I need to recreate the beach look with the change over into water. this element will be in an event space that people will walk on. Cost is an issue. We are trying to do this with the least amount of mess as well. Time is also a factor.|||How about a painted drop on the floor?
You can buy big canvas paint dropcloths cheap at any hardware store. Prime them with white paint or spray-on primer first, then paint however you like. While the paint is still wet, you can sprinkle a bit of sand on there for texture and it%26#039;ll stay put when the paint dries--far less messy than using a ton of loose sand.
You could also add easily removable set dressing for realism and texture--driftwood, shells, seaweed, old cans--whatever would be appropriate. Perhaps you could even paint one edge of the dropcloth to look like the sea.|||Water on stage is tricky. I%26#039;ve seen it done but on very expen$ive sets. If cost is a major issue, you may need a more creative solution. Consider the angle positioning of the set and some creative blocking. You can create a faux beach without water, and then have the actors move offstage or upstage just out of the audience sight lines and then reappear soaking wet as if they%26#039;ve just come back from the surf. Perhaps a large beach umbrella or cabana near one of the wings for transition. (Just make sure the heat%26#039;s on in the theatre if you%26#039;re up north, or you%26#039;ll have shivering actors.)
