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How to Build a Stage Prop With Life-Size Figures

Building life-size stage properties (props) is an effective way to bring your stage production to life. The trick to creating useful stage props is to make them efficient and with little cost. Stage props must often be moved easily and quickly and require materials that pose no threat of harm for actors or stagehands. Constructing a life-size statue from plaster or marble, for example, is too expensive and time-consuming for any standard theater company. Substituting those materials with several household objects will have your prop successfully erected in no time.

Things You'll Need

  • 6-inch by 18-inch by 24-inch Styrofoam block
  • 6-inch by 18-inch by 36-inch Styrofoam block
  • Marker
  • Work gloves
  • Utility knife
  • Permanent epoxy (optional)
  • 4 cups water
  • 4 cups flour
  • 72 ounce pot
  • 72 ounce bowl
  • 3-inch by 6-inch newspaper strips (multiple)
  • 3-inch by 6-inch paper towel strips (multiple)
  • One-third gallon acrylic paint
  • Synthetic fiber paintbrush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Draw the upper half -- the midsection to the head -- of a life-size figure onto a 6-inch by 18-inch by 24-inch Styrofoam block using a pencil. Draw the lower half -- the waist to the feet -- of the life-size figure onto a 6-inch by 18-inch by 36-inch Styrofoam block. Highlight the pencil outlines with a marker.

    • 2

      Slide on a pair of work gloves to protect your skin. Trim the excess away from the Styrofoam blocks using a utility knife. Bond the two blocks together using permanent epoxy. Remove the work gloves.

    • 3

      Boil 4 cups water and 4 cups flour in a 72 ounce pot for three minutes to create a papier mache mix. Allow the mix five minutes to cool. Pour the mix into a 72 ounce bowl.

    • 4

      Soak a 3-inch by 6-inch newspaper strip into the mix. Press the strip into the body of the statue. Continue until the entire statue is covered in one layer of newspaper.

    • 5

      Soak a 3-inch by 6-inch paper towel strip into the mix. Press the strip into the body of the statue. Continue until the entire statue is covered in one layer of paper towel. Allow four hours for the statue to dry.

    • 6

      Coat the statue with one-third gallon of acrylic paint using a synthetic fiber paintbrush. Allow two additional hours for the statue to dry before handling or displaying.

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