Open Forum

I am trying to expand my set design and construction skills with our upcoming production of Little Women. I would like to add crown molding to our painted muslin flats. 

1) We have a very limited budget. What do you recommend to use for crown molding? Where do you find it?
2) How do you attach it to the flat?

Thank you! 


------------------------------
Katie Powell-Mitchell
Drama Teacher
Woodinville WA
------------------------------

Crown Molding can be a great addition to a box set, however, it's sort of pricey at 1.50 a foot or so.  Often, the same effect can be achieved with a piece of 1x3 pinned up off the top rail of the flat; although, that can read as sort of "western" or lower class.  A cheaper and as skillful alternative would be to paint the details of crown molding on the flat.  That can look pretty realistic if it is done well, and it's a cool thing to master-- once you've got it, you've got it forever.

If you are set on crown molding, I would check the local lumber yard or trim moldings specialist supplier, you might be able to get some of it for a discount as they often have cupped, or discarded pieces-- and, since you are painting it?  it doesn't matter what species of wood you get it in as long as it has the same profile.  In terms of attachment to the flat, it can be pinned on to the rail with a crown stapler and kept at the appropriate angle with a little backer block cut on the angle to be glued behind.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 23:59
From: Katie Powell-Mitchell
Subject: Crown molding

I am trying to expand my set design and construction skills with our upcoming production of Little Women. I would like to add crown molding to our painted muslin flats.

1) We have a very limited budget. What do you recommend to use for crown molding? Where do you find it?
2) How do you attach it to the flat?

Thank you!


------------------------------
Katie Powell-Mitchell
Drama Teacher
Woodinville WA
------------------------------

Original Message------

Crown Molding can be a great addition to a box set, however, it's sort of pricey at 1.50 a foot or so.  Often, the same effect can be achieved with a piece of 1x3 pinned up off the top rail of the flat; although, that can read as sort of "western" or lower class.  A cheaper and as skillful alternative would be to paint the details of crown molding on the flat.  That can look pretty realistic if it is done well, and it's a cool thing to master-- once you've got it, you've got it forever.

If you are set on crown molding, I would check the local lumber yard or trim moldings specialist supplier, you might be able to get some of it for a discount as they often have cupped, or discarded pieces-- and, since you are painting it?  it doesn't matter what species of wood you get it in as long as it has the same profile.  In terms of attachment to the flat, it can be pinned on to the rail with a crown stapler and kept at the appropriate angle with a little backer block cut on the angle to be glued behind.

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

We've used foam to create the effect as well. Sheets of foam can be bought at most hardware stores. Cut the desired with, then using a router, you can create depth and contours. You can then use a heavy duty glue gun to hold it in place. Just be sure it doesn't have the plastic film on it when you paint it.

------------------------------
James Smith
Illinois Chapter Director
Ridgewood High School
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-11-2019 07:25
From: Michael Johnson
Subject: Crown molding

Crown Molding can be a great addition to a box set, however, it's sort of pricey at 1.50 a foot or so.  Often, the same effect can be achieved with a piece of 1x3 pinned up off the top rail of the flat; although, that can read as sort of "western" or lower class.  A cheaper and as skillful alternative would be to paint the details of crown molding on the flat.  That can look pretty realistic if it is done well, and it's a cool thing to master-- once you've got it, you've got it forever.

If you are set on crown molding, I would check the local lumber yard or trim moldings specialist supplier, you might be able to get some of it for a discount as they often have cupped, or discarded pieces-- and, since you are painting it?  it doesn't matter what species of wood you get it in as long as it has the same profile.  In terms of attachment to the flat, it can be pinned on to the rail with a crown stapler and kept at the appropriate angle with a little backer block cut on the angle to be glued behind.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 23:59
From: Katie Powell-Mitchell
Subject: Crown molding

I am trying to expand my set design and construction skills with our upcoming production of Little Women. I would like to add crown molding to our painted muslin flats.

1) We have a very limited budget. What do you recommend to use for crown molding? Where do you find it?
2) How do you attach it to the flat?

Thank you!


------------------------------
Katie Powell-Mitchell
Drama Teacher
Woodinville WA
------------------------------

I started using peel and stick molding I found on Amazon. Cheaper than wood and no woodworking skills required. Looks great from a distance.

------------------------------
Duane Siewert
Set Design and Construction
Rossford High School
Rossford, OH
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 23:59
From: Katie Powell-Mitchell
Subject: Crown molding

I am trying to expand my set design and construction skills with our upcoming production of Little Women. I would like to add crown molding to our painted muslin flats.

1) We have a very limited budget. What do you recommend to use for crown molding? Where do you find it?
2) How do you attach it to the flat?

Thank you!


------------------------------
Katie Powell-Mitchell
Drama Teacher
Woodinville WA
------------------------------

I've had some great success with the cardboard pieces that typically come on the corners of washers/dryers. You can paint them and since it's a heavy cardboard, it doesn't soak up the paint or warp the cardboard. Also since they have angles already, you can hang them on top of the flats, add a few screws in the top to secure, and you're all set!

------------------------------
Sarah Serbus
Theatre Director
Union R-XI School District
Union, MO
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-11-2019 07:35
From: Duane Siewert
Subject: Crown molding

I started using peel and stick molding I found on Amazon. Cheaper than wood and no woodworking skills required. Looks great from a distance.

------------------------------
Duane Siewert
Set Design and Construction
Rossford High School
Rossford, OH

Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 23:59
From: Katie Powell-Mitchell
Subject: Crown molding

I am trying to expand my set design and construction skills with our upcoming production of Little Women. I would like to add crown molding to our painted muslin flats.

1) We have a very limited budget. What do you recommend to use for crown molding? Where do you find it?
2) How do you attach it to the flat?

Thank you!


------------------------------
Katie Powell-Mitchell
Drama Teacher
Woodinville WA
------------------------------

Hi Katie, Crown moldings are very expensive sometimes as much as $4.50 a linear foot.  You would also need to have a top piece of wood, either 1 x something or plywood cut to the correct size, to add stability to the crown molding. It can be attached with either screws or nails.

If you have some good painters there is a technique, which I have used in the past, where with care you can paint realist molding. I'm on spring break currently, but when I return to school I will scan and email the directions to you.

------------------------------
Stewart Hawk
Garfield Theatre Department Chair
Washington State Thespian Co-Chapter Director
206-252-2408
sthawk@seattleschools.org
http://www.garfieldstage.org/
http://washingtonstatethespians.com/
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 23:59
From: Katie Powell-Mitchell
Subject: Crown molding

I am trying to expand my set design and construction skills with our upcoming production of Little Women. I would like to add crown molding to our painted muslin flats.

1) We have a very limited budget. What do you recommend to use for crown molding? Where do you find it?
2) How do you attach it to the flat?

Thank you!


------------------------------
Katie Powell-Mitchell
Drama Teacher
Woodinville WA
------------------------------

Ask Chazz!

------------------------------
Beth Rand, EBMS
Educational Lighting Designer
School Theatre Operations Coach
www.PRESETT.org

- HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE OPERATIONS BOOKS (http://www.presett.org/helpful-books.html)
- LIGHTING INSTITUTE FOR THEATRE TEACHERS - ONLINE MINI COURSES (http://www.presett.org/litt.html)
- HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE OPERATIONS ONLINE COURSE (http://www.presett.org/tmt.html) - NEW! INDEPENDENT STUDY for those who don't have time to join a cohort!
- THE ECLECTECH SHOPPE (http://www.presett.org/eclectech.html)

beth@PRESETT.org
Westminster, CO
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-11-2019 13:29
From: Stewart Hawk
Subject: Crown molding

Hi Katie, Crown moldings are very expensive sometimes as much as $4.50 a linear foot.  You would also need to have a top piece of wood, either 1 x something or plywood cut to the correct size, to add stability to the crown molding. It can be attached with either screws or nails.

If you have some good painters there is a technique, which I have used in the past, where with care you can paint realist molding. I'm on spring break currently, but when I return to school I will scan and email the directions to you.

------------------------------
Stewart Hawk
Garfield Theatre Department Chair
Washington State Thespian Co-Chapter Director
206-252-2408
sthawk@seattleschools.org
http://www.garfieldstage.org/
http://washingtonstatethespians.com/

Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 23:59
From: Katie Powell-Mitchell
Subject: Crown molding

I am trying to expand my set design and construction skills with our upcoming production of Little Women. I would like to add crown molding to our painted muslin flats.

1) We have a very limited budget. What do you recommend to use for crown molding? Where do you find it?
2) How do you attach it to the flat?

Thank you!


------------------------------
Katie Powell-Mitchell
Drama Teacher
Woodinville WA
------------------------------

We have used 8" diameter cardboard concrete construction forms ("Sonotube" is a brand name) cut in fourths for the cove part of the crown molding. We snapped chalk lines and used a hand held jig saw to cut the tube. 

Make inside and outside corners as small units. 

I know I haven't answered how to attach this to a muslin flat.

------------------------------
Bob Sedoff
Board member Mn chapter EdTA
Sedoff, Inc.
Edina High School
Edina MN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 04-10-2019 23:59
From: Katie Powell-Mitchell
Subject: Crown molding

I am trying to expand my set design and construction skills with our upcoming production of Little Women. I would like to add crown molding to our painted muslin flats.

1) We have a very limited budget. What do you recommend to use for crown molding? Where do you find it?
2) How do you attach it to the flat?

Thank you!


------------------------------
Katie Powell-Mitchell
Drama Teacher
Woodinville WA
------------------------------