Believe it or not, creating sets and props for our elementary school musicals was one of the most rewarding projects I've EVER done. Designing then building objects that meet all the constraints for the environment engaged almost every one of my skill sets, from research, to design, to building, to coordinating.
My goal: Create beautiful designs within substantial constraints!
· Inspire kids to be bold and big
· Accommodating, to allow many children to participate
· Achievable with volunteer labor, skills, tools, and time
· Light, nimble, and safe for kids to move or use without adults
· Small, thin, or foldable to fit in the wings during the show
· Cheap. This was an elementary school production after all
· Easily dismantled to avoid storage issues
Each production required an enormous amount of effort, from many different people, but in the end, they were always more than the sum of their parts. Working with the other talented parents and teachers to make that happen was an absolute joy.
Online photos from other productions were the starting point for most of my sketches, and therefore posting these pictures is my way of giving back.
Willy Wonka Gate
My dad and I built this. It sat on wheel and was in two parts so it was easily moveable and stored. It was very light because it was hollow. We used PVC tubing for the bars, and foam core with brick front for the bottom. We took extra care to ensure the wheels were hidden.
The gate from the back
From the front -without the WW on top
Wheels were mounted under the base so you didn't see them
