Start Using Projections in School Theatre (Without Fancy Equipment)
If you’re a theatre teacher or director and the idea of using projections feels exciting… and also slightly terrifying… you are absolutely not alone.
We hear the same things again and again:
“It probably won’t work in my space.”
“We don’t have the budget for that.”
“It just feels like too much.”
The truth? Most school theatre programs don’t start with a huge system or a fully digital set. They start small — often with one moment, one cue, one experiment.
That’s exactly what this conversation between projection designer Mitch Stark and theatre director Blake Minor is about: how teachers can begin using projections in practical, manageable ways without fancy equipment or a massive overhaul.
—
You Don’t Have to Use Projections All Night
One of the biggest misconceptions about theatre projections is that if you use them, you have to use them for the whole show.
Not true.
Blake shared that his first attempt at projections was during The Wizard of Oz. They weren’t trying to redesign the entire production. They just wanted to create one specific effect: helping bring the Wizard to life.
Did it turn out exactly how they imagined? No.
Did the audience feel like something magical happened? Absolutely.
That’s the key lesson: projections don’t have to be “curtain up to curtain down.” They can be small storytelling moments that make a big impact.
—
Start With What You Have
You don’t need a state-of-the-art setup to begin.
In fact, one of the best ways to get started with projection design in school theatre is simply to:
-
Borrow a projector that’s brighter than a classroom unit
-
Hang a screen or use a clean backdrop or wall
-
Try one image or one short animation in a single scene
You can research online forever, but nothing replaces seeing an image in your own space with your own lighting. That first test tells you more than hours of reading.
—
Projections Can Solve Problems
Sometimes projections aren’t about “flash.” They’re about solutions.
Blake shared an example from another director who needed the Wicked Witch’s broom to appear on fire in Wizard of Oz. Real flame wasn’t allowed. So they projected the fire instead.
That one projected moment:
✔ Solved a safety issue
✔ Created a strong visual
✔ Added storytelling without building anything new
That’s the kind of practical theatre projection use that makes sense for schools.
—
It’s Not Just About Money — It’s About Time
Teachers and directors often focus on the cost of equipment, but there’s another factor: labor.
How many hours does it take to build, paint, and store large scenic units? How many after-school work calls?
As Blake pointed out, sometimes buying or using a tool that saves time is worth it because your time has value. Projections can reduce build time while still giving you scenic variety and visual storytelling.
—
Permission to Try (and Not Be Perfect)
Maybe the most important takeaway from this conversation is this:
You don’t have to get it right the first time.
That first projection attempt might not match the picture in your head. That’s normal. Theatre is full of experiments. The audience often sees something magical even when you see the flaws.
Using projections in school theatre is not about perfection. It’s about exploration, storytelling, and expanding what’s possible on your stage.
—
A Practical First Step
If you’re curious but hesitant, try this:
Next show, choose one moment that could benefit from an image:
-
A sky
-
A location shift
-
A magical effect
-
A background environment
Test one projection. Learn from it. Adjust next time.
That’s how most programs begin.
—
Watch the Full Conversation
We put together this discussion to encourage theatre teachers, directors, and tech students who are interested in school theatre projections, digital backdrops, and projection design for stage, but aren’t sure where to begin.
👉 Start Using Projections in School Theatre (Without Fancy Equipment)
(Embedded video above)
—
You don’t need a massive budget or a perfect system to start. You just need the willingness to try one small step.
And that’s more than enough.
Leave a comment
Comments will be approved before showing up.
