We got the word that our train caboose stage will not be used after Sept. We are moving to another room and have orders to use a African Jungle Theme. Managment said they wanted to rebuild the caboose into a jeep, but I cannot visualize a jeep working for our style puppetry. I tried to talk them into turning the caboose into a Tarzan like tree house. I could see little animals peek-a-booing from out from under the soft sculpture leaves and a monkey swinging on a vine. It was so nice to have a set stage ready to go and not have to set up each week, we worked so hard to get to this place, everything working like a train schedule. And I just gave away my portable stage because it was not being used. Then they said they don't need us every week, only once a month. Maybe they want a jeep so they can move us out of the way. I will miss weekly dose of giggles.

That is a shame to hear. It really is a great set up. I could see it as a tree house though. You could cover it in the straw mats you get at stores like Pier One... are those still around?

I hope you get things worked out!

Thanks, I hope to get some more detailed direction so we can begin brainstorming and planning soon.  I got the nickname of Snail because I don't make changes fast. Once we get inspired then the energy will pick up as we get excited about new ideas. I was trying to count how many stages I had helped build, I think there have been 9 large stages. Each one gets better, still searching for the "perfect stage" maybe we can incorporate more new ideas this time. Time for research. One thing I love about the caboose was that the engineer who helped built it added peg board on the inside,we had not planned it, then we realized we could use all the little peg board hooks to make shelves and hooks to hold things we use, and reconfigure it as needed, it was genius. I made some little padded shelves to rest weary arms so we can hold up longer. We made rolling script holders and now that I have old eyes I can move the script around to my ever changing focus. I will take some pictures before it is dismantled.

Would LOVE to see the rolling script holder!!!

Snail

Have you thought of selling your Caboose?  I know several churches that would love to be able to purchase something like that. 

If the tree idea won't work, how about a safari type hut?  I can picture it!  We made a tree in our nursery, the same techniques could be used for a stage/tree.  However, it would have to be huge to get a bunch of puppeteers in it.   

script roller is pvc pipe on a long peg board attachment, it is about 6 inches long I think.  Felt fabric slides over the pipe. Pages are taped to the felt. The old stage materials will be used on the new stage, it would be pretty hard to move, it is so big. 

How clever! So all you need to do to move to the next page of script is pull down on the felt like you would a fabric paper towel dispenser in a public toilet! 

I bet you could simply tape all the pages of the script together in order to make a look and hang them on a piece of dowel or pvc pipe hung from the top of the stage to accomplish the same thing.  Humm - I may try that with my team this year!
Another reason I love this forum - so many people who come up with better ways to do things. Thanks for sharing Snail!! But I am sorry about your struggles with "management" - I am sure everyone of us could write a book on dealing with management

Or...you could tape together a bunch of clear page protectors and that way you could easily slip script pages in and out of the apparatus.

I LOVE brain storming!!