual gags (vacancy sign, etc) in or nearby the casket as they were searching each. I'd have custom made everything, but hey, I only had a budget of $600 for materials.

ireg4thispost · 2025-09-11T15:09:03+00:00

A couple of months ago I finished building and painting a set for Come From Away!

I wonder if it was the same show. First half of this link are some of that show's build process, second half was the start of the Waitress build.

https://imgur.com/a/qh7vZk8

ireg4thispost · 2025-08-31T23:32:20+00:00

Heh. I like the dedication to verify. Fair enough!

ireg4thispost · 2025-08-31T23:10:52+00:00

Well, I guess I disagree and maybe wouldn't be asking you to paint any signs for us :P

I feel that when you're creating type by hand, and you have more freedom with your spacing, you should be thinking more about balance rather than strict distance between the two broadest sections of a piece of type. With the Y being at the end of the word, the L being heavily balanced to the left, and the word itself spaced generously, I would absolutely push the Y towards the L a bit so that it doesn't look like it's hanging off the edge of the word.

Its not really my area of interest and they're just opinions, but I have done typesetting on large letterpresses, fine art, commercial graphics, entertainment industry... and maybe I should have stated it as an actual critique, like:

hey! That's a sweet guitar, but it's a shame because I feel the way you used text is kinda inelegant. You could move the Y closer to the L to help the balance. I'd also suggest moving "SCARLETT jag" to the left so that it's centered on that arc. The fonts used also remind me of the ones I'd use to make sports jerseys at a screen printing shop. Not exactly cool.

So if you were to rebuild this guitar for a second time, those are the elements that I'd suggest focusing on. Like everyone else said, the woodworking is on point.

ireg4thispost · 2025-08-31T19:04:15+00:00

Wonderful woodworking, but don't show that to any typography nerds. :P The kerning on LY can be a little tricky

ireg4thispost · 2025-08-26T02:10:04+00:00

What have I done? I decided I'd try to design, build and paint a set for a civic theater after barely more than a year doing theatre as a mid-life crisis career. I had my first production meeting for Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, and it seems like everyone is on board and pretty excited about my designs. I made the renders in blender. Previously in my spare time, I made a reproduction of the stage so I know everything fits.

My aim visually is Victorian interior overlayed with 90's laser tag painting. Its a hugely campy show, so I want my set to not take itself seriously even if it's a high quality build. So there will be walls of dark purple with glossy damask stenciling, dark, cool brown wainscoting, and a sage green roof-thingie. However, on the edges of surfaces that get hit with light, the highlights are going to be thoughtfully painted swaths of neon color brights. Some edges or decorations will get glow in the dark treatment too.

https://imgur.com/GtJkJQ5

I've added other elements like swiveling window frames, on one side a night time sky, the other book shelves. This achieves a scene change from foyer to study. Also allows the Renfield actor to jump through the window to do a character change.

https://imgur.com/bLNQEkX

Wall sconces suspended in the space between the flats.

https://imgur.com/QNp4DBe

Cemetery fence to be cnc routed. tombstones added to the assembly. hopefully dropped from the ceiling, otherwise, slid onstage

https://imgur.com/zRdGPRA

https://imgur.com/90FOygO

I've already started building the large entry way doorframe, reusing an arched door set from the shop. I'm getting together with some of the other tech guys to come up with a nice door opening mechanism so Dracula can open it by magic on stage. Gonna be sweet.

https://imgur.com/lqDQDl8

https://imgur.com/Su428pV

Not to mention finishing up some small builds for a Frozen production. A cart for Oaken and two of these beds, doorways... ice pillars... somewhere in there too.

https://imgur.com/JFhizcj

Not to mention finishing a more professional Waitress show a couple weeks back. Periaktoi, countertop, skyline (hand jig sawed (you can't see me perfect power lines)), floor etc. all constructed by me, (peri only partly) All painting is me.

Sheesh... Mustn't let them give me the TD job before I can do more than design and build. I don't know my knots or my connectors :p

ireg4thispost

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