Open Forum

Hello everyone! 
I am first year teacher who is teaching in a high school this year in Fayetteville, NC. For our spring production, we are doing Rodger's and Hammerstein Cinderella ( Original version). When doing student teaching last year, I was placed in a middle/high school theatre program that  focused heavily on the performance aspect. Meaning that my mentor teacher at the time contracted or had parent volunteer to create sets for her. Although I am experienced with technical theatre, set design and construction is one thing I am still trying to figure out. I am currently teaching technical theatre during my fourth period which is set up as a production class.For Cinderella I would love to have a rolling house unit that can be easy to move. I figured having a rolling platform would be easy with two flats acting as a wall but I am unsure of the dimensions.On the unit, we will have the mantle with a window above it and the little chair. We are doing this performance at another school due to not having a stage and we were told not to have anything stationary as classes/ events will be happening throughout the day. Does anyone have any recommendations for how to go about making wagons or rolling platforms? A example cut list would be great as well! 
Kind regards,

Cynthia Burks 

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Cynthia Burks
Theatre Teacher
Massey Hill Classical High School
NC
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If you haven't already, check out some of the many visual references to Cinderella online, including period illustrations, set designs, the house itself, and others. There's lots there to use as inspiration and to get away from starting with two flats. Once you have a design in mind, you can decide whether you need flats or something else. As far as the wagon, it doesn't need to be all straight lines and square corners. It can be free-form or something more interesting.

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George F. Ledo
Set designer
www.setdesignandtech.wordpress.com
www.georgefledo.net
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Does your high school have a construction or woodshop class? I partner with our construction teacher to have sets made. He tells me what materials I need to buy and I buy them and deliver them to his classroom. He then allows his Construction 3 and 4 students to help with the project. They get credit in my program and free tickets to the show. My students (and sometimes the Art students) do the painting so it really is a school wide effort. It also builds awareness among the other students that we do more than just sing and dance.       

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Suzanne Stanley
Theatre Teacher
Palmetto Ridge High School
FL
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