Tech Theatre Tool Kit

Set Construction
Designed and Created
by Brandon
Goodman
Houston Texas brandonkgood
man@katyisd.org
 Set Construction Unit

Week Days Objective Standards Essential Questions Paperwork Notes

How can design choices
TH:Pr5.1.I. TH:Pr5.1.II. impact the audience's
Sept 23 - 27 5 Types of Set Items TH:Pr5.1.III. perception? Theatre/Hollywood/Platform
Sept 30 - TH:Pr5.1.I. TH:Pr5.1.II. Why is it important to identify Types of cuts - Flat
Oct 4 5 Building Application TH:Pr5.1.III. the tools needed? Construction
TH:Pr5.1.I. TH:Pr5.1.II. How does color theory affect
Oct 7 - 11 5 Painting Techniques TH:Pr5.1.III. design choices? Measurements
How did communication with
Scene Change TH:Pr5.1.I. TH:Pr5.1.II. your team affect your
Oct 14 - 18 5 Challenge TH:Pr5.1.III. performance?

TH:Pr5.1.I. TH:Pr5.1.II. Where can we see the use of

Oct 21 - 25 5 Ground Plans TH:Pr5.1.III. ground plans in real life? Production Week
Oct 28 - TH:Pr5.1.I. TH:Pr5.1.II. What considerations will you
Nov 1 5 Set presentation TH:Pr5.1.III. be adding for the next design? Presentation
Set Construction Unit - 6 Weeks

Overview Prior Knowledge -

● Types of Set Items - Week 1 How fractions are added and subtracted

● Building a Flat - Week 2 Feet = ‘

● Painting Techniques - Week 3 Inches = “
● Scene Change Challenge - Week 4
Measure twice cut once!
● Ground Plans - Week 5
● Set Presentation - Week 6
Types of Set Items

Let’s Talk About Sets!

● Flats
○ Hollywood Vs. Theatrical
● Platforms
● Color - How can color reinforce the
themes of the show?
● What does it take to make a full
set?
Types of Flats

Hollywood Theatrical
● Stands Alone ● Flown or with Stand
● Minimal Lumber ● Extra Support Lumber
● Light Weight ● Light Weight
● Hard Facing ● Soft Facing/Hard Facing
Theatrical Flat

Lumber Type
Rails, Stiles, Toggle Cornerbrace - 1x4
Corner Blocks, Keystones, Straps - ¾”
ply
Facing - Muslin or Lauan Ply
Measurements for Theatrical Flat
Measurements
In order to correctly build a
theatrical flat, you need to
know the with of your 1x4.
Since these are flat and not on
their sides, simple add the
width together and subtract.
Let's say we want a 4‘ x 8’ flat -
Stile Width - 3 ½”
+
Rail Width - 3 ½”
Combined width = 7”
To Find Toggle - Subtract 7 inches from 4 feet
Toggle is now a measurement of 3’ 5” Repeat
the same for the Stile length
Practice your math!

Possible Flat Sizes

Using standard 1x4:

What is the toggle for a desired with of 7 ft?

What is the rail width for a desired 6ft?

What is the stile length for a desired 12ft?

Practice your math!

Answers **Regardless of your desired width

and height - if you use a standard
1x4 - it will always be a subtraction
Using standard 1x4’s: of 7”

7” from 12” is always 5”

What is the toggle for a desired with of 7 ft?

6’ 5”
What is the rail width for a desired 6ft?
5’ 5”
What is the stile length for a desired
12ft?
Hollywood Flat Measurements

Notice Lumber is on edge

We will refer to the items of a
Hollywood flat as

Top

Mid

Bottom

Sides
Top/Bottom - Mid - Sides
Because our top and bottom will always be the same length we can join those
together for our future cut lists.

We will be using 1x4’s to create our hollywood flat as well.

With that information we need to now measure the depth of the 1x4 which comes
up to ¾”.

Just the same as we did for the theatrical flat, we will need to combine those
measurements and subtract them from our desired length for the sides and mid.

So ¾” + ¾” = 1 ½”

Our overall total to subtract is now 1 ½” from our desired length and width.
Hollywood Flat Measurements

4’ x 8’
Measurements
Top/Bottom - 4’

Mid = 3’ 10 ½”

Sides - 7’ 10 ½”
Practice your math!

Possible Hollywood Sizes

Using standard 1x4’s :

What is the mid length for a desired width of 7 ft?

What is the side measurement for a desired 6ft height?

What is the top/bottom for a desired 7’ 8”ft?

Answers

Possible Hollywood Sizes

Using standard 1x4’s :

What is the mid length for a desired width of 7 ft?

6’ 10 ½”
What is the side measurement for a desired 6ft height?
5’ 10 ½”
What is the top/bottom for a desired 7’ 8”ft?
7’ 8” - because the top/bottom are not subtracted
Cut List and Marking your cuts
When we move into the shop, we will need to know the following:

Name - (How many units) type of lumber to be used @ Length

Example for a standard 4 x 8 Hollywood Flat cut list:

Top/Bottom - (2) 1 x 4 @ 4’
7½
Mid - (1) 1 x 4 @ 3’ 10 ½” Mark your lumber
Sides - (2) 1 x 4 @ 7’ 10 ½” size

Cut Line - Consider blade width

when measuring
Practice - Theatre Flat Cut List
Stiles -
Standard Sizes -
Cornerblocks are usually 10” x 10”
Rails - (remember pythagorean!!!)

Straps - 3” X 7”

Toggle - Keystone - 2 ½” x 7” x 3 ½”
Lets build one!

Materials Needed
11 popsicle sticks
Hot Glue
Paint
Card Stock Paper
Marker
Colors/Paint
Step by step
1. Lay out your stiles and rails
2. Connect two stiles using a small amount of tape
3. Cut out corner blocks from card stock - keep scale in mind.
4. Glue corner blocks to stile and rails
5. Glue toggle centered to stiles
6. Glue Corner braces to connect stile and rails
7. Cut out straps and keystone out of card stock - keep scale in mind
8. Label all parts of the flat
9. Flip the frame over and trace out the dimension for the facing
10. Glue facing to frame
11. Use remaining sticks to craft a brace for your flat!

Additional skills -
Use elements of design to create a theatrical flat facing!
Finished Project
Week 2 - Platforms

Standard Platform
2 x 4 frame and legs
¾” Ply - facing for top

Measurements
4’ x 8’
4’ x 4’
Similar to Hollywood Flat

Measurements
Because most sheet of ply
come in 4’ x 8’ , we will use
that as our desired size.

Just like the hollywood flat, we

have to subtract our
combined 2x4 width to get
sides and mids.
Platform Measurements
If our combined 2x4 width is 3” what would the
Following measurements need to be?

Ends - 4’
Sides -

Mids -

Refresher - Desired Length minus 3”

Platform Measurements - Answers
If our combined 2x4 width is 3” what would the
Following measurements need to be?

Ends - 4’
Sides -7’ 9”
Mids - 3’
9”

Refresher - Desired Length minus 3”

Practice your Math!

Find the measurements for the

following:
4 wide x 6 long

2 wide x 4 long

4 wide x 4 long
Types of Legs
Using a standard 2x4 and Using a standard 2x4 and
bolts bolts and additional 1x4

● Legs should be ● Legs should be

attached on the attached on the
underside of the underside of the
frame frame
● Predrill holes for ● Predrill holes for
bots bots
● Make sure to mark ● Make sure to mark
your drill points for your drill points for
easy alignment easy alignment
● Use 1 ½” screws to
attach 1x4 to 2x4

What do you notice about the difference

between the two?
Legging the Platform

Subtract the width of the plywood top

from your desired height
Practice -
If we use ¾” ply, we would
then subtract ¾” from our legs 1 ft -

so that our heights are 3 ft-

accurate. 4 ½ ft -
Legging the Platform

Subtract the width of the plywood top

from your desired height
Practice -
If we use ¾” ply, we would
then subtract ¾” from our legs 1 ft - 11 ¼”

so that our heights are 3 ft- 2’ 11 ¼”

accurate. 4 ½ ft - 3’ 11 ¾”
Lets Build One!

Use Popsicle Find an online

sticks the same Or printable paper
way we built the template and use
theatre flat. cardstock paper.
Mastery level
Remember to follow all shop safety rules!
In the Shop! Always wear gloves and goggles when using
power tools!
Once you have successfully Ask for help if needed!
built a smaller scale version of
a Flat and a Platform - we will
be building them on stage!
Painting Techniques

Teacher Slide Painting Techniques to cover -

Scumble

If you are not a skilled painter, Spatter

see if you can co teach this Dry Brush
lesson with your art teacher.
Stencil

There is a great article from EDTA

If you are a paint master, then
“Painting the Scene” - Sean O’Skea
go forth and ART!
Time to Paint
Select a Tony Award Winning Show
● Select a Tony Award Winning Show
● Find images that represent the theme of the production
● Use reference images to paint your flat and platform to reflect the
theme of the show.
● Upload your images to your google slide and prepare a 2 minute
presentation on how your painting techniques helped reinforce the
theme of the show!

● Make sure you wash your brushes!!!!!

Scene Change Challenge
Teacher Slide
Have your students set the stage with their flats and platforms.

Take a photo for reference.

Show them how to spike the set.

Spike the set

Then break them into groups to see who can change the scene the fastest and most
accurately!
How to Spike the Set
Spike Use brightly colored spike
Tape tape to mark the general
corners of an item.

Flats - Solid Line

Chairs - X or upstage legs

Don’t overdo it! Use just

enough to see but not
completely outline the set
piece.

Over with packing tape for

security
Ground Plans

Teacher Slide
Using the amount of flats and
platforms your students have
made - draft out a few various
settings on paper.
There is a plethora of free online resources that go
in depth on creating and reading ground plans.
Depending on your comfort level, student level, and
space - pick the difficulty level that best suits your
needs.
You can expand a whole new unit on ground plans,
for Tech 1, I try and keep it as simple as possible!

Have the students use the

paper to set the stage and test
their spacial awareness
Presentation Time

Upload to Google
Slides!
*Images of your popsicle sets - Labeled
*Images of your full size sets
*reference photos for painting techniques

5 minute presentation on what you have learned

in this process!