Theatre Tech: Semester 2 - Part 1

How far in from the edge of the stiles and the rails are the corner blocks and keystones set?

¾"

What are the advantages of hard cover flats?

-Durable -Last longer -Acts like a huge cornerblock to keep the flat square

Battening

-Lay 2 or more flats faced down right next to each other -Make sure the bottoms of the flats are exactly even -Fasten a piece of cheap wood, like a firring strip, to the top, middle, and bottom of the flat using 1 5/8 inch drywall screws on hard covered flats and 1 1/4 inch drywall screws on soft covered flats

Hinging

-Lay the flats down and apply hinges to the very top and bottom of the flat using 3/4 inch wood screws -If the flats need to separate, use loose-pin hinges that come apart -If they stay together, use tight pin hinges that won't separate

To apply a dutchman...

-Tear a long strip of muslin as long as the flat is tall, and tear the edges so they are framed -Mix 1 part white glue and 1 part water in a bucket -Brush the glue on the flat edges, and put the muslin over the glue -Apply more glue and smooth the frayed edges of the muslin away from the center of the muslin strip

A tread of a standard step is...

1 foot deep and 3-4 feet wide and often hangs over the front and side edges of the stringers by 3/4 of an inch

If the legs of a platform are over ______, it is a good idea to ______.

16 inches tall, plumb the legs and apply 2 diagonal braces to each leg

There are ___ common ways to build stair units.

2

For extremely tall legs, over 5 or 6 feet tall, it is smart to screw together ______ to double the strength of each leg.

2 - 2x4

If the wagon is going to take a lot of weight, it's a good idea to add...

2x4 braces running from one side of the wagon to the other (add 1/2 inch to the length of the carriage bolts)

It is also smart to frame-in your platform with sturdier lumber, like using ____s instead of 2x4's like we did earlier.

2x6

The height of a standard step is...

6"-8" high, we generally go with 8" on stage to get the stairs to the needed height quickly

The length of a stile in an 4'x8' flat is...

7 ½ feet

Flat

A 1x3 or 1x4 frame that can be covered with canvas, scrim, thin luan plywood, or other materials so the frame looks like a heavy, solid object, usually a wall

Box Set

A set in the shape of a big box with one side removed so the audience can see inside the house

Hog Trough Legs

A type of compression legging when 2 - 2x4 legs are nailed or screwed together in an L shape and sit directly under the platform bracing

Striking the Set

After closing night, the set must come down in a safe manner that salvages all possible materials to be re-used in future shows

One of the most common ways of joining flats is _______.

Battening

Return the theatre to the condition it was in ______ the show started rehearsals.

Before

Make sure you cover the flat with the ____ side of the luan facing the audience.

Best

When cutting stiles, subtract the width of _______.

Both of the rails from the height of the flat

How do box sets differ from real houses?

Box sets are temporary, cheap, light weight, moveable, can only be seen from one side, and exaggerated

If you are joining 2 flats at a right angle, or very close to a right angle, and you don't need to separate them, simply...

Butt the edges of the flats together and fasten them with several 1 5/8 inch drywall screws or #6 common nails to join the flats

One of the most common ways the leg up a platform is to use...

Carriage bolts

Install casters using...

Carriage bolts that are long enough to go through the plywood top of a wagon and the caster base (add 1/2 to allow for the washer and hex nut to be installed)

Flats are _____, ________, and can be used ________.

Cheap, light weight, over and over again

Sets are usually struck on ________, as soon as ________.

Closing night, the last audience member leaves

Use _______ during a strike.

Common sense

Strike is probably the most _______ time on stage.

Dangerous

When applying canvas or muslin on a flat, you pull it really tight. (T/F)

False, canvas and muslin are made with unbleached cotton material and will shrink the first time it gets wet

Clean all ______ from lumber immediately and put it away.

Hardware

Another common way of joining flats is to ______ them together.

Hinge

What are the two basic types of flats?

Hollywood (studio style) and stage (theatre style)

If you need to stabilize the flats, you can add a temporary batten by using ______ on the toggles.

Keeper hooks

What are Hog Trough Legs usually held in place by?

Keystones that are nailed or screwed to the back of the hog troughs and then the back of the platform bracing

Stringer

Long diagonal 2"x12" part of stairs that are notched

If flats need to join and separate quickly on stage, use...

Loose-pin hinges and lash line

What is the first common way to build a stair unit?

Measure and cut, or buy pre-cut stringers, treads and kickboards

Turntable Wagons

Move in a fixed circle

A dutchman is really nothing more than a thin strip of ______ that is glued over _____ where flats meet.

Muslin, gaps

ALWAYS take ________ and _______ out of boards before they leave your hands.

Nails, screws

Treads

Part you walk on

The most common practical unit of scenery is the...

Platform

Wagons

Platforms on wheels or casters

What are the DISadvantages of hard cover flats?

Plywood only comes in 8 foot lengths, so covering a tall flat is hard

The set comes down in _______ of how it went up.

Reverse order

________ are used to move in a fixed (straight) line.

Rigid casters

For turntable wagons, you need to buy...

Rigid casters, where the only part that turns is the wheel

Make sure hex nuts are tightened...

Securely

All ______ should be taken off set immediately.

Set props

Many actors and technicians are tempted to take _______. DON'T!

Shortcuts

Practical units are pieces of scenery that are...

Standable, walkable, and function like a real house

The technical director should make up a _______ assigning people to specific jobs.

Strike list

Always have plenty of people to help when...

Taking down heavy or tall scenery

The actors usually help with strike, and they usually have varying degrees of _________.

Technical skills

Why do you remove the caster before you drill?

The caster will spin and cause a serious injury

Who is in charge of strike?

The technical director

What is the best way to join several flats that meet at a 30* angle and stay that way during the show?

Tight-pin hinges

Why do you need to make sure you keep the casters close to, but not touching the wagon's 2x4 bracing?

Too close to the edge and the casters won't swivel, and too far inside the wagon and the wagon may tip when actors step on the very edge of a wagon

Mark where the bolts will go through the plywood and make sure you remove the caster before you drill. (T/F)

True

The biggest advantage to soft-cover a flat is that...

Unlike luan, muslin and canvas come in widths up to 120", so large flats can be covered in one piece

Kickboards

Vertical parts that connect tread to tread

Where do Hog Trough Legs work best?

When the platforms are legged up just a short distance and are butted up against other platforms

Swivel Casters

Will turn 360* in addition to the wheels turning