Apr 27, 2014
Working Water Bubbler
You’ve seen it in hallways outside of school cafeterias. You’ve seen it near elevators at city hall. Now, you’ve seen it on stage. The water cooler. Sometimes they work great, providing a steady stream of cool water. Other times, you discover
Sep 13, 2013
Battery Operated Lamp
Battery operated lamps are not a new idea, but when was the last time you saw a battery operated floor lamp? We needed one for a recent production. The floor lamp was on a wagon that moved into place in the dark, and the lamp had to be on, as an actor turned it off […]
Mar 14, 2013
Lighting the Way
Your “just” offstage areas are dark, and they should be, but the stairs are dangerous? What should you do? Glow tape? How about a little electronic magic? Use this simple design, and your actors will be able to find the escape’s edge, an offstage prop or even the stairs.
May 17, 2012
Sconce Drop
There is a scene in “Moon Over Buffalo” when a case of mistaken identity results in an errant gunshot, and a wall sconce is the casualty. When you’re doing this live on stage for two weeks of performances, the challenge is repeating the scene, the gunshot and the breaking of the sconce, each time. Can […]
Mar 4, 2012
Changing a Light Bulb – Whose Job it it?
It’s a simple question. We have a complicated answer: Q: How many actors does it take to change a light bulb? A: None. They complain to the director during notes. Q: How many directors does it take to change a light bulb? A: None. Give a note to the stage manager to fix it! Q: […]
Feb 28, 2012
Candlestick Tipping
Tipping over a candlestick for a special effect during a show doesn’t sound all that complicated. You set up a little lever snuck through the set wall, and the stage manager or crew member tips the candlestick on cue. But what if the candlestick is large, weighs ten pounds, and needs to be triggered electrically. […]
Sep 11, 2011
Break-a-leg, backstage!
This site is about the stage, but mostly backstage, where all the technical magic happens.