Open Forum

"Hollywood" flats are the kind that use luan (which generally isn't even luan anymore, but I digress), while "Stage" or "Broadway" flats are the kind that use a fabric covering.  We use hard flats exclusively in our theatre, but that's pretty much a personal preference thing.

When using hard flats, you dutchman the seams.  Put flats up and brace (we brace with 2x4s in triangle pattern, screwed straight into the floor), then to dutchman you can do 1 of 2 things

1. Use strips of muslin in a glue/water mixture, then put it on like papier mache to cover the seem
2. Use gaff tape to cover the seam

The gaff option is typically more expensive, but also faster and less money.  We've switched to the gaff option exclusively to save time.  And it saves a LOT of time.

We should be putting some flats up this week (dear lord I hope we're putting them up this week!); I can take some photos of the bracing if that will help you.

------------------------------
Laura Steenson
Theatre Director
Reynolds High School
Troutdale OR
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2017 08:40
From: Rachel Cunningham
Subject: building sets

I am thinking of asking our shop class to build new reusable flats for sets and since I'm not educated in theatre, I want to know the best way to go about this (and with the least amount of cost for now and the future). We have flats now, but they are very very OLD, the wood is in bad shape, the canvas covering the wood has been painted maybe 20+ times, etc. (I inherited them from the past theatre director who is now retired after 20 years and she built them when she first started).

I have been watching youtube videos and I get the basic construction, but was wondering if the best way to build reusable would be with luan or with fabric/canvas? If we use the flats we now have, we use duct tape as a way to cover the seams and paint over everything, which isn't the greatest but it works. With luan obviously I don't want to have a seam showing since these are theatre flats they have to be taken down easily and put up again and again so spackling and painting would not be good. So it sounds like the canvas or muslin would be the best, but then again with that if you want to hang a picture in your "room" then you have the issue of the hole in the canvas so you have to use that same hole each time. So what is the best way to go about this? Use canvas and keep painting over it as I've been doing? Or use luan and try to get the seams as tight as possible when putting flats together? We also use deadmen behind the flats with cinder blocks or sandbags in the box and I'd like to find a different way to stand them up without those as they are also very old, warped, take up space when not in use, etc (I don't have a scene shop and storage is extremely limited in my school). If anyone has a youtube video that shows quick, inexpensive and reusable flat building I'd appreciate it.

Rachel Cunningham

Elwood Jr/Sr HS Guidance Counselor

765-552-9854 ext 1156

For a good intro to this, check out Stock Scenery Construction: A Handbook, by Bill Raoul, available through Amazon or other sources. There are lots of books on this topic, but this one is very straightforward and easy to read, with lots of illustrations.

As far as flats, yes, a selection of stock ones is handy, but not all sets need flats. You may want to check out my blog post on this, at https://setdesignandtech.wordpress.com/2017/02/25/flats-are-over-rated/

------------------------------
George F. Ledo
Set designer
www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
www.georgefledo.net
http://astore.amazon.com/sdtbookstore-20
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2017 14:07
From: Laura Steenson
Subject: building sets

"Stage" or "Broadway" flats are the kind that use luan (which generally isn't even luan anymore, but I digress), while "Hollywood" flats are the kind that use a fabric covering.  We use stage flats exclusively in our theatre, but that's pretty much a personal preference thing.

When using stage flats, you dutchman the seams.  Put flats up and brace (we brace with 2x4s in triangle pattern, screwed straight into the floor), then to dutchman you can do 1 of 2 things

1. Use strips of muslin in a glue/water mixture, then put it on like papier mache to cover the seem
2. Use gaff tape to cover the seam

The gaff option is typically more expensive, but also faster and less money.  We've switched to the gaff option exclusively to save time.  And it saves a LOT of time.

We should be putting some flats up this week (dear lord I hope we're putting them up this week!); I can take some photos of the bracing if that will help you.

------------------------------
Laura Steenson
Theatre Director
Reynolds High School
Troutdale OR

Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2017 08:40
From: Rachel Cunningham
Subject: building sets

I am thinking of asking our shop class to build new reusable flats for sets and since I'm not educated in theatre, I want to know the best way to go about this (and with the least amount of cost for now and the future). We have flats now, but they are very very OLD, the wood is in bad shape, the canvas covering the wood has been painted maybe 20+ times, etc. (I inherited them from the past theatre director who is now retired after 20 years and she built them when she first started).

I have been watching youtube videos and I get the basic construction, but was wondering if the best way to build reusable would be with luan or with fabric/canvas? If we use the flats we now have, we use duct tape as a way to cover the seams and paint over everything, which isn't the greatest but it works. With luan obviously I don't want to have a seam showing since these are theatre flats they have to be taken down easily and put up again and again so spackling and painting would not be good. So it sounds like the canvas or muslin would be the best, but then again with that if you want to hang a picture in your "room" then you have the issue of the hole in the canvas so you have to use that same hole each time. So what is the best way to go about this? Use canvas and keep painting over it as I've been doing? Or use luan and try to get the seams as tight as possible when putting flats together? We also use deadmen behind the flats with cinder blocks or sandbags in the box and I'd like to find a different way to stand them up without those as they are also very old, warped, take up space when not in use, etc (I don't have a scene shop and storage is extremely limited in my school). If anyone has a youtube video that shows quick, inexpensive and reusable flat building I'd appreciate it.

Rachel Cunningham

Elwood Jr/Sr HS Guidance Counselor

765-552-9854 ext 1156

No matter which way you go you are going to want to dutchmen the seams. I do the traditional muslin dipped in glue and water. I also use cloth flats. One idea that might save you some time & money is carefully remove the cloth currently covering it and simply replace it (i say careful not to preserve the covering, but the frame). You should have a usable frame underneath, just clean it up a bit and recover, viola! New flat. 
If you build from scratch, I do a weird thing that I find helps, I buy 1"x10" boards, and cut them into true 1"x3" for my frames (table saw set at 3" and a few passes and you are done). Gives us a little bit more gluing area (also helps the kids and my math challenged self when figuring cuts).

------------------------------
Jeffrey Davis
Plainsboro NJ
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2017 20:00
From: George Ledo
Subject: building sets

For a good intro to this, check out Stock Scenery Construction: A Handbook, by Bill Raoul, available through Amazon or other sources. There are lots of books on this topic, but this one is very straightforward and easy to read, with lots of illustrations.

As far as flats, yes, a selection of stock ones is handy, but not all sets need flats. You may want to check out my blog post on this, at https://setdesignandtech.wordpress.com/2017/02/25/flats-are-over-rated/

------------------------------
George F. Ledo
Set designer
www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
www.georgefledo.net
http://astore.amazon.com/sdtbookstore-20

Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2017 14:07
From: Laura Steenson
Subject: building sets

"Stage" or "Broadway" flats are the kind that use luan (which generally isn't even luan anymore, but I digress), while "Hollywood" flats are the kind that use a fabric covering.  We use stage flats exclusively in our theatre, but that's pretty much a personal preference thing.

When using stage flats, you dutchman the seams.  Put flats up and brace (we brace with 2x4s in triangle pattern, screwed straight into the floor), then to dutchman you can do 1 of 2 things

1. Use strips of muslin in a glue/water mixture, then put it on like papier mache to cover the seem
2. Use gaff tape to cover the seam

The gaff option is typically more expensive, but also faster and less money.  We've switched to the gaff option exclusively to save time.  And it saves a LOT of time.

We should be putting some flats up this week (dear lord I hope we're putting them up this week!); I can take some photos of the bracing if that will help you.

------------------------------
Laura Steenson
Theatre Director
Reynolds High School
Troutdale OR

Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2017 08:40
From: Rachel Cunningham
Subject: building sets

I am thinking of asking our shop class to build new reusable flats for sets and since I'm not educated in theatre, I want to know the best way to go about this (and with the least amount of cost for now and the future). We have flats now, but they are very very OLD, the wood is in bad shape, the canvas covering the wood has been painted maybe 20+ times, etc. (I inherited them from the past theatre director who is now retired after 20 years and she built them when she first started).

I have been watching youtube videos and I get the basic construction, but was wondering if the best way to build reusable would be with luan or with fabric/canvas? If we use the flats we now have, we use duct tape as a way to cover the seams and paint over everything, which isn't the greatest but it works. With luan obviously I don't want to have a seam showing since these are theatre flats they have to be taken down easily and put up again and again so spackling and painting would not be good. So it sounds like the canvas or muslin would be the best, but then again with that if you want to hang a picture in your "room" then you have the issue of the hole in the canvas so you have to use that same hole each time. So what is the best way to go about this? Use canvas and keep painting over it as I've been doing? Or use luan and try to get the seams as tight as possible when putting flats together? We also use deadmen behind the flats with cinder blocks or sandbags in the box and I'd like to find a different way to stand them up without those as they are also very old, warped, take up space when not in use, etc (I don't have a scene shop and storage is extremely limited in my school). If anyone has a youtube video that shows quick, inexpensive and reusable flat building I'd appreciate it.

Rachel Cunningham

Elwood Jr/Sr HS Guidance Counselor

765-552-9854 ext 1156

I would build a set of "TV" style flats for on stage use and a set of canvas or "Broadway" flats for masking.  Build them in standard measurements-- IE: 4 x 12high, 2 x 12, etc-- you will eventually use them all.  As time goes on, you can add to your collection as well-- starting with a group of 4 x 12's and then going on from there.  Standardize the placement of all the toggles-- this will be invaluable in the future.  I would highly suggest ripping the 1x4 to 1 x 3 a lot of people do not do this, but the resulting weight savings is great and it will provide a nicer finish.  Luan comes now as "underlayment" and can be found at most home improvement stores for 11 bucks a sheet or so.

In terms of on stage installation, we use loose pin back flap hinges to join most of our flats together, but I would really like to invest in the old hardware of cleats and rings, etc-- simply because I think that would be a neat teaching experience for my students.  I also find "french braces" work best for bracing-- they can use loose pin back flap hinges for attachment and if you standardize the hinge placement, it makes life a lot easier.  You'll have to screw and unscrew the hinges with each install, but keeping stuff in the same general location is a good idea.  You can use the back flap hinges to install your french braces to the floor as well (if that is ok in your school) or just use some sand bags or skinnys or pigs.

Bill's book is also really good, so I would recommend that as well.

Good luck, sounds like fun.

------------------------------
Michael Johnson
Trinity NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2017 20:00
From: George Ledo
Subject: building sets

For a good intro to this, check out Stock Scenery Construction: A Handbook, by Bill Raoul, available through Amazon or other sources. There are lots of books on this topic, but this one is very straightforward and easy to read, with lots of illustrations.

As far as flats, yes, a selection of stock ones is handy, but not all sets need flats. You may want to check out my blog post on this, at https://setdesignandtech.wordpress.com/2017/02/25/flats-are-over-rated/

------------------------------
George F. Ledo
Set designer
www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
www.georgefledo.net
http://astore.amazon.com/sdtbookstore-20

Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2017 14:07
From: Laura Steenson
Subject: building sets

"Stage" or "Broadway" flats are the kind that use luan (which generally isn't even luan anymore, but I digress), while "Hollywood" flats are the kind that use a fabric covering.  We use stage flats exclusively in our theatre, but that's pretty much a personal preference thing.

When using stage flats, you dutchman the seams.  Put flats up and brace (we brace with 2x4s in triangle pattern, screwed straight into the floor), then to dutchman you can do 1 of 2 things

1. Use strips of muslin in a glue/water mixture, then put it on like papier mache to cover the seem
2. Use gaff tape to cover the seam

The gaff option is typically more expensive, but also faster and less money.  We've switched to the gaff option exclusively to save time.  And it saves a LOT of time.

We should be putting some flats up this week (dear lord I hope we're putting them up this week!); I can take some photos of the bracing if that will help you.

------------------------------
Laura Steenson
Theatre Director
Reynolds High School
Troutdale OR

Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2017 08:40
From: Rachel Cunningham
Subject: building sets

I am thinking of asking our shop class to build new reusable flats for sets and since I'm not educated in theatre, I want to know the best way to go about this (and with the least amount of cost for now and the future). We have flats now, but they are very very OLD, the wood is in bad shape, the canvas covering the wood has been painted maybe 20+ times, etc. (I inherited them from the past theatre director who is now retired after 20 years and she built them when she first started).

I have been watching youtube videos and I get the basic construction, but was wondering if the best way to build reusable would be with luan or with fabric/canvas? If we use the flats we now have, we use duct tape as a way to cover the seams and paint over everything, which isn't the greatest but it works. With luan obviously I don't want to have a seam showing since these are theatre flats they have to be taken down easily and put up again and again so spackling and painting would not be good. So it sounds like the canvas or muslin would be the best, but then again with that if you want to hang a picture in your "room" then you have the issue of the hole in the canvas so you have to use that same hole each time. So what is the best way to go about this? Use canvas and keep painting over it as I've been doing? Or use luan and try to get the seams as tight as possible when putting flats together? We also use deadmen behind the flats with cinder blocks or sandbags in the box and I'd like to find a different way to stand them up without those as they are also very old, warped, take up space when not in use, etc (I don't have a scene shop and storage is extremely limited in my school). If anyone has a youtube video that shows quick, inexpensive and reusable flat building I'd appreciate it.

Rachel Cunningham

Elwood Jr/Sr HS Guidance Counselor

765-552-9854 ext 1156

​If money is SUPER tight (and we all have been there)  You can get away with using wide painters tape on the seams of wood flats, I usually try to put a book case or curtain in front of the seam. I try to avoid a large flat expanse of a single color since it makes the seams seem more obvious.

------------------------------
Laura Parker
Director Cobra Theatre Cmpany
Bel Air Maryland MD
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2017 14:07
From: Laura Steenson
Subject: building sets

"Hollywood" flats are the kind that use luan (which generally isn't even luan anymore, but I digress), while "Stage" or "Broadway" flats are the kind that use a fabric covering.  We use hard flats exclusively in our theatre, but that's pretty much a personal preference thing.

When using hard flats, you dutchman the seams.  Put flats up and brace (we brace with 2x4s in triangle pattern, screwed straight into the floor), then to dutchman you can do 1 of 2 things

1. Use strips of muslin in a glue/water mixture, then put it on like papier mache to cover the seem
2. Use gaff tape to cover the seam

The gaff option is typically more expensive, but also faster and less money.  We've switched to the gaff option exclusively to save time.  And it saves a LOT of time.

We should be putting some flats up this week (dear lord I hope we're putting them up this week!); I can take some photos of the bracing if that will help you.

------------------------------
Laura Steenson
Theatre Director
Reynolds High School
Troutdale OR

Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2017 08:40
From: Rachel Cunningham
Subject: building sets

I am thinking of asking our shop class to build new reusable flats for sets and since I'm not educated in theatre, I want to know the best way to go about this (and with the least amount of cost for now and the future). We have flats now, but they are very very OLD, the wood is in bad shape, the canvas covering the wood has been painted maybe 20+ times, etc. (I inherited them from the past theatre director who is now retired after 20 years and she built them when she first started).

I have been watching youtube videos and I get the basic construction, but was wondering if the best way to build reusable would be with luan or with fabric/canvas? If we use the flats we now have, we use duct tape as a way to cover the seams and paint over everything, which isn't the greatest but it works. With luan obviously I don't want to have a seam showing since these are theatre flats they have to be taken down easily and put up again and again so spackling and painting would not be good. So it sounds like the canvas or muslin would be the best, but then again with that if you want to hang a picture in your "room" then you have the issue of the hole in the canvas so you have to use that same hole each time. So what is the best way to go about this? Use canvas and keep painting over it as I've been doing? Or use luan and try to get the seams as tight as possible when putting flats together? We also use deadmen behind the flats with cinder blocks or sandbags in the box and I'd like to find a different way to stand them up without those as they are also very old, warped, take up space when not in use, etc (I don't have a scene shop and storage is extremely limited in my school). If anyone has a youtube video that shows quick, inexpensive and reusable flat building I'd appreciate it.

Rachel Cunningham

Elwood Jr/Sr HS Guidance Counselor

765-552-9854 ext 1156

Laure, I would love to see the brain as well!

------------------------------
Maria Palassis
Drama Club & Thespian Society Director
Cincinnati OH
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2017 14:07
From: Laura Steenson
Subject: building sets

"Hollywood" flats are the kind that use luan (which generally isn't even luan anymore, but I digress), while "Stage" or "Broadway" flats are the kind that use a fabric covering.  We use hard flats exclusively in our theatre, but that's pretty much a personal preference thing.

When using hard flats, you dutchman the seams.  Put flats up and brace (we brace with 2x4s in triangle pattern, screwed straight into the floor), then to dutchman you can do 1 of 2 things

1. Use strips of muslin in a glue/water mixture, then put it on like papier mache to cover the seem
2. Use gaff tape to cover the seam

The gaff option is typically more expensive, but also faster and less money.  We've switched to the gaff option exclusively to save time.  And it saves a LOT of time.

We should be putting some flats up this week (dear lord I hope we're putting them up this week!); I can take some photos of the bracing if that will help you.

------------------------------
Laura Steenson
Theatre Director
Reynolds High School
Troutdale OR

Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2017 08:40
From: Rachel Cunningham
Subject: building sets

I am thinking of asking our shop class to build new reusable flats for sets and since I'm not educated in theatre, I want to know the best way to go about this (and with the least amount of cost for now and the future). We have flats now, but they are very very OLD, the wood is in bad shape, the canvas covering the wood has been painted maybe 20+ times, etc. (I inherited them from the past theatre director who is now retired after 20 years and she built them when she first started).

I have been watching youtube videos and I get the basic construction, but was wondering if the best way to build reusable would be with luan or with fabric/canvas? If we use the flats we now have, we use duct tape as a way to cover the seams and paint over everything, which isn't the greatest but it works. With luan obviously I don't want to have a seam showing since these are theatre flats they have to be taken down easily and put up again and again so spackling and painting would not be good. So it sounds like the canvas or muslin would be the best, but then again with that if you want to hang a picture in your "room" then you have the issue of the hole in the canvas so you have to use that same hole each time. So what is the best way to go about this? Use canvas and keep painting over it as I've been doing? Or use luan and try to get the seams as tight as possible when putting flats together? We also use deadmen behind the flats with cinder blocks or sandbags in the box and I'd like to find a different way to stand them up without those as they are also very old, warped, take up space when not in use, etc (I don't have a scene shop and storage is extremely limited in my school). If anyone has a youtube video that shows quick, inexpensive and reusable flat building I'd appreciate it.

Rachel Cunningham

Elwood Jr/Sr HS Guidance Counselor

765-552-9854 ext 1156

The choice between the two often comes down to two factors:
1) Storage
2) Durability
Hardskin flats are more durable, but because the framing pieces are built with the wider side perpendicular to the skin, they take up more storage space.  We use 1/8" luon and 1" x 4" framing material.  This means each flat is about 3 3/4" thick.  They also have the advantage of you being able to drill holes if needed in them and then either patching the holes or replacing the skin.
Softskin flats are more fragile, but because they take less storage space by far.  Framing with 1" x 4" material and making corner braces out of 1/4" plywood or luon makes each flat just over 1" thick.  In short, you can store 3 soft skinned flats in the same space as 1 hard skinned flat.
L-jacks are a common for backing material.  They are little more than a triangle that is attached at one end to the flat and the other is attached or weighted down.
I would also recommend looking at "The Illustrated Theatre Production Guide" by John Holloway for building techniques and general reference to flats, platforms, and most technical theatre requirements.

------------------------------
Jym Kinney
Troupe Director
Clover Park High School
Lakewood, Washington
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-07-2017 08:40
From: Rachel Cunningham
Subject: building sets

I am thinking of asking our shop class to build new reusable flats for sets and since I'm not educated in theatre, I want to know the best way to go about this (and with the least amount of cost for now and the future). We have flats now, but they are very very OLD, the wood is in bad shape, the canvas covering the wood has been painted maybe 20+ times, etc. (I inherited them from the past theatre director who is now retired after 20 years and she built them when she first started).

I have been watching youtube videos and I get the basic construction, but was wondering if the best way to build reusable would be with luan or with fabric/canvas? If we use the flats we now have, we use duct tape as a way to cover the seams and paint over everything, which isn't the greatest but it works. With luan obviously I don't want to have a seam showing since these are theatre flats they have to be taken down easily and put up again and again so spackling and painting would not be good. So it sounds like the canvas or muslin would be the best, but then again with that if you want to hang a picture in your "room" then you have the issue of the hole in the canvas so you have to use that same hole each time. So what is the best way to go about this? Use canvas and keep painting over it as I've been doing? Or use luan and try to get the seams as tight as possible when putting flats together? We also use deadmen behind the flats with cinder blocks or sandbags in the box and I'd like to find a different way to stand them up without those as they are also very old, warped, take up space when not in use, etc (I don't have a scene shop and storage is extremely limited in my school). If anyone has a youtube video that shows quick, inexpensive and reusable flat building I'd appreciate it.

Rachel Cunningham

Elwood Jr/Sr HS Guidance Counselor

765-552-9854 ext 1156

Original Message------

I am thinking of asking our shop class to build new reusable flats for sets and since I'm not educated in theatre, I want to know the best way to go about this (and with the least amount of cost for now and the future). We have flats now, but they are very very OLD, the wood is in bad shape, the canvas covering the wood has been painted maybe 20+ times, etc. (I inherited them from the past theatre director who is now retired after 20 years and she built them when she first started).

I have been watching youtube videos and I get the basic construction, but was wondering if the best way to build reusable would be with luan or with fabric/canvas? If we use the flats we now have, we use duct tape as a way to cover the seams and paint over everything, which isn't the greatest but it works. With luan obviously I don't want to have a seam showing since these are theatre flats they have to be taken down easily and put up again and again so spackling and painting would not be good. So it sounds like the canvas or muslin would be the best, but then again with that if you want to hang a picture in your "room" then you have the issue of the hole in the canvas so you have to use that same hole each time. So what is the best way to go about this? Use canvas and keep painting over it as I've been doing? Or use luan and try to get the seams as tight as possible when putting flats together? We also use deadmen behind the flats with cinder blocks or sandbags in the box and I'd like to find a different way to stand them up without those as they are also very old, warped, take up space when not in use, etc (I don't have a scene shop and storage is extremely limited in my school). If anyone has a youtube video that shows quick, inexpensive and reusable flat building I'd appreciate it.

Rachel Cunningham

Elwood Jr/Sr HS Guidance Counselor

765-552-9854 ext 1156

I am a big fan of Broadway (fabric-covered) flats for several reasons.  

First, they are lightweight.  My students love the magical way a wall floats down to the floor during strike. 

Second, they store in a tiny bit of space--just an inch of depth.  I don't have space to store Hollywood flats, even if I wanted them.

Last, I love the way paint looks on fabric.  

We built all of our flats 10' tall, in widths of 2', 3', 4', and 5' widths, with some 18" flats for masking the R and L edge.  We covered them in heavy-weight muslin.  Last year we stripped that muslin off of every flat and replaced it.  We wrap the flats in muslin and staple gun on the back, rather than gluing and cutting the edges clean.  That allows us to dutchman with plain old 2" masking tape.  It also allows us to pull the fabric off pretty easily to replace it.     

We construct our box sets by designing the walls with enough angles that we don't have to screw into the stage floor.  We connect the flats by screwing on 1 X 4's horizontally on the back, and screwing straight through the edge of the flat for the corners.  (Parker and Smith might not agree with my methods, but I'm pretty sure neither of them ran a one-person department.  A woman's got to sleep sometime!)    

If your flats are truly squared, you can order fabric (I use Rose Brand) and recover them.  If they are warped and not built well, you might want to start over.

CJ 



------------------------------
C. J. Breland
Asheville High School
Asheville NC
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-09-2017 12:28
From: Mark Quinlan
Subject: building sets

I would say that building luan flats is the best way to go (We call them "TV flats" since most sets on TV are built with luan.)   I have a set of luan flats, some of which were built nearly 30 years ago, and we still use them regularly.  They paint up more like a real wall, they don't get punctures like a fabric flat, and it's a lot easier to add things like an electrical box for an outlet or a light switch or painting.  I haven't used canvas or muslin flats for over 30 years.   The other issue is that there is a certain skill to building flats with canvas/muslin (stretching the fabric to the right tightness, applying the sizing coat of water/paint, etc.).  The shop teacher and the students will be much more able to build a frame of 1X4's then attach plywood to that. 

 

Mark Quinlan

Theater Director, Head Speech Coach

Centennial High School

763-792-5099

finearts@isd12.org

 

Original Message------

I am thinking of asking our shop class to build new reusable flats for sets and since I'm not educated in theatre, I want to know the best way to go about this (and with the least amount of cost for now and the future). We have flats now, but they are very very OLD, the wood is in bad shape, the canvas covering the wood has been painted maybe 20+ times, etc. (I inherited them from the past theatre director who is now retired after 20 years and she built them when she first started).

I have been watching youtube videos and I get the basic construction, but was wondering if the best way to build reusable would be with luan or with fabric/canvas? If we use the flats we now have, we use duct tape as a way to cover the seams and paint over everything, which isn't the greatest but it works. With luan obviously I don't want to have a seam showing since these are theatre flats they have to be taken down easily and put up again and again so spackling and painting would not be good. So it sounds like the canvas or muslin would be the best, but then again with that if you want to hang a picture in your "room" then you have the issue of the hole in the canvas so you have to use that same hole each time. So what is the best way to go about this? Use canvas and keep painting over it as I've been doing? Or use luan and try to get the seams as tight as possible when putting flats together? We also use deadmen behind the flats with cinder blocks or sandbags in the box and I'd like to find a different way to stand them up without those as they are also very old, warped, take up space when not in use, etc (I don't have a scene shop and storage is extremely limited in my school). If anyone has a youtube video that shows quick, inexpensive and reusable flat building I'd appreciate it.

Rachel Cunningham

Elwood Jr/Sr HS Guidance Counselor

765-552-9854 ext 1156

I have generally used solid flats made of 1/8 inch Luan (or the equivlent) in various heights and widths.

We build some of them with a 3 and 1/2 inch overlap which covers the frame on corners.

Luan repaints well and you can attach shelves or cut windows or make other additions to the flats. 

Cheers.

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Bill Jacobsen
Drama Teacher / Curriculum Coordinator
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2017 15:46
From: C. J. Breland
Subject: building sets

I am a big fan of Broadway (fabric-covered) flats for several reasons.

First, they are lightweight.  My students love the magical way a wall floats down to the floor during strike.

Second, they store in a tiny bit of space--just an inch of depth.  I don't have space to store Hollywood flats, even if I wanted them.

Last, I love the way paint looks on fabric.

We built all of our flats 10' tall, in widths of 2', 3', 4', and 5' widths, with some 18" flats for masking the R and L edge.  We covered them in heavy-weight muslin.  Last year we stripped that muslin off of every flat and replaced it.  We wrap the flats in muslin and staple gun on the back, rather than gluing and cutting the edges clean.  That allows us to dutchman with plain old 2" masking tape.  It also allows us to pull the fabric off pretty easily to replace it.

We construct our box sets by designing the walls with enough angles that we don't have to screw into the stage floor.  We connect the flats by screwing on 1 X 4's horizontally on the back, and screwing straight through the edge of the flat for the corners.  (Parker and Smith might not agree with my methods, but I'm pretty sure neither of them ran a one-person department.  A woman's got to sleep sometime!)

If your flats are truly squared, you can order fabric (I use Rose Brand) and recover them.  If they are warped and not built well, you might want to start over.

CJ



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C. J. Breland
Asheville High School
Asheville NC

Original Message:
Sent: 10-09-2017 12:28
From: Mark Quinlan
Subject: building sets

I would say that building luan flats is the best way to go (We call them "TV flats" since most sets on TV are built with luan.)   I have a set of luan flats, some of which were built nearly 30 years ago, and we still use them regularly.  They paint up more like a real wall, they don't get punctures like a fabric flat, and it's a lot easier to add things like an electrical box for an outlet or a light switch or painting.  I haven't used canvas or muslin flats for over 30 years.   The other issue is that there is a certain skill to building flats with canvas/muslin (stretching the fabric to the right tightness, applying the sizing coat of water/paint, etc.).  The shop teacher and the students will be much more able to build a frame of 1X4's then attach plywood to that. 

 

Mark Quinlan

Theater Director, Head Speech Coach

Centennial High School

763-792-5099

finearts@isd12.org

 

Original Message------

I am thinking of asking our shop class to build new reusable flats for sets and since I'm not educated in theatre, I want to know the best way to go about this (and with the least amount of cost for now and the future). We have flats now, but they are very very OLD, the wood is in bad shape, the canvas covering the wood has been painted maybe 20+ times, etc. (I inherited them from the past theatre director who is now retired after 20 years and she built them when she first started).

I have been watching youtube videos and I get the basic construction, but was wondering if the best way to build reusable would be with luan or with fabric/canvas? If we use the flats we now have, we use duct tape as a way to cover the seams and paint over everything, which isn't the greatest but it works. With luan obviously I don't want to have a seam showing since these are theatre flats they have to be taken down easily and put up again and again so spackling and painting would not be good. So it sounds like the canvas or muslin would be the best, but then again with that if you want to hang a picture in your "room" then you have the issue of the hole in the canvas so you have to use that same hole each time. So what is the best way to go about this? Use canvas and keep painting over it as I've been doing? Or use luan and try to get the seams as tight as possible when putting flats together? We also use deadmen behind the flats with cinder blocks or sandbags in the box and I'd like to find a different way to stand them up without those as they are also very old, warped, take up space when not in use, etc (I don't have a scene shop and storage is extremely limited in my school). If anyone has a youtube video that shows quick, inexpensive and reusable flat building I'd appreciate it.

Rachel Cunningham

Elwood Jr/Sr HS Guidance Counselor

765-552-9854 ext 1156