The Props Table
If consumables are used in a performance, the Props Designer is responsible for obtaining a purchase order, check, or petty cash from the Department Administrative Assistant and making arrangements for purchase (see Petty Cash policy ). Props Designer consults with the Director of the production regarding when consumables should first be used in rehearsals. Props Crew notifies the Props Designer when restocking is necessary. During the rehearsal period, the Props Crew behaves as any other crew (electrics, paint, set construction, etc.) in attending work calls held by the Props Designer These work calls may include building or shopping for props.
Set decoration can and should be really rich and detail-oriented,” he says of his affinity for putting the intimate touches on scenery. “It can be a major contributor to the effect that the play has,” he says. Other props departments throughout the country have shops that are variations on Guy’s setup at Milwaukee Rep, but not all have the budgets to retain such diverse staff. In smaller shops the props master has a very hands-on job. Before the end of the semester the props master must turn in their paperwork package as defined and discussed with the faculty props designer.
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About Stage Props
The Props Master should ask lots of questions of the Director about specifications for the props. A list of required props should be made available early on in the rehearsal process, preferably during the first two weeks of rehearsals. Please note, however, that a play is an ongoing creative process and the need for new props will be made up to and in some cases during Tech Week. Schedule a time early in the production cycle with the Director and Scenic Designer to review the prop list and discuss matters related the visual look of the show and their design concepts.
Personal props are props worn or carried by a particular actor and issued to him rather than stored on the prop table. For participating ACTF productions, the Props Designer will assist the Prop Shop Student Manager , and Staff Production Manager/Technical Director in storing props for possible travel to festival. Obtains and maintains any rehearsal props called for by the Director by the “Rehearsal Props Due” deadline on the Department Calendar Rehearsal props are substitutes of comparable size and weight used by actors until the final props are available. Once usage was established, we documented all of the pieces in a prop book which was given to the prop mistress.
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