PROPS
The Insect Play
Props Carpenter
West Virginia University
Fall 2021
This allegorical play examines the human condition with lengthy comparisons to insects with human characteristics. This meant extravagant props and costumes to create this crazy upside-down world.
Using a technique I had just used in class, I used chalk to retrace the font exactly onto the muslin sign.
Made of an exercise ball covered in a layer of muslin and then burlap, the dung ball was a huge team effort that required hours of work.
The Dung Ball was finished with brown and gold spray paint to symbolize the greed within the show.
Airness
Props Carpenter
West Virginia University
Fall 2021
You'd think a show about air guitar would be light on props, but this show required a lot of prop work, mostly finding enough bottles and signs to create 5 different bars.
I designed this invitation using Canva to create the dramatic Dark Horse Invitation.
I had to redo this poster, paint the background black and put the frame back together.
One of the hardest constructions in this production was creating the light boxes for the light up signs. Seemingly easy, the boxes were not lining up correctly and then weren't up to the specifications of the lighting team.
Ghostlight
Props Carpenter
Theater West End
Winter 2020
As I came back from my first semester at WVU, I was called in to make one prop for the Christmas show Ghostlight. Using big Christmas ornaments cut in half, I was able to recreate the famous look of shell lights on a budget.
Since it was near Christmastime, I was able to find big ornaments that I was able to cut in half and paint gold.
The lights were zip-tied and then hot glued to the metal stands to make sure they stayed in place. The zip-ties also used a sticky base square that prevented them from sliding up.
To cover the glue and zip ties, the director gave me gold ribbon to tie bows to each of the lights.
Spring Awakening
Props Supervisor/Lighting Board Op.
Theater West End
Summer 2020
After creating props for Moana Jr., I was asked to be the Props Master for the next summer camp production of Spring Awakening. Again, I was given one week and a limited budget to create all of the props for the two and a half-hour show.
As shown in the video above, the picture frames "rip" to reveal a defaced photo beneath. The director wanted to shock the audience and convey the chaotic spirit of the song.
The pictures were on the set for the entire show and were only revealed during the song, then taken offstage. Additionally, all of the paintings used were made by German artists, prior to the turn of the century, which is within the time frame for the production.
The pictures were printed on canvas using heat transfer paper. The first layer was attached using magnets to allow them to rip during the song.
The main charcter, Melchior Gabor, pictured right, writes a 10-page essay for his friend, Moritz Stiefel, pictured left.
There are several different letters used in the show, as well as a 10-page essay. These were made by tea staining half-sheets of paper in different types of tea to create different effects on each letter, so the actors could tell them apart.
Additionally, to organize the letter backstage, the director and I wrote up a list of all of the letters and what they are used for in the show. The stage manager and I attached them to numbered clipboards to make it even simpler for the actors.
Highlighting the importance of knowledge in the show, the director wanted me to create a piano made from books and pencils, that also hooked on and off the grated set.
Using two pieces of wood hinged together, I screwed books into the wood and attached pencils as the black keys, and used twine to keep the shape of the piano.
The director wanted light emitting from books for one number, to convey the knowledge found within them.
Using books from thrift stores, the stage manager and I added fairy lights to illuminate the actors. Additionally, we painted the books to make them look old and worn.
For the school scenes, the director needed worn journals.
Moana Jr.
Props Carpenter/Stagehand
Theater West End
Summer 2020
After coming to see a show at the theater, I was asked to make props for their summer camp's production of Moana Jr., which opened in a week. I was given a short time span and a tight budget to create several of the most iconic props in the show.
All three of Maui's hooks were made from baseball bats and foam garden rings from the dollar store.
I added pieces of pool noodles to create the larger section of the hook.
I covered the entire prop in duct tape and painted it a creamy, bone color.
I then took a brown sharpie and copied the details from Maui's Hook in the original movie.
For the finishing touches, I wrapped the handle in twine and sprayed a coat of clear paint to protect the hooks from the wear and tear of a children's play.
For the broken and cracked hooks, I also added black and purple paint to accentuate the damage done to his hook.
Made from a lawn flamingo body covered in paper feathers, Maui's Hawk Puppet has palm frond wings, per request from the director, to bring out the natural feel of Moana's story, set atop a wooden curtain rod.
Made from plastic coconut drinks, this prop also has pieces of foam pool noodles to create the inside meat of the coconut.
Made from a wooden rod and a piece of foam board, the transition between the two is covered in a twine wrap.
I decorated Tamatoa's Staircase with beads and jewels to get the feeling of the crab's massive treasure pile.