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How to Construct a Flat Stage

Building a flat stage is essential for creating memorable theater productions. While it is ideal to construct flat stages to sit atop concrete and steel foundations, traveling theater companies benefit highly by creating small, portable stages to transport between shows. Use helpers if necessary and don safety gear--gloves, dust masks and safety glasses--because building a flat stage requires a lot of cutting. Once the stage is created, you can use it for any number of productions for years to come.

Things You'll Need

  • Dust mask
  • Safety glasses
  • Work gloves
  • Pencil
  • Measuring tape
  • 1 plywood panel
  • 5 framing pieces, 2 inches by 6 inches
  • 12 insert braces, 2 inches by 6 inches
  • Drill
  • 1-inch and 1/2-inch wood screws
  • Bleach
  • Clean rag
  • Paint
  • Brushes
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make and attach the frame. Measure and cut three 12-foot-long framing pieces and two 5-foot-6-inch-long framing pieces. Lay each piece on the ground. Sit each piece upright on its side and fit the frame together into a 12-foot-by-5-foot-by-6-inch rectangle. Power drill two screws to secure each corner. The 5-foot-6-inch pieces are inserted between the left and right frames at the top and bottom. The third 12-foot piece is positioned in the middle of the frame for additional support.

    • 2

      Make and attach the insert braces. Measure and cut 12 insert braces, measuring 2 inches by 6 inches. Measure each brace to 2 feet by 9 inches long. Each 2-foot-9-inch piece will sit upright on its side and fit flush in between the frames. Distance each brace apart by 18 inches in between both side and center 12-foot-long pieces--six braces on one side and six braces on another.

    • 3

      Measure and cut a 12-foot-4-inch-by-6-foot plywood floor panel. Place the panel on top of the wood frame. Power drill wood screws down into the panel, securing it to the frame. Attach a wood screw every 12 inches around the perimeter and down the center along the center frame beam.

    • 4

      Scrub the panel floor with bleach in a well-ventilated area. Bleach will remove plywood stains. Allow 24 hours for the plywood to dry. Paint the stage with a dark latex enamel and allow another 24 hours to dry before using it to perform.

Stage Acting

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