The Vampire continued

Here are a few pics of the Vampire stage that I have tracked in my last few entries. In the top right corner is one of the frame for the second story deck half way completed. (sorry uploaded in the wrong order) The 2x8 beam in front is backed up by a 2x4 between the columns which provides a sort of tray for the platforms to nest into. Top left is the second story deck complete from the front, bottom right is from the rear

(notice there are only three columns in the front rank allowing some playing space underneath the platform) bottom left is a view of the top of the deck taken from above in the up right corner of the stage. Note that the metal roll-around stairs seen here will provide a more conventional means of entry and escape from the second story, while the Vampire will use the trap door in the DR column (the hole is visible in the top view) there is a pipe and frame ladder that allows him to "appear" among guests in the lower playing area without using the fire escape.

The deck on top is made up of 6 4x8 wagon platforms (stock in most theatres) the outside beam is bolted to the columns and the platforms and the platforms are bolted together underneath. The structure is completely stable and will hold well over a thousand pounds without any danger.

For theatre companies who are interested a complete set of drawings is available. The columns can be collapsed after disassembly allowing this entire structure to be stored in a very small amount of space. The total cost of construction (starting from scratch including platforms) is under $2000 for materials, including the back wall of flats not shown here.

Easy as three, four, five!

In working on the Vampire set I run across a handy little tip in my bag o’ tricks that I hadn’t used in a while. If you’ve read the last couple of posts you may remember that I building a rather large installed platform for the center piece of a set for a university production of The Vampire, an originally german opera transported into eighties London in the heart of the Punk scene.

The platform in question is the base of a building. It stands eight feet high, with an 8x24’ footprint. This morning I went out and helped complete the assembly of the columns that support the platform. Saturday afternoon we will assemble the frame and place the platforms on it.

In the process of completing the platforms the question came up about how to lay out the lines for assembly of the frame. Since each of the columns is going to be anchored to the stage, how do we determine the placement in order to ensure square corners? The answer is simple, the rule of three, four, five.

The front line of our rectangle was easy to establish. We simply measured the needed distance from the curtain line and snapped a chalkline to establish the front edge. Then using one of my favorite tools, a four foot drywall square, we marked the stage left edge. Since we could only make a four foot line accurately we then proceeded to snap a chalk line following the four foot mark made using the square, follow me so far? Now, here’s where it gets tricky.

With any size right angle (90 deg corner) you can use this simple formula to determine just how “right” your angle is. Measure one leg of the angle from the corner to a point that is a multiple of three (three feet, three, yards, three meters, doesn’t matter) using the same multiplier mark a spot on your perpendicular leg times four from your corner. (if you marked your first one at six feet, you must measure your second leg to eight feet, the multiplier being two) Now measure diagonally between the two points. If your angle is truly square it will equal five times the multiplier, no matter what size the angle. ( in my example it would equal 10)

Once you have established right angles in your first two corners, perpendicular to your baseline it is easy to measure off of your front two corners to determine where the back line goes. (on the set I am working on it is eight feet from the front.)

To further insure that your space is indeed square measure diagonally across the rectangle (or square as the case may be) The two measurements should be equal!

More Vampire Pics

Here are a couple of views of the partially constructed columns from the Vampire opera set I have been working on showing some of the details. One is a center support column, the other is the DSL corner which contains a ladder which allows the Vampire to appear from his upstairs flat into the open loft space below, out of view of the audience.

The columns are constructed of 5/8 plywood with 1x4 framing. The ladder is 1" galvanized pipe supported by 2x4 rails. We inserted the pipe into holes bored halfway through the 2x4 using a paddle bit and cordless drill. Simply mark your holes at the appropriate spacing between steps in the center of the 2x4. To insure the depth of your boring you can wrap a piece of tape around your paddle bit at 3/4" (half the thickness of our 2x4)to mark how deep you need to cut. From here you simply attach cross members at top and bottom to keep the rails evenly spaced.

Stay tuned for more photos of this project coming after Spring Break.

Der Vampyr, design and construction.

When Dr. Ken Adams from Oklahoma Christian University calls I always know its going to be an interesting conversation. From directing a small cast musical to rescuing a set I always know I'm in for an adventure. This time around was no different. It seems that an interesting little opera entitled Das Vampyre, that's right, The Vampire had attracted his attention and he had been trying to get it on his schedule for years. Along with director Vince Laceney I met him at Wendy's on a wednesday night to discuss the details.

We decided on a mix of industrial/historical architectural elements to suggest a London Row house with two exposed floors, the upper level an apartment that our vampire may have inhabited for centuries, the bottom a sort of open artsy loft space/flophouse/sometime art gallery. Here are the drawings I came up with.

Follow this thread for a complete description of the construction and engineering process, including the mistakes, for your learning pleasure.