Set Pieces/Costumes/ect. from closed shows

[LesMiz24601]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 11:53pm

With the closure of Hamlet, and the upcoming closure of Ragtime, and Finian's Rainbow I was wondering if anyone knew how to obtain pieces of the set/costumes or any other extraneous "junk" such as the sliders, marquees, and outside posters. I know from time to time they get listed on ebay...but how about in general? Do you know anyone who grabs that type of stuff and sells it?

Your response does not have to be limited to the shows I mentioned..

Thanks!

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 1/4/10 at 11:58pm

Are you willing to go dumpster diving? That is where you'll find it all during load out.

[LesMiz24601]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 12:12am

hahaha unfortunately I live out of state. You really wonder why someone doesn't start an online business where they buy all this junk from the show's producer and sell it, or go dumpster diving. I'm not kidding, I have a brick from the Les Miserables barricade from the original Broadway cast on my desk...I mean its kinda cool. Couldn't there be a market?

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 12:13am

The answer is written in the.... trash. I pray for your sanity in the coming days! xoxo

[italianpride888]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 1:25am

I don't get why some major props are just thrown away. I was in New York once and I saw them loading out a show. What stood out to me was the fact that they were throwing away a perfectly fine chair/ottoman and several gold picture frames. I guess it's a non issue, and brand new props can be bought without second thought.

[LesMiz24601]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 1:27am

MusicSnob1 can you please delete the photo. It is messing up the sizing of the window...and kinda stupid, no offense

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 5:16am

WHERE would they store these things? Which producers would foot the bill for storage? Then how do you decide who gets to use it again? And then you have people complaining that the sets look borrowed. How do you reuse Mrs. Turnblad's dress without the critics and theater going public KNOWING that's what it is?

Yes it seems ridiculous to be THROWING OUT these things when you could easily donate it to GoodWill.

There use to be a thread that told of all sorts of dumpster diving finds that folks had.

[artscallion]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 8:43am

I remember them selling the giant "SHOOT TO WIN" (spelled out in lights) sign from Assassins on EBay.

Props, costumes and set pieces are also sold to theatre rental groups who rent them out for use in regional/community theater productions of the same show, or whatever show they'd fit into.

It's basically up to the producers.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 10:28am

The other option, which is also not guaranteed, is waiting until September when the Broadway Flea Market occurs. I actually got the cast board from Spamalot, which had closed 9 months prior. So, you never know unless you check it out.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 11:34am

There are several rental houses that will purchase costumes and set pieces and prop pieces. Back in 2005 Costume World down in Florida purchased the entire Dodger collection, which itself had acquired the Eaves-Brookes collection back in the late 90s. I don't know if Costume World has continued to buy complete shows when it can, but it wouldn't surprise me if they have.

[once a month]

Posted: 1/5/10 at 12:00pm

As previously stated in this thread, I have gotten a number of items from the annual flea market auction. I brought home the full sized wooden photograph of Alice Ripley as Betty Schaefer that covered a door to the Minskoff when Sunset Blvrd played.

Anyone want to buy it, lol??