Crafts

Books - Foam books covered in fabric and painted. Dowel rods between each book and as a handle, with rare earth magnets aiding in holding each in place.

Tray with Milk Bottle and Cup - Luan tray sanded with carved bottle and cup permanently attached. Painted and a strapped was attached to the bottom to slide over the foot.

Used in Cat in the Hat, Riverside Theatre, Inc., 2018

Balance Props

All props were built from instruction from a production guide provided from the show, with modifications as needed and with supplies available.

Cake - Hard foam tray with purchased foam shape attached and carved candles wired in. Coated in sculpt-or-coat and painted. Attach with Rare Earth magnets embedded in the bottom to attach to the top of the tea cup and to the hat.

Tea Cup and Saucer - Tea cup carved out of bead foam and saucer out of hard foam. Coated in foam coat and sculpt-or-coat and painted. Rare Earth magnets embedded in the bottom to the saucer to attach to the hat, top of the saucer and bottom of the cup to attach together.

Rake - Rake head attached to flexible tube, and wrapped in electrical tape. A rare earth magnet was embedded in the top for the fish bowl (built by Andy Canning-Skinner) to attach.

Little Man and Boat - Little man shaped out of air dry foam and painted. Boat carved out of bead foam and attached to finger loop.

Fan - Built out of EVA foam and dowel. Painted and attached to a pony clamp.

Magic Egg

Two large plastic eggs 11" wide at widest point and 17" tall. One was the glowing egg for dancing and one was the trick egg.

Glowing Egg - Paper mache on the outside to give it less of a plastic look and easier to hold. Velcro was used to hold two puck lights in the top and bottom. The whole thing was sealed in Sculpt or Coat. Egg was able to still be opened to allow for batteries to be changed in the lights.

Trick Egg - glued shut and paper mache on the outside. Jagged edge was cut by hand with an x-acto knife and edge was reinforced with a line of hot glue. Magnets were embedded in clear plastic rod that were then glued to the inside edge to hold the egg closed. Knobs were added to the ends to help with stage actions. Two puck lights were held in the top and bottom of the egg with velcro. Clear vinyl was attached inside with velcro in top and bottom. Vinyl was used to hold tulle in place and to provide a place for mylar confetti to be prepped. The whole thing was sealed in Sculpt or Coat,

Used in La Cage Aux Folles, Riverside Theatre, Inc., 2020

Fire Extinguisher

Original design was to be canister with hose, and needed to function with fog coming out. Fog in a can was purchased to be used inside the piece.

The fog dissipated too much in the hose, and was not very visible. Moved onto a second design, that was not as period but did not have the hose. Both the director and designer was okay with it not being period.

Cardboard tube with sink strainer on top. The horn was the end of a vuvuzela. Fog can is mounted inside and is sprayed using a dowel with handle to depress the sprayer.

Paper mache used and sealed in with sculpt or coat.

Used in The 39 Steps, Riverside Theatre, Inc., 2020

Knife in Back Rig

Knife needed to be light weight so that it would not fall as the actor walked on stage, but also stay in place well. Needed to look like the actor was stabbed in the back.

Drawing has many different ideas. Steel plate with plastic tubing glued to the edge to protect when in the costume. Hollow plastic knife was purchased and the handle was cut off to be used. Magnets were embedded into a piece of wood with dowel. Dowel was inserted into the knife handle and Great Stuff was used to hold the dowel into the handle. Angles and magnets were added so the handled can be tilted and stay in place like a switch.

Used in The 39 Steps, Riverside Theatre, Inc., 2020

Self-Standing Pannier Skirt Frame

Frame built out of 1/2" PVC pipe, to the actors height 44". All joints were glued and taped to insure it is secure. Using wire, pool noodles were attached to the frame to give more of the traditional shape. Pillows were built to add top support for the weight of the fabric, to keep the fabric from falling into the frame. Tennis ball feet were added to the bottom of the frame to help the frame slide on stage as the actor walked. Skirt was built by the First Hand in the Costume Shop.

Used in Smokey Joe's Cafe, Riverside Theatre, Inc., 2018

Wax Cylinder Phonograph

Phonograph box was built to hold and fit the mechanism.

Box and top was built out of 1/2" ply. The edge routed and trim added to the bottom to give a finished look. A non-functioning handle was added for the aesthetic.

Painted with a dark wood grain treatment.

Horn was attached using a bucket handle to the back of the box.

Used in My Fair Lady, Riverside Theatre, Inc., 2019

Gold Trophy

Was purchased but too small and did not fit the research completely. Was disassembled and rebuilt. Painted and reassembled.

Used in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Riverside Theatre, Inc., 2020

Rows of Books

Cut from 1" foam board insulation to the height and width of the bookshelves. Height and width of each book traced and cut with an x-acto knife, and filed groves between each book. Covered in cheese cloth and crystal gel. Painted, detailed, and shadowed to match the design concept. Installed with glue and screws to the shelves.

Used in The Music Man, The Ohio Light Opera 2017

Pheasent

Started as a stuffless dog toy. The squeaker was removed and was stuffed. Painted to realistic colors and feathers were attached to give the realistic look. Was tied up with twine, to appear as a dead pheasant that was hunted.

Used in The Student Prince, The Ohio Light Opera 2017

Drill Team Flags

13" blue flags, with a gold stripe running diagonally. The 1/2" hem was machine stitched. The flag was then stapled to 24" dowels.

Used in Legally Blonde, The Musical, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay 2017

Tomahawk

Head cut from 2" foam board insulation and filed to shape. Painted to appear as stone. Handle cut from a dowel. Head was glued and tied on to the dowel, and the handle was wrapped in twine.