When I think of all the little theatrical productions I have done in my life, most have been done on less than a shoestring budget. All the scavenged cardboard, "oops" paint from Home Depot, bargain sheets from the thrift store, cast off's from the neighbors have been strategically stretched to make the show go on. It takes some real creativity to take odds and ends and make a magical theatrical world.
Fortunately, along the way I have had some wonderful collaborators. It has been inspiring to follow the process of going from an idea in my head, to a little concept drawing on a scrap of paper, to a beautifully rendered backdrop on cardboard or sheets. The sets may have been held together by little more than duct tape and straight pins, but they looked awesome!
Once I had the crazy idea of doing a show in our Church building with 45 children from our congregation. I knew we had a lot of talented kids, but I had no idea we had so many wonderfully talented parents who were glad to offer their abilities to support the cause. Artists and seamstresses, and choreographers and hairdressers all offered to be part of our summer theater camp. A group of homeschool moms were thrilled with this cultural opportunity for their children and offered to teach enrichment lessons as part of the camp. One Mom took her lunch break from work everyday for 30 minutes just to supervise the children for recess and brought outdoor toys and games and even popsicles for the kids.
Fortunately, along the way I have had some wonderful collaborators. It has been inspiring to follow the process of going from an idea in my head, to a little concept drawing on a scrap of paper, to a beautifully rendered backdrop on cardboard or sheets. The sets may have been held together by little more than duct tape and straight pins, but they looked awesome!
Once I had the crazy idea of doing a show in our Church building with 45 children from our congregation. I knew we had a lot of talented kids, but I had no idea we had so many wonderfully talented parents who were glad to offer their abilities to support the cause. Artists and seamstresses, and choreographers and hairdressers all offered to be part of our summer theater camp. A group of homeschool moms were thrilled with this cultural opportunity for their children and offered to teach enrichment lessons as part of the camp. One Mom took her lunch break from work everyday for 30 minutes just to supervise the children for recess and brought outdoor toys and games and even popsicles for the kids.
The most amazing part of this particular event, though, was how we created the stage. This building had no real stage, no curtains, no lighting, and not much in the way of a sound system. A couple of the dads with construction ability said, "We have the technology to build a stage, so why don't we just do it." And they did.
They created many 8' by 4' platforms with adjustable legs. The only problem was that they were incredibly noisy when the kids danced on them. So, in a flash of genius, I suggested that we use the the stage to raise the audience. Thus, we created stadium seating for the audience with nary a bad seat in the house! We hung the painted backdrops on riggings made of electrical conduit pipe. We used halogen lights provided by our construction crew. We borrowed a PA system from one of our Homeschool Choral teacher friends and went on with the show.
The Summer Theater Camp production of "The Empty Pot", or "A Successor to the Throne" as it was renamed, was a great success. The show went on without a hitch. The kids delivered their lines, danced and sang their hearts out, and the audience was delighted. I will always remember the wonderful people who dropped everything to provide support and expertise to make that particular show possible. Proof again that the ingenuity and creativity of determined people can be legendary -- even if it is only held together by duct tape and straight pins!
They created many 8' by 4' platforms with adjustable legs. The only problem was that they were incredibly noisy when the kids danced on them. So, in a flash of genius, I suggested that we use the the stage to raise the audience. Thus, we created stadium seating for the audience with nary a bad seat in the house! We hung the painted backdrops on riggings made of electrical conduit pipe. We used halogen lights provided by our construction crew. We borrowed a PA system from one of our Homeschool Choral teacher friends and went on with the show.
The Summer Theater Camp production of "The Empty Pot", or "A Successor to the Throne" as it was renamed, was a great success. The show went on without a hitch. The kids delivered their lines, danced and sang their hearts out, and the audience was delighted. I will always remember the wonderful people who dropped everything to provide support and expertise to make that particular show possible. Proof again that the ingenuity and creativity of determined people can be legendary -- even if it is only held together by duct tape and straight pins!
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