"The Wedding Singer" - Costumes, Props and Sets, Oh My!

SET BUILDING: Saturdays are reserved for set build. We are fortunate to be able to use the scene shop and some of their stock material for our show. The challenge is getting the time to get into the shop and work, and the volunteer manpower to build the dang thing. 

This show will have several drops (huge painted curtains) rented from Tobin Lake Studios as well as several set pieces that move on and off. The set pieces include Robbie’s basement bedroom complete with water heater, as well as toilet stalls, night club, revolving restaurant, loading dock with dumpster, department store, banquet hall and a few more. Most of the set pieces will be on heavy 4x6 platforms with casters so they roll on and off. Others may be just suggest the location with set pieces such as a window and tables.

Fortunately, the audience accepts settings even if they are not perfectly realistic.  This is called “suspension of disbelief."

First we must build them, and then paint them. It is always nice when there are people who are good with tools to come help, especially cordless drills. Its real macho work for those who think theatre is just for sissies. Hint, hint. Painting doesn’t always take talent – just a brush or roller and a can of paint.

PROPS: Props are the things that actors carry. They are also the things that end up becoming toys for idle acting hands and end up getting put in the wrong place and can’t be found when needed to go on the stage. Some shows are “prop heavy” and require pages and pages of little items. Other shows have almost no props, but most have a moderate number needed. Most times, they are just everyday items that can be found in prop storage, but sometimes they are a real challenge to find.

For The Wedding Singer, we need a few unusual props such as an '80s car phone, guitars, tambourine, dress mannequin, bridal veil, eight '80s-style briefcases, plastic bride from cake top, mail cart, new towels and a rolling cart for a wedding cake. We’ve got the fake wedding cake.

It is the property master or property mistresses’ job to gather and control the props. With the help of the cast, and producer’s blog, we try to beg and borrow the items needed. Some we end up just making. Do you have anything we can use?  

COSTUMES: Costuming a show follows the same process as props for shows. The script will dictate most of the clothing, but it is the costume designer’s job to work with the director to pull together the right look for the show and make sure it is in the right style. 

This is harder for shows that take place in specific era, such as Shakespearian shows or period musicals like Fiddler on the Roof or My Fair Lady. The Wedding Singer takes place in the 1980s, and there are four weddings during the show. So we need a couple of '80s-style dresses, lots of baby blue tuxes, wedding gowns with puffy sleeves, bridesmaid and wedding guest clothing, as well as spandex, glitter, leg warmers, one shoulder shirts, a Michael Jackson jacket and parachute pants. Again, it’s beg borrow, and dig through the back of the closet time.

For all the characters I have, I will need three mother of the bride dresses, mom casual attire, an outfit for a store clerk, a suit for an airline ticket counter person, black and white night club clothes, and a “Nancy Reagan” red suit dress look. In addition, the multiple characters will require multiple hats and/or wigs to pull it off.

DANCING: Now for the sore feet. This is a dance show. Dance was huge in the 1980s, and Ron Baumanis has rewound the VHS and beta tapes to find the most popular dance crazes of the era and incorporate them into the choreography.

Dances like "Running Man," "Pop'n Loc," "Go Go’s," "Thriller," "Flashdance," "Rumba," "the Cabbage Patch" (am I ringing some bells?), and line dance are all paid tribute to in the show. Of course, I have to dance them in heels. I am constantly running the dance numbers through my head (and feet) while listening to the music in the car, or on my iPod.

Thursday’s rehearsal was all the big dance numbers. From 6:30-9:30 p.m., my feet were trying to keep up with the music and my head was trying to remember that I am supposed to be singing through all this as well as smiling.  I’m thinking, "Forget the workout at the gym! I am too old for this stuff.” But when I get it, man does that feel great!

Well, we open in two weeks. Tickets are on sale. Posters are up. Show T-shirts are ordered and will be in this week. Hopefully the papers will give us some publicity. I’m busy working on the program, trying to sell ads, and begging the cast for their bios.

Tickets are now available at the Dexter Pharmacy on Baker Road and from soon directly from our website www.DexterCommunityPlayers.com (and we got Paypal working). You can also print off the order form and mail it in. If you like saving money, buy your tickets in advance.  If you wait to buy your tickets at the door, it will cost $15 instead of $12. I don’t know about you, but I can use the extra $4 to enjoy ice cream after the show!  Even more fun, grab a group of 10 people or more and buy your tickets in advance for $10 each!

Next Up: Blow-by-blow rehearsals and progress of the show.