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A) Attend all the production meetingmeetings, usually they will be every week. Use this time to ask the director about any uncertainties you have over propprops. It is better to ask early, than to get a prop that the director is unhappy with and you have to replace. Also use the production meeting , to check your list with whatever list the director has.
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2) Collecting props will be an ongoing process. As you get gather props, make a props cart that the Stage Manager can take to rehearsals. It is also a good idea to have stand in rehearsal props for actors to use. An example would be index cards for any letters. See below for further details on getting props.
3) One to two weeks before put-in, there will be a Costume and Props Parade where you will show the director the props you have. This is mostly for costumes, but it is It is important for the director to see what the props will look like , so they can changer their mind and make you get different props. That was mostly a joke, but it can happenmake sure the props will work for the production, and look appropriate, so do your best to get as many props by then. Any props that you do not have by the Costume and Props parade, you should know where you will be getting them from and what they look like.
4) During put-in, set up a table in the dressing room with labels indicating which props go where. Tape off a square for each prop and tell actors which props are theirs. At some point give the genitals speech:
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Only touch your props when appropiateappropriate
Do not touch other people's props without consent
Know where your props are at all timetimes
Put your props away when you are done using them
Any prop weapons should be treated like STD-ridden props. Definitely do not touch other people's prop weapons
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All the props we have are in the office on the shelves. Most of the shelves are labeled and sorted. Try to find as many props as possible here.
(2) Borrowing from other theater groups
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If the prop you need is something people have in real life (like a locket), another option is to email actors and ensemble@mit.edu asking for whatever you need. This does not often result in you getting your props method has a low success rate so keep looking.
(4) Buying
If all else fails, buy materials to make the prop. We have a glue gun, white glue, paint brushes, and acrylic paint supplies on the bottom shelf to make props. Artist Supply in Central Square also has a wide selection of materials to make props including more paint and fancy paper for making letters. If making props seems like is too difficult a daunting task, try the last resort is buying props. Amazon is a great place , and other websites are great places to find all sorts of things, but make sure they the props will arrive in time for the production. Amazon Prime is great for this, but always make sure to get good prices. There are also stores around Boston and Cambridge and you can ask upperclassmen for suggestions. Make sure you are not exceeding your budget as the Ensemble does not have many moneyslarge budgets.
Timing
Begin this and start Start gathering props as early as possible in the production. If there is a complicated prop you want to start working on it as early as possible in order to give the actor time to practice. This involved pulling have it ready for the actors. If there are props, that the actors need to practice with that aren't ready rehearsal props, which are similar to the real props in structure and use, but not as detailed, are a great idea.
Being props designer will take at most around several hours per week, depending on the complexity of the show. Be prepared to spend a lot of time doing this job.
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