Build a Theatre Flat

Theatre flats, or scenery flats, are placed at the back and sides of a stage and painted to provide a background for the performance. Flats come in two styles. A Broadway flat is made by stretching canvass over a frame to create a one-dimensional background. A Hollywood flat is made by turning the boards on their edges to make a three-dimensional, boxlike frame. Each type is uniform in size and design so they can be stacked together and stored in a small space. You can build theatre flats from lumber, plywood and cloth.

Steps

Broadway Flat

1. Cut lumber for the rails, which will form the top and bottom of the flat. You need 2 4-foot (1.2 meter) boards from 1-by-3-inch (20 by 65 mm) or 1-by-4-inch (20 by 90 mm) of pine lumber.
2. Measure and cut 2 boards to form the sides of the flat, called the stiles. The finished flat will measure 8 feet (2.4) tall.
   • Lumber dimensions refer to the unfinished boards, so 1-by-3-inch lumber actually measures {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} (19 mm) by 2-1/2 inches (64 mm). And, 1-by-4-inch lumber actually measures {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} (19 mm) by 3-1/2 inches (89 mm).
   • If you're using 1-by-3-inch lumber, the stiles should be cut to {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} (2.31 m); if using 1-by-4-inch lumber, cut the stiles to {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} (2.26 m).
3. Assemble the boards into a rectangle on the floor of your workspace. Don't attach the boards to one another.
4. Measure and cut 3 additional boards from the same lumber.
   • One board will become the toggle. Place this inside the frame between the two stiles so it divides the frame into equal top and bottom sections.
   • Two boards will serve as corner braces. Cut these on the miter and place them between the top rail and left stile, and the bottom rail and left stile.
5. Cut 4 triangular pieces of plywood to serve as corner blocks. Attach them to the 4 corners of the frame, where the rails meet the stiles, with carpenters glue and pneumatic staples.
6. Measure and cut 5 straps from the plywood. Use these to attach the corner braces to the rails and stiles and to attach the left side of the toggle to the left stile. Use glue and staples.
7. Cut a trapezoidal piece of plywood to be the keystone. Attach this to the right side of the toggle to the right stile with glue and staples.
8. Turn the frame over and cover the front with muslin or canvas. Lay the cloth over the frame and staple it into place along the insides of the rails and stiles.
9. Fold the edges of the cloth back so the rails and stiles are exposed. Paint the boards with thinned carpenter's glue and smooth the edges back down.
10. Go over the edges with a damp sponge, let the glue dry, then trim the cloth.
11. Cover the cloth with a coat of paint to size it. It will stiffen and shrink slightly, becoming taut.

Hollywood Flat

1. Cut lumber for a frame. Cut 1-by-2-inch (20 by 45 mm) or 1-by-3-inch (20 by 65 mm) pine lumber to create a frame that is 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide and 8 feet (2.4) meters tall. Cut a toggle as well.
2. Assemble the frame by nailing the boards together.
3. Cover the front with 1/4-inch (6 mm) or 1/8-inch (3 mm) lauan—a thin tropical plywood with a smooth surface that's easy to paint.

Tips

• Both types of flats can be "skinned" on both sides so they can be turned around to form the backdrop of another scene. However, to make a Broadway flat two-sided, you first skin the front side, then remove the plywood corner blocks, straps and keystone before skinning the back side. If you plan to make a Broadway flat two-sided, use a method of fastening the blocks, straps and keystone that will allow them to be easily removed.

Things You'll Need

• 1-by-2-inch (20 by 45 mm), 1-by-3-inch (20 by 65 mm) or 1-by-4-inch (20 by 90 mm) pine lumber
• 1/4-inch (6 mm) or 1/8-inch (3 mm) lauan plywood
• Miter saw
• Jigsaw
• Staple gun
• Carpenters glue
• Paint
• Paintbrushes
• Hammer
• Nails

Related Articles

• Put On a Play with Little to No Money
• Make a Set in Your Room
• Become a Good Stage Manager
• Act in a Theater Performance

Sources and Citations

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flats_%28theatre%29
• http://www.ia470.com/primer/shop.htm

See also

• Be a Stage Manager
• Start and Manage a Theatre Company
• Practise Proper Etiquette for a Broadway Show
• Become a Set Designer
• Become a Broadway Actor
• Produce a Play
• Memorize Your Lines
• Become a Good Stage Manager
• Make a Monologue
• Become an Actress With No Experience

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• Build a Stage