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  • 1.  Newsies Newspaper Stacks

    Posted 12-14-2021 11:25
    I am a parent volunteer tasked with making the newspaper stacks for our HS production of Newsies. I am very resourceful, but this one has me stumped. Anyone made these? Not sure we have the budget to buy/rent the heavy duty professional ones. 
    --
    Amanda Steelman
    Going to the woods is going home.
    - John Muir


  • 2.  RE: Newsies Newspaper Stacks

    Posted 12-14-2021 13:51

    Perhaps taking some appropriate foam, cutting it into paper size pieces. Glue those sections in the desired formation of your paper stack. Paint and twine to finish it off. If needed, maybe cover the sections with muslin fabric to give it more of a paper feel. You might also want to consider corrugated cardboard... same rough technique. Of course, treating things with flame retardant as necessary, and using non-toxic foam. 

    ~Dave



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    David Simpson
    Performing Arts Center Manager
    MI
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  • 3.  RE: Newsies Newspaper Stacks

    Posted 12-15-2021 12:49
    Thanks for the suggestions!

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    Amanda Steelman
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  • 4.  RE: Newsies Newspaper Stacks

    Posted 12-15-2021 08:20
    We used foam covered box frames last year. We built the box/frame sturdy enough to stand on and then sheeted with foam. We used hot wire tools to sculpt the foam into "stacks" and then coated with a foam hardening product and painted. We then basically decoupaged a faux vintage newspaper on the top of the box that matched the other ones we were using in the show. 

    This site (as well as Amazon) carrie's the tools and coating products https://hotwirefoamfactory.com/

    One thing to be mindful of is that papers of that era were a different size than modern day papers. So if you are going to buy replica papers to use they won't be the same size as your local paper if you are using both. We got old papers from our local newspaper ... took out all the colored inserts and then tied them with twine to also use for props and to throw during the fight scene. We just had to be sure to keep those stacks away from the faux bundles so the size difference wasn't noticeable. 

    This is where we got the prop papers from. 


    Toni Thomas
    English & Theatre Teacher & Director
    Ogemaw Heights High School

    Sent from my iPhone 






  • 5.  RE: Newsies Newspaper Stacks

    Posted 12-15-2021 12:44
    Do you have any pictures? Thanks so much for the ideas!

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    Amanda Steelman
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  • 6.  RE: Newsies Newspaper Stacks

    Posted 12-15-2021 11:06
    These claim to be about $1 each?!

    https://www.mtishows.com/marketplace/prop-papers/newsies-newspapers


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    Nicholas McLain
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  • 7.  RE: Newsies Newspaper Stacks

    Posted 12-16-2021 21:35
    Try recycling some pizza boxes, paint, add some artistic touches, some newspapers on the top and bottoms, and your twine. The stacks will be light, look bulky, and let you have some pizza parties along the way!!

    Enjoy Newsies!!

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    J. Harvey Stone
    Teacher/Director
    Jamestown High School Theatre
    Williamsburg, VA
    james.stone@wjccschools.org
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