Broadway Tables – Act 3

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The annual fundraiser for the local performing arts theater was yet another Broadway themed success! This year the Broadway Themed Tables (sold at a higher price) sold out quickly and I was asked to create two more at the last-minute. Five tables in all, each with specific decor and details and character servers!!

The original three tables were Spamalot, Jersey Boys and Les Misérables (Les Mis is to be the summer community musical this year). The added two tables (because I knew I had the resources and could make them come together quickly) were Sister Act and Hello Dolly.

Spamalot, I knew needed a few key props: the giant wooden rabbit (I made out of a small wooden blocks car with wheels, cardboard diaper box, shims, chip board and hot glue), a shrubbery, the Holy Grail, Spam and the man-eating rabbit. I also made big clouds hanging overhead with ropes and found a great knight’s helmet in the prop and costume room. The servers were King Arthur, who had a coconut assist by Patsy. They didn’t sing – but were entertaining just the same.

Jersey Boys was a tough one at first. It was a requested table from the folks who bought it during the auction the year prior. I wanted to capture New Jersey, but didn’t really know how until I started looking at city-scape photos. Finally I decided a Jersey water tower could be made using my galvanized water cooler and a friend welded the base for me. I stenciled on the “Newark NJ” and decided to use it like a vase with sparkly foliage in the “four seasons” of colors coming out. From the center of the foliage, and old-fashioned microphone was popping out. I found some old records (35’s) and stacked them below the water tower, and spray painted a few gold. The theater had a large metal, gold star that we hung and then attached the other gold records to it. Overall the effect was impressive. And of course a skinny-tie-wearing server showed up singing about Sherry Baby and telling his table to Walk Like a Man.

Les Misérables was fairly simple. In the center was a large burlap bag with silver spilling out (including candle sticks). One of the silver pieces used to hold up the red revolution flag and the French flag. White cloth and red napkins finished the look. The server was a singing inn-keeper named Thenardier and very entertaining.

The Sister Act table had to be all glitz and glam. I used a disco ball, feather boa and gogo boots with a microphone whose cord wrapped and held the disco ball in place. Floating above the table were three nun’s habits. Two simple and plain with only a flash of sparkle and the third shimmered and had bedazzled sunglasses on the head. Sister Mary Catherine was the server.

Hello Dolly was the easiest to pull together. There were many hats in the prop room already that had been used for other community musicals like The Music Man and the like. They just needed a little spiffing up. I then begged and borrowed some hat stands and found a cloth that fit the era and used gold brocade napkins. I then hung a couple of the hats to give more height. This table’s server didn’t sing either, but she was very busy matchmaking throughout the event.

I’m not sure yet, but I think three more tables were sold during this auction event. Usually we give the buyers the choice of Broadway theme. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what I’ll be creating next year!