Prop Wizard!
Posted May 9, 2013 at 5:50 am by Tim Dustrude
This story is from the San Juan Community Theater’s blog – Tonight, tomorrow and Saturday are the last dates of Into the Woods. Check the theater’s website to get info and tickets…
Ted Soares – SJCT prop wizard
Baby dolls that look real, a not-too-big golden harp, and a white Heifer OH MY!
Those are just a few of the challenges that faced property master Ted Soares as he obtained the props for Into the Woods. Ted has quite a bit experience dressing sets and props from his old days with NBC in Burbank. Plus, he’s been our property master here for most of our staged productions for more than six years now and has been involved in SJCT since its beginnings in 1989.
Ted says he has had to be a bit more creative with Into the Woods and began searching catalogues several months ago to find just the right items for each scene. He lucked out on the internet with the white heifer—it had to be durable and unbreakable since it has a “fall” during one of the scenes—a company on the East Coast was able to ship out the fiberglass cow. Then there was the hen…which wasn’t as easy to find as a rooster. On one of his trips to Palm Springs, friends who had worked on the original production with Bernadette Peters helped Ted shop and they found just the right size to match the golden eggs at a store called “The Cocky Cactus.” The harp was also difficult…he ended up finding one small enough in a catalogue and then found an angel at the 99 cent store that he could then spray paint gold.
Ted says he continues to enjoy all of the challenges of putting together the props and making them work for actors, so that everything blends right in and matches the period of the show. “I think it pays off…the shows look great!”
And in addition to finding the items, Ted is there, behind the scenes during every show, choreographing the props—making sure the actors get the props at the right time in the right form. He even has to make sure the cow gets some padding before her fall so she doesn’t get bruised.
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Categories: Around Here
4 comments:
4 comments...
Ted is my hero!! He can find any props I need – even the weird ones!
Thanks, Teddy!
Margaret Hall, Director, Into the Woods
I have worked on several shows with Teddy and have enjoyed every one with him. He has so much to teach and share. I just love working with him.
I’ve known Ted and his talents for 55 years. He can do it all!
Props can make the play and Teddy can make the props! His attention to detail is amazing! He gave milky white (the cow) false eye lashes that glitter! We’ve all become quite fond of the cow (along with Teddy). One of the actresses kisses the cow on the head before each performance for luck! Sweet.
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