Sally Mayes as Vivian Vance
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It is often surprising how something seemingly simple like a wig or a prop can actually be very complicated and difficult to create or acquire. Broadway World and The Cape May Herald recently published a story called "
Wigging Out
" which chronicles the long path it took to get the amazing wig that Sally Mayes wears as Vivian Vance in
Sidekicked
.
Many people take for granted how detailed and specific a prop can be. While the script may say that an actor picks up a glass... the prop master has to wonder what type of glass? Is it clear glass or colored glass? If colored, will it clash with the lighting, costume or set? When does the play take place and is that glass consistent with that era? Is it safe to use on stage in case it drops? And so on and so on.
We recently sat down with our Prop Master,
Leah Nadolski
, to talk about the prop creation process and more.
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S
tage Secrets:
How did you get involved in designing props?
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Leah Nadolski
: When I was first was in college I thought I was going to be a Stage Manager, but it turned out that that was not the right fit for me. Thankfully I had a wonderful teacher, Will Neuert, who helped me find props. He was the Scenic Designer, Scenic Painter and Prop Master at DeSales University and took me under his wing. From him I learned the importance of props because it is the little things that co
unt
the most.
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SS
:
What was the most challenging prop to acquire for Sidekicked?
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LN
: You would think the Emmy would be the hardest thing to find but it is a toss up between the sofa and the camera. The sofa was a challenge because originally it was going to be orange, but that was going to clash with the costumes. Then it became a race to find a sofa that was mid-century and would be shipped in time. Thank God for Amazon Prime. The camera on the other hand was just hard to find. Part of the challenge there was that there are not many 1950 styled cameras around. There are cameras that are from the 60's because of the show "Hairspray", but that camera was too young to be on the set. So there was a lot of calling Prop houses and searching high and low to find a camera. I did find a camera to rent but it was in Georgia and would cost more than twice my budget.... but thankfully I was able to get a camera from a prop house in North Jersey for a fair price!
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SS
:
Is that a real Emmy Award?
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LN
: Yes! And it feels so right when you hold it. Penny Berman was willing to let us borrow her Emmy. She was the Stage Manager on "All My Children".
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SS
:
What is your favorite prop for Sidekicked that many patrons might not even notice?
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LN
: I have a few favorites. One is the perfume bottle on Vivian's vanity because it is just so cute. Another in a knick knack that is on the end table that is flowers because it reminds me of my Grandmother.
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SS:
What are your favorite types of props to create?
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LN
: The most fun props to make, I feel, are food props. They always make me hungry when I look at them but it is always a fun puzzle to figure out how to make them look just right!
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SS
:
Any props that you are excited to work on for our next play
The Taming
?
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LN
: In
The Taming
there are a lot of fun things that I get to do with the props! One of the props in a water gun that I got from the dollar store, but they look so much better with some paint and glitter. One of the characters in this show is considered beautiful on the outside to the point of people thinking she is just pretty with no brains, so it is fun to make the props that will help sell that character type. I am also making an American flag with 13 stars which is going to be a lot of sewing but I think the end result with be more than worth it. (Even if it is only on stage for 10 mins.)
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Be sure to see this incredibly funny, heartwarming and poignant show before it closes on September 20th!
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September 25 - November 1
Wed - Sat at 7:30 PM
Sat & Sun at 3:00 PM
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Tweeting, politics, and undying giddiness for James Madison--what else could you expect to find at a Miss America pageant? In this hilarious, raucous, all-female "power-play" inspired by Shakespeare's Shrew, contestant Katherine has political aspirations to match her beauty pageant ambitions. All she needs to revolutionize the American government is the help of one ultra-conservative senator's aide on the cusp of a career breakthrough, and one bleeding-heart liberal blogger who will do anything for her cause.
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Monday, October 7 at 7:30 pm
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Set in 2012, just before and also during Hurricane Sandy, The Reds focuses on the lifeguards who put their lives on the line every day to keep beach-goers safe. The play balances the fun and quirky aspects of the lifeguard sub-culture with the sobering realizations of how powerful mother nature can be.
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Monday, October 14 at 7:30 pm
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Adam & Yoshi is a full-length serio-comedy. It features a successful comic book creator who is surviving a divorce and falling deeper in love with Yoshi, a woman who dresses as a superhero. Adam bears with his unhappy home and career, but he learns from Yoshi how to envision a different reality for himself, until the end when she reveals her true intentions. Themes of masking, unmasking, complacency and bravery are interwoven as Adam adopts a change in values.
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Monday, October 21 at 7:30 pm
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Artemisia’s Intent delivers a captivating physical performance to unearth the life, work and words of 17th century painter Artemisia Gentileschi. Inspired by every proclamation of ‘me too,’ The Anthropologists craft a startling portrait of a woman caught at the intersection of power, assault, and art.
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Monday, October 28 at 7:30 pm
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This new play focuses on painting a portrait of the larger than life politician: Chris Christie. From the infamous Bridge-gate to his meme-worthy picture on a closed beach, Christie has been mired with scandal after scandal. Through factual communications with his closest advisers and rare glimpses of his high school days, this play takes an unflinchingly look at how a politician on the rise could fall so quickly and easily with one petty decision.
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