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How to Build an Ark for a Stage Set

People often link the idea of an ark, or protective vessel, with the most well-known Bible story that depicts Noah's harrowing journey through 40 days and nights of torrential rain. To survive such an extended monsoon, all animals and people on board Noah's Ark would have been inside a protective, covered structure. In aesthetic representations of Noah's Ark, however, artists often let a few animals peek over the side. As Diane Bailey notes in "Scenery and Set Design," simplicity is often the best strategy for set design. Fortunately, an ark lends itself to a simple, streamlined design. Create a convincing ark with a few simple materials, such as pine boards and cardboard.

Things You'll Need

  • Cardboard
  • Tempera paint
  • Paper plates
  • Paint brushes
  • Newsprint paper
  • Hot glue gun
  • Hot glue sticks
  • Staple gun
  • Staples
  • X-Acto knife
  • Pine boards (2"x4")
  • Miter saw
  • Power drill
  • Wood clamps
  • Ruler
  • Countersink drill bit
  • Phillips head drill bit
  • Miter box clamps
  • Wood screws
  • Wood glue
  • Eye goggles
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Instructions

    • 1

      Survey the stage from all angles to determine what parts of the ark will be visible when viewed from a fixed position. Construct only those parts of the ark that will be visible to the audience. If your ark will appear front, center-stage, you may need to build a more elaborate set piece than an ark positioned near the wings.

    • 2

      Saw two 2-by-4-inch pine boards, roughly one-third the width of your ark. Saw another two boards 4 inches shorter than the height of your ark. These boards will serve as the support frame for your ark. Use the Pythagorean Theorem to determine the length of an angled board that will support your frame. Your support board will be the hypotenuse (c) of a right triangle composed of the your ark's height (a), and the distance from the base frame (b). Leave a few extra inches to cut your support board at an angle with your miter saw. Remember to measure and mark your boards twice before making a cut and wear protective eye goggles. Always secure your boards with clamps before sawing.

    • 3

      Secure the boards you will use for your frame with miter box clamps. Dab a small amount of wood glue on the edges that meet.

    • 4

      Drill pilot holes into your frame with a countersink drill bit. Secure your frame with wood screws, using a Phillips head drill bit. Repeat this process for the final support board.

    • 5

      Cut out the curved ribs for your ark, made from corrugated cardboard, with an exacto knife. The topmost ribs should be three times the length of your support frame. These ribs should progressively taper toward the bottom of the Ark, with the bottom ribs slightly longer than the width of the support frame. The aft of the Ark is L-shaped and the fore is pointed. Cut out two, 2-inch-wide recesses into the cardboard ribs that allow you to slide them into the support frame.

    • 6

      Secure the cardboard ribs to the support frame with hot glue.

    • 7

      Cover the cardboard ribs with a continuous sheet of newsprint. Staple the paper to hidden portions of the ark with a staple gun.

    • 8

      Mix different colors of tempera paint, such as such as brown, yellow and white, using a paper plate as your palette.

    • 9

      Paint a light brown base coat for your Ark. Layer with darker colors to imitate wood grain and shadows.

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