Prop-Making for Beauty and the Beast
“The old cliché in theater is, if you’re nervous, pick up a prop, which will immediately take you outside of your mind.”
– Jesse Eisenberg –
Do you enjoy the theater?
As much as I love movies, I've found that I would far rather spend an evening watching live theater than watching a movie. There is a certain magic about having real, live people performing before your eyes that a movie simply does not provide.
Almost eight years ago,
I played Maurice in a community theater production of Beauty and the Beast. You might say I was the poster boy for type-casting, because—essentially—I am Maurice. I am the crazy tinkerer/inventor. I love to build things.
And so, I was beyond delighted when a local Musical Theater director contacted me and asked me to build some specialty props for an upcoming production.
Theater Magic!
Image courtesy of Connor Limbocker and http://unsplash.com
Our local charter school enjoys an outstanding Musical Theater program.
The plays are performed entirely by students from fifth through eighth grade, but the overall production quality makes you think you're watching a Broadway show. The theater director goes out of her way, sparing no expense, to ensure that everything about each show is top drawer.
For example, during last year's performance of The Wizard of Oz, a specialty company (Flying by Foy) was hired to set up the necessary equipment and train parent volunteers to enable the actors to fly. Thus, Dorothy was actually blown away into the sky by the tornado, both bad and good witches were dramatically airborne, and the flying monkeys did.
You think you're watching a Broadway show.
Image courtesy of Denys Nevozhai and http://unsplash.com
The company is preparing to do Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
If you've seen any of the movies or theater productions, you may know that there are several specialty props that you can't simply buy off the shelf.
Maurice, beauty Belle's father, is an inventor. In the 2017 Disney film, he is seen in his workshop putting finishing touches on an animated Windmill Music Box. The blades rotate just as if they were the sails of a real Dutch windmill, moved by the wind.
A peek at the windmill design in progress.
Original photo by @creatr
Belle sees things of great import displayed in a Magic Mirror. She sees her father, Maurice, lost in the woods. Later, she takes the mirror with her and invokes a vision of the Beast himself, showing him to the mob.
Of pivotal significance in the story is an Enchanted Rose. Periodically, one or more petals fall from the rose. As the story goes, the Beast must "learn to love another and earn her love in return by the time the last petal falls."
My task is to build these three props.
The compensation for the job is modest, and the job itself is substantial. Nonetheless, I'm excited about it because the task is for a very good cause, the design and implementation will be fun for me, and I may reap other rewards in the future.
My goal, as always,
is the best possible outcome. I want these props to match or exceed anything ever seen before on Broadway. In fact, I hope that when I am done, I will be able to find other theater companies who may want to purchase or rent copies of these props from me.
I love the theater.
Image courtesy of Peter Lewicki and http://unsplash.com
In some upcoming articles,
I hope to tell you more about the design and implementation of these three set pieces. Stay tuned!
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Sounds magical. Beauty and the beast is one of my all time favorite fairy tales. I had a hard time watch the live action adaptation by Bill Condon last year though. It felt forced.
I wish I could come see the show, we don't have much theatre where I'm from.
You could at least give an update when you're done building the props. Happy Tinkering
Thank you, @feekayo.
I haven't seen the 2017 movie yet, but hope to watch it soon. I've seen clips from it that contain the particular items that I'm working on building.
You would love the show, I'm sure. If you're anywhere near Escondido, CA in April, you should get a ticket... ;)
Nice post about Music..
Music is an art form and cultural activity whose medium is sound organized in time. The common elements of music are pitch, rhythm, dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture.
I also love music..
Keep it up sir..
Thank you.
Music????? Lol did I miss something AGAIN in this post? 😂😂😂😂
Hope he meant music.....al theater lol
U welcome sir..
Nice post..
Keep it up..👍
So nice to hear your creativity is not just in storytelling. The windmill looks fab. As you like to bring joy to others and as you have 3D printers, I wondered if you might be interested in this project. The link is to a short clip about how it started in the UK but I know there are now teams in the USA also and internationally. Such a simple solution for countless children. I am not associated, just saw it on tv here recently and googled it. Anyway here is the video clip about team unlimbited, cheers.
Hello, @ricia,
Thanks very much for your kind reply, and for the video. That looks like a very cool and interesting project.
As much as I appreciate the reference, I will probably continue designing and building my own projects, which also often provide significant help to others. Have you read about the SILVERengines proton that I created and that we produce?
They are available for sale now, and we do also provide them often on a loan, or a complimentary basis, or at a significant savings for those who are in need.
Clever name, that; Team Unlimbited... ;)
Just checked it out. Never heard of colloidal silver before, but I see it is used to check water safety. That can only be a good thing. It amazes me what use 3D printers can be put to! I understand they will soon be able to print organs now that they can submerge them in plasma first. Brave New World right enough.
Yes I thought they picked a clever name too. They won Shed of the Year a tv contest here in uk. A local firm (to the inventor in Wales) was so impressed he donated and built a new deluxe garden shed for the man, to improve his conditions. Nice story.
Certainly you're getting there, these companies adores creativity, and you've got it, I'm sure your props will go a very long way, surely
Thank you for your encouragement. ;)
I have always had a soft spot for musical theater as I was involved in it years ago. Ah yes if life and love could be like a musical. Makes me want to share some lyrics from long ago. ...I am confident you will do well. Congrats and thanks so much for sharing. I will be interested in learning more.
Thanks, Troy!
That's so neat! I love the stage version of Beauty and the Beast. I've only gotten to enjoy it online through videos and the soundtrack which I listen to on super long road trips. You have the coolest tasks! I'd love to see your finished work.
Thank you, my friend!
I'm looking forward to sharing it as I progress. I tend to go in spurts and starts, and imagine great things. It will be interesting to see if the reality approaches my sweet imagination of how these ought to come out. :D
I definitely plan to publish details as these develop and when they are completed, God willing.
Cheers! ;)
This is so ridiculously cool! I love live theater. I saw Phantom of the Opera on Broadway in New York and was that crazy person who was crying because it was just so beautiful. I teach high school English and just signed up my kids to see Hamilton through their education program (mostly because I really wanted to see it myself and tickets are impossible to get).
I saw Beauty and the Beast at the Fox theater in St. Louis in middle school- I think the most impressive part of the show was the witch throwing a glass orb at the prince in the beginning to curse him, and it exploding into flames around him. I am so ridiculously excited to hear about your process making these props. Like dancing in my seat excited about it.
Cool! I'm smiling very broadly, hearing of your interest in this.
Oh, I have some big plans for these props... ;)
That "sneak preview" of the Windmill? It's being printed right beside me, even as I type... Here's another little sneak peek for you, my friend:
I wasn't gonna post that until the next article, but, well... You sounded so interested! ;)
THANK YOU for your enthusiasm! You've made my evening. :D
Is that a 3d printer???? I might be having a conniption fit about this lol. How big will the windmill be, approximately? When they contract you to create these, do they give you a size requirement? What other requirements do they give you? Have you done something like this before? What programs and materials do you use to design everything?
lol I am overflowing with enthusiasm for this. Of course, if you were planning on answering those questions in your post, then don't feel like you must answer me in the comments. But I am absolutely stoked to hear about all this- both due to my love for theater, and as a crafter.
Alright, my friend... I shall answer your questions, either in comments, or in another post, or some combination... However... not right now, gotta go eat dinner or my wife will disown me!
Later, and again, Thanks for your abundant enthusiasm!
Yes, it IS one of my 3D printers, thanks for asking... ;)
Oh, what fun! I love musical theatre, whether from the audience, on stage or backstage. Looking forward to following the progress of the props.
On another note, did you see my sister is here now (I've resteemed her posts) and enjoying the use of her 120 SP?
Thanks, Deb...
I've enjoyed sporadic involvement in theater since I was in grade school. I really do enjoy being part of a production, both on stage and behind the scenes. This opportunity to make some cool props was definitely a God-send, not to be missed.
I'm glad to hear your sister's account was opened, and I'll have a look-see. Thanks for dropping by! ;)
I'd love to see your props when they are finished!
It's so interesting that you're working on Beauty and the Beast because my sister was actually cast in her High School production recently too. I guess it's seeing a small revival ;)
Neat to see there are more theatre geeks out there!
My understanding is that the movie last year has spawned a lot of resulting theater productions...
I'm sure your sister will have a lot of fun with this show! :D
I hope so! I know she enjoys acting and singing and this is, well, it. Ya know.
hopefully you managed to build the three props your theater, never give up, reach your dreams, hope you succeed.thank you.
Thank you.