The set is the backdrop for the play, bringing the audience into the story. Your set can look intricate without having to put a lot of work into it, though. Flats are large canvas frames you can use to form walls for your set. You can also use your flats to form an intricate backdrop that shows an outdoor scene or a cityscape. Add other decorative touches to your set by moving in furniture, installing windows on your flats and painting fine details onto them.
This is where sewing skills come in handy. Once your director determines the period of the play (if the script doesn't make it clear) the crew needs to start taking measurements and tailoring a proper set of costumes. Visit your local costume shop or fabric store and ask about clothing patterns. The patterns are the blue prints for the clothing, allowing you to attain the proper shape, sizes and effect.
Without proper lighting, even the best play productions can look dingy and unprofessional. Proper lighting makes the features of the set, costumes and actors stand out for the audience. Lights can also create special effects for the play. Gels are filmy, colored pieces of paper you place over the lights to change their colors or create interesting shapes with light. Once the light technician finishes setting the lights, cut out your gels to the shape you need. Place them over the lights you need to alter.
Costumes don't always cover the full extent of a character's appearance. In situations like this, it is up to the special effects artist to finish the look. Special effects artists use silicone rubber, makeup and an assortment of other materials create the proper effect. A skilled makeup artist can create all sorts of effects ranging from burns to abnormal hair growth. Call in the actors early to get their makeup done. This gives the makeup and silicone time to harden into the proper consistency before show time.