New York Skyline

Robin Lear from Calvary Church in Dover, Delaware brings us this New York City skyline for their 2015 Christmas musical.

This was a very simple, yet very time consuming project. First of all, Robin drew exactly exactly how she wanted the skyline to look on graph paper, then recreated it to scale to fit our 20’x40′ stage.

First of all they welded 1″ square steel tubing into 4 10’x10′ frames. They made 4 sets of buildings out of 2″ insulation foam from Lowes. The foam panels were painted black, medium gray, and and lighter gray. The “windows’ were created by cutting out pieces of gold and silver duct tape. In some cases, Robin used HVAC tape, because it was a little bit shinier. It was a very time consuming because of how exact all the window pieces needed to be.

Robin used an exacto knife to cut all the duct tape on a cutting mat. Once all the pieces were cut and applied, she glued luan to the back of the sections to create attachment points as they screwed them onto the 10x10ft steel frames. Each section was hung with braided wire to carriers on a track so that they could be moved on and off the stage for each scene. It was very effective, but very labor intensive. This very effective concept could be achieved on a much smaller scale. It wasn’t extremely costly either. The steel frames and foam insulation were the most expensive part. The only other supplies were paint, tape and wire for hanging!

The multi-tone painting technique used here adds remarkable depth to the skyline. By using three shades of gray—black for shadowed areas, medium gray for standard building faces, and light gray for highlighted sections—Robin created a sense of dimension that reads beautifully from the audience. This approach mimics how real city buildings catch light differently depending on their orientation and surrounding structures.

The duct tape window method is both innovative and budget-friendly. Gold and silver tapes create the impression of illuminated windows, while the slight variations in color between HVAC tape and standard duct tape add visual interest. For churches replicating this design, consider using metallic permanent markers to add subtle details around the tape edges, creating the impression of window frames.

The steel frame and track system demonstrates professional-level thinking for a church production. By mounting the skyline on carriers that could roll on and off stage, the crew could quickly transform the space between scenes. This is particularly valuable for Christmas musicals where you might need to transition between multiple locations throughout the performance.

Related Designs

• Skyline – Styrofoam city skyline with velum windows and triangular supports
• Christmas in the City – Buckhead Church’s foam-core city skyline with over 12,000 CNC-cut windows
• Light Boxes – Custom-built illuminated panels using LED technology for versatile stage backdrops
• Tilted Light – LED panel design with string light curtains for dynamic stage lighting effects
• Cardboard Carving – Crown of thorns design carved into cardboard for Easter stage backdrop

Pro Tips for Skyline Stage Design

Graph Paper Planning: Always start with accurate scale drawings. Use 1/4 inch = 1 foot scale to ensure your skyline will fit the stage properly. Account for backstage space needed for storage and actor movement. Mark sightlines to ensure no portion of the skyline blocks important action.

Duct Tape Application: Apply tape to clean, dust-free foam for best adhesion. Use a fresh blade in your exacto knife and change it frequently—dull blades tear the tape rather than cutting cleanly. Work on a glass or cutting mat surface to protect your table and achieve cleaner cuts.

Scale Considerations: When designing your skyline, vary building heights to create visual interest. Include a few distinctive silhouette shapes that audiences will recognize as iconic city buildings. The Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and One World Trade Center all have distinctive profiles that read instantly as New York City.

Track System Safety: If using a rolling track system as described here, ensure all carriers are rated for the weight of your scenery. Install end stops to prevent panels from rolling off the track, and test the full range of motion before dress rehearsals. Have crew members practice quick scene changes to build muscle memory.