[SML] Floor renovation

[gbierly at dejazzd.com]

> I am seeking the wisdom of the group on this idea:
> 
> a)  Does it look weird to have a 1/4 poly  to 3/4 flat black split?  Does anyone have any pictures of such a stage?
> 
> b)  suggestions for what type floor paint to use

when I arrived at my school 20 years ago the Performing Arts Center had just been built 2 years prior.  I was hired as the first TD to manage the stage.  We had a black poly Wenger pit filler as an apron (@6-7’ deep), a stained hardwood apron (@6’ deep that matched the wood surround of the proscenium) and the remaining pine floor was stained with a dark gray/greenish color.  The director insisted we had to put down a black dance floor for productions, at least over the wood, to get the full stage more evenly colored.  I finally convinced administration to sand the entire floor and stain with an ebony stain about 3 years later, partially due to the poor quality of the installed pine floor.  My 5th year we did a production and laid a tempered hardboard (masonite like) floor over the uncovered floor of the massive unit set (about 1/3rd of the stage).  We loved it so much the following year we covered the entire floor with tempered hardboard now just painted black.  We ran the hardboard over the Wenger pit filler so the entire stage matches.  It is now a sacrificial surface we can replace piece by piece as panels wear out.  It gets a fresh coat prior to each production (either flat black or a show specific pattern) so there is no need to worry about paint spills during set construction.  I am pretty sure I don’t have any pictures since I probably only took pics of the productions.  Feel free to contact me on or off list if you have any further questions.



Greg Bierly
Performing Arts Center Manager
Hempfield High School