PAPER PROPS & STENCILS
Potato chip bags from Heathers: The Musical
Various retro potato chip bags to stock a 7-11 display for UW-Madison's University Theatre production of Heathers: The Musical (April 2022). The bag graphics were built in Photoshop using reference photos gathered via Google Images and the 1988 Heathers film. The graphics are printed, then folded, stuffed with craft paper, and sealed. One of the Corn Nuts bags contains a packet of wooden beads that create a rustling sound when the bag is handled by J.D. and Veronica. Finishing touches include crimping the top edge using a paper crimper, trimming with pinking shears, and hole-punching to hang on the display. Graphics and prop fabrication by Lydia Berggruen (Props Master), display shelf built by Kaya Sarajian (Props Assistant). Materials: printed graphics, craft paper, Scotch tape, staples, wooden beads
Book jackets from Heathers: The Musical
Four book jackets for books seen throughout UW-Madison's University Theatre production of Heathers: The Musical (April 2022). The book jackets for The Bell Jar and Moby Dick were found online and resized to fit books pulled from prop storage, while the graphics for Flowers of Evil and The Hunt for Red October were built in Photoshop based off an image of the front cover alone. The book jackets are printed and covered with contact paper before being fastened to the books. Graphics and fabrication by Lydia Berggruen (Props Master). Materials: hardcover books, printed images, contact paper, masking tape
Drain cleaner bottle from Heathers: The Musical
A bottle of drain cleaner used to accidentally poison Heather Chandler in UW-Madison's University Theatre production of Heathers: The Musical (April 2022). Graphics built in Photoshop, then printed and sealed with contact paper before being applied to a small plastic jug. The bottle is filled with an edible "drain cleaner" solution made of blue Gatorade and water thickener, which Heather Chandler swallows onstage. Graphics and fabrication by Lydia Berggruen (Props Master). Materials: printed graphics, contact paper, 3M Super 77 spray adhesive, plastic jug, blue Gatorade, Thick-It beverage thickener
Military documents from A Piece of My Heart
Two sets of Vietnam War-era military documents from UW-Madison's University Theatre production of A Piece of My Heart (March 2022). The clean copy is seen early in the show, as Officer Steele attempts to warn military officials of the Tet Offensive. Decades in the future, Steele brings the battered documents to lay at the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. The weathering treatment included soaking the documents in black tea, then adding layers of spray paint spatter. Historical documents sourced via Google Images, then Photoshopped and fabricated by Lydia Berggruen (Props Master). Materials: file folders, printed documents, black tea bags, acrylic paints, Rust-oleum spray paint
Butterfly puppet from Rashomon
A kabuki-style butterfly puppet that flutters through the bamboo grove in UW-Madison's University Theatre production of Rashomon (July-Sept 2021). The paper puppet is mounted on the end of a flexible bamboo fishing pole, which is flicked up and down to give the butterfly its fluttering motion. The artwork is inspired by the butterfly puppets seen in a production of The Mirror Lion at the National Theatre of Japan (as seen here). Materials: cardstock, acrylic paints, insulation foam, spackle, bamboo fishing pole, low temp hot glue
Plant Marvel container from Little Shop of Horrors
A vintage container of plant fertilizer on a shelf in Mushnik's Skid Row Florists during UW-Madison's University Theatre production of Little Shop of Horrors (July 2018). Production photos by Beau Meyer. Based off a research image of a vintage fertilizer tin, the design is digitally recreated using Vectr program and applied to a cardboard box. Materials: cardboard box, printed image, Mod-Podge (satin finish), black acrylic paint, clear gloss Breakthrough
Ice cream carton from Clybourne Park
A 1950's carton of Neapolitan ice cream that Russ eats during Act I of UW-Madison's University Theatre production of Clybourne Park (November 2019). The image is laid out onto a carton and sealed on both sides with contact paper, so it can be filled with mashed potato "ice cream" and cleaned out after every performance. Reference image found during research via Google Images. Production photos by Beau Meyer. Materials: paper carton, printed images, contact paper, flex glue.
Grocery crates from Clybourne Park
A collection of wooden grocery crates seen in Russ and Bev's living room as they prepare to move out during Act I of UW-Madison's University Theatre production of Clybourne Park (November 2019). Stencil created using USCutter SC2 vinyl cutter. Materials: acrylic paint, stencil brushes, foam brush, Mod-Podge (satin finish)
Roman banners from Julius Caesar
Roman banners carried into battle by Caesar and Brutus' armies during UW-Madison's University Theatre production of Julius Caesar (February 2020). Production photos by Beau Meyer. Materials: red and blue fabric, assorted gold and silver upholstery trim, gold shellac solution (same as used for Caesar's throne), silver acrylic paint, vinyl stencils, wooden rods, copper pipe, fabric glue, hot glue, gaff tape, hemp cord
Mushnik's logo from Little Shop of Horrors
Shop logo for Mushnik's Skid Row Florists for UW-Madison's University Theatre production of Little Shop of Horrors (July 2018). The image is created in Microsoft Word and given to the paint department to create shop signage. A stencil is hand-cut from cardstock paper to stamp the shop logo onto shopping bags. Logo design and paper props by Lydia Berggruen, production photos by Beau Meyer. Materials: cardstock, x-acto knife, acrylic paints, paper bags, stencil brush
