The Music Man!

Ah, The first set project of the 2012 Wichita Theatre season! Not only did we have a show going up, but massive renovations going on at the theatre. None the less in the grand tradition of Theatre the show went on!

My Projects included...

Two Train 1910 Train Cars,

The Interior of Paroo Home,

The Interior of the Library,

A Foot Bridge,

Along with all manner of vintage props and furniture.

Meridith Wilson's "The Music Man" begins on a train headed for River City Iowa July 4th 1912.

(The Rocky Island Express)

Because there was a crunch for time, we reused the "train sets" from White Christmas. The seats you see on the car, are out of the Balcony of the Wichita and date to 1939.  Being my specialty, I used several paint effects to create a early 1900's "express" travel car. My favorites being the "wear" on the lower wainscot, the "toughed fabric" on the upper wall and the effect of "motion" painted in the windows.

The end result is a well worn train car!

*  *  *

The Paroo House

Provably my favorite of the sets. (as it was the only one that turned out how I planned and expected.)  fairly simple, painted to look like period wall paper.

After the "wall paper had dried" I added a few Victorian silhouettes.

I will say the stand out pieces of this set are the blue velvet Loveseat/Settee and the upright piano! The Settee is on loan from a great antique store across the street from the Theatre "Ally Cat"

This was that one "I must have it" signature 'makes all the difference' piece I'm famous for. its so ornate, and period it makes me giddy!  However not to be out shined was the renovation of the Upright Piano.

 (What we wanted to do with it...)

 Actually this Piano is a veteran of the Wichita, its been in several productions and BELIEVE ME it showed. The front legs had snapped off (because the casters were not meant for frequent stage travel). The wood was in bad shape, and the keys yellowed beyond belief !

(Jordan googling "how to whiten piano keys" and Bryson revamping the legs.)

The old supports for the caster were pretty much nonexistent  at this point.  After jumping up and down yelling "TAKE A SAW TO IT!" on my part much debate, Bryson  decied the best way would be to add new footing supports made out of 2x4's to support the Piano. 

A couple screws later and a good furniture polishing all over and the piano was looking good as new. (its now one of my favorite in house props) and with 3 inch ball bearing casters it can glide all over stage with out a snag or fear of breaking! 

 (Jordan, Jeremy and Myself scrubbing the piano keys with toothpaste)

Look ma, no cavities! I swear 30 people most have walked by and said that as we covered and scrubbed the yellow keys. BUT believe it or not, the whitening toothpaste actually did help make the keys less yellow.

The Interior of the Madison Public Library

Let me say, this set was just helter-skelter. I can assure you readers that this is the first time the :Library" in a production "The Music Man" that it has had a "Spanish American revival" interior.  It started out with this idea of a Neo-gothic  Greek revival  Library interior with two double spiral staircases and a library ladder, with a huge stain glass window. and the only thing that made the final cut was the Window.

(Started with a base of white)

(Next painted the "light" primary colors of the window)

Darker colors painted on top of lighter to imitate real stained glass. Bryson stands next to it as an indicator of size. I am SO pleased with how it turned out, its gotten compliments all across the board with this piece.

(Contrary to popular belief, the "M" stands for 'Madison' not 'Mickey')

(Next we drew in the bookcases and books)

The began the tedious process of filling in the books and items on the shelves.

(Jennifer & Abby all 1912'ved up!) 

A  special thanks to cast member Jennifer A., She drew in books and came up with the most items on the shelves a globe, a stuffed owl, and a plaster bust of 'Aesop' (That cast member Kyle painted in beautifully!) The Library took so much time... so lets have a photo montage!

(-End Montage-)

Thanks to everyone in the pictures above who came and helped paint! It took a lot less time with all of us working together!

The Foot Bridge-

Seen here in a pink wash with the star curtain setting the mood.

Pretty simple 2x4" contstruction, a Special thanks to Larry, Bryson and "Coach" for putting it together.

I used a white base coat of paint, and while it was still wet blended in some medium brown with a sponge. to give it a "weathered" look. As a finishing touch I added two stings of white roses in bloom, its nice because in a lyric of the song "Till there was you" that takes place on the bridge Marion the Librarian sings-

"...And there was music,
And there were wonderful roses,
They tell me,
In sweet fragrant meadows of dawn, and dew." 

*  *  *

All in all I have to say this has been a GREAT production.  I have enjoyed working with the cast and crew, and of course owe a huge thank you's to my faithful set dressing team (all featured in pictures above). For reason out of my hands I don't think I did justice to this shows over all feeling and period correct details, however I am very pleased with the outcome of my work.  I've had a lot of fun working with everyone in the cast and made some new friends along the way, so chalk another one up to success! It's also just amazing to think that this show is set 100 years ago in1912- and here we are in 2012. Its just mind boggling!

-Mick-

keep A Movin'

Have you ever asked yourself, "Do I have to much Furniture?" 

 (Bar in the lounge)

Something I learned in College Theater, and stand a firm believer in is the rule of set dressing "If you want to make a small space seem larger than it is, leave well placed 'open areas'." ( In short,  Less is More). 

 Let me just say I love my tiny house, (I'd provably love it more if it had a bathroom) But I love its proportions, I love how easy it is to clean and how each piece I've lugged and hauled out to the house fits as if it were meant to be there in its exact spot. Alas at some point you WILL run out of room, and then your charming little space becomes cramped... Thus far I've done pretty well with having just the right amount of junk around the house, all the bordering its style somewhere between Movie Set/ Muesuem Exhibit/ and Home.

If you'll remember I got this awesome portable bar I picked up in Kansas, we'll I've had the darnedest time trying to find a spot for it! I set it up in the lounge, in the spot I had bought it for. However in order to fully access the back of the bar it PRACTICALLY had to be in the middle of the room! So we tried other spots in the house...

In the Den...

As cozy as the set up was, I really hated to get rid of the drop leaf table. (And If I do get rid of the table it would be for more seating!) So we rolled it into the kitchen, where it would have made a good sized island and will provably be set up there, when we actually have a cocktail party. )

(Apparently I deleted the damn picture. But it didn't look good in the kitchen either.)

So after unpacking and rolling the bar all over the house, posing for various pictures, and swearing "We just need another room to solely dedicate to the bar..." I finally found a spot custom tailored for the bar!

That Ironically was three feet away from the starting point... none the less, I think its the perfect spot! conveniently located next to the ice crusher and just seconds away from two of the many "bottle openers". the fridge or sink. Haha now the question is what do I do with all the stuff I moved to put it there?!

-Mick-

Im Baaaaaaaack!

Well Readers, sorry for the sudden absence.
Thursday before last my computer was attacked with six viruses, and it brought things to a grinding halt!

(Holy Pyrex!)

(5 Fridgies of mixed colors!)

One of my Moms friends was moving and she gave to her Grandmothers Pyrex!  There was quite a bit and I thank her so much for sending it to us at the Casablanca, we'll use and treasure it.

Here we have a pink aluminum "West Bend" container, in a white and red nautical themed piece of McKeef glass ware. I am CRAZY about the pattern and I know it came in fire king as well. The Pink piece on the bottom is a heavily dishwashered 222 brownie pan.

Here we have three of the complimentary bowls that went with a "Hostess" Bowl set.  and a "Crazy Daisy" 403 Fridge dish with lid!

This is a special piece, the glass cut cake plate was in the lot of Pyrex. The chrome cover is very special its one of the only things I have of my Great Grandmother Avery's at the Casablanca.

  I don't ever remember my Grandmother using it, but none the less it will be a Casablanca treasure, and is sure to hoist many a party/ birthday/ wedding- cake for our members.  I'd like to say Thanks again to mom's friend Kari, for send all this stuff our way.

I gotta say, it was nice to be off the grid and be computer-less for a while, but I'm SO happy to be blogging again!

Hope all of you have a Happy Monday!

-Mick-

Ice Bucket, or Cookie Jar?

Well Readers, this is the weekend Score!  Now before hoards of you leave me comments saying "Its a hot and cold server you twit, not a cookie jar" let me just say I am aware! Haha.  Michael over at Cul-de-Sac Shack first showed me one of these on our trip to Missouri last June. If I recall correctly he got his for $10.00 and I was sooooo envious.  I nearly bought one while in Kansas during Christmas for $25.00 but I'm glad I held out, because the Thrift Gods sent this gem my way for the hefty price or $2.42 !!!

 ("The Penguin Hot and Cold Server" named for its decorative design)

Let me tell you when I dived for this Patricia thought I was crazy, but I knew what it was. As soon as I laid eyes on it at Value Village I knew it was coming home with me, the price was just an added bonus! I don't knwo much about them, but i know they are a product of the 1950's and came in chrome and copper/bronze. At first it looked a little grungy, but as I found out while cleaning it was just a thin layer of hardened dirt. With a little scrubbing this thing almost looks brand new, ITS SO SHINY  the chrome plate doesn't have any pitting or rust marks and the Bakelite handles and knob aren't chipped. There are a few minor scratches, but other than that its perfect!

Aside from the last name "Owens" scrawled across the bottom, it says-

West Bend Penguin Hot & Cold Server

A Product of 

West Bend Aluminum Co.

West bend, WIS U.S.A.

Patent No.

2,349,099

DES, 127,279

I read somewhere that this promises to keep ice cold for up to five house, and food warm for up to two hours.

So now my question to you Readers is, do you think this should be the "Ice Bucket" for the Bar? Or should it become the new "Cookie Jar" in the kitchen, replacing a ceramic "San Francisco" house cookie jar that my mother made long ago (that we religiously forget we have cookies in.) I'm pretty sure We'd never forget about the cookies if they were left in here! Either way it will provably end up on top of the Pyrex Cabinet on display with my other hot and cold warmer and "I Love Lucy" coffee percolator for a while...

Well What do you think?!

-Mick-