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How to Make a Stand for Scenery in a Play

In many types of stage productions, scenery is used to convey various moods and settings. The creation of this scenery involves stretching large fabric canvases over wooden frames, which can be easily moved. Set design is used in all types of plays, from huge Broadway productions to children's plays, and is intended to highlight and contextualize the action.

Things You'll Need

  • 7 planks of plywood (2 long, 3 short and 2 cut diagonally on the ends)
  • 16 metal joint gussets
  • 1 box of wood nails
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Instructions

    • 1

      Construct a plan or blueprint for the size of the scenery mural or backdrop. Typically, these are elongated rectangles. The planks of wood you get depend on how big you want your scenery to be. Have these cut at the lumber supply to your specifications. Sand these down, so they are less likely to cause splinters.

    • 2

      Assemble your plywood boards in the shape of a rectangle, with the third short board in the center, as a support. Place the two diagonal boards in opposite corners, to keep the scenery fabric flat.

    • 3

      Attach metal gussets to each of the joints on both sides, using wood nails to affix the gussets to the plywood boards. Stand the scenery flat up to make sure it can stand freely. Lay it back down flat, and then stretch a fabric canvas tight over the surface, leaving a little excess to nail to the back of the flat. Nail down the canvas before painting it.

Stage Productions

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