NOTE 1: All folds will be at sharp right angles except for one set at the end of the project and I will specifically explain what to do.

NOTE 2: On plain white pieces, the gray lines are the ones on which you fold. However, on the pieces with complex designs, because gray lines all but disappear into the pattern, I had to use black lines. In those cases, I will tell you to cut along the outer black lines only. The only inner cuts are the slits and tabs in STEP 2.

Dotted lines ( - - - - ) are guides to where to glue pieces on top of other pieces.

NOTE 3: There is no shame in trimming glued together sections so that they have a smoother appearance. I even recommend it in areas. Just make sure you have good sharp scissors.

STEP 1
Print out all of the theater plates. Put them aside for at least 1 hour, if not longer, exposing their printed surfaces to the air. (I usually print out my plates a day before using them.) Why? Ink does not dry as fast on card stock as it does on thin paper so the plates need drying time. Otherwise, the ink could smear.

Printing the plates is the most technical step in the project.

STEP 2
Cutting out all those pesky little slots is the most painstaking step in the entire project. Do NOT cut out the various items out of the plates before you remove the slots. By keeping the sheets whole, you can more easily use a ruler to guide your single-edged razor blade or X-Acto knife for straighter cuts.

Start with the 1st Under Stage Support (Plate Th02). The ten (10) 1st Under Stage Support cuts are not too critical so if your cuts are not perfect, it will not matter. Just make sure those "Cut Out" rectangles are entirely removed, black border and all. Then cut the black lines around the three (3) "Fold Up" tabs, leaving their gray lines intact to fold up later.

Next cut out the slots in the Stage Floor (Plate Th01). Take your time for neatness counts here. The Stage Floor cuts consist of ten (10) slightly smaller slots that match those on the 1st Under Stage Support, three (3) narrow slots for the 1st Under Stage Support "Fold Up" tabs and four (4) slots near the stage front (2 on the A side and 2 on the B side}. The ten (10) slots are for the scenery's bottom tabs so they must be large enough to have those tabs to go easily in & out of them. The front two of the ten are slightly wider than the others to accommodate future curtains as well. Through the front four slots will be the Proscenium and its Towers.

Cut out the slot on Tower M on its "J" edge (Plate Th17) and the slot on Tower N on its "L" edge (Plate Th18).

Cut out the slot on Back P on its long "Fold Down" edge (Plate Th07) and the slot on Back Q on its long "Fold Down" edge (Plate Th08).

These slots will later support the Gridirons.

STEP 3
Cut out the 4 Marquee Segments, 2 Drawer Ends and 2 Corner Braces (Plate Th04). (Put aside Plate Th04's Spare Bases. They will not be needed until after the theater is built.) Glue the 1st Marquee Segment onto the 2nd Marquee Segment and the 3ed Marquee Segment onto the 4th Marquee Segment. (Marquee Segments are not numbered. Basically, the first one you grab is the 1st, etc.)

Put them aside to allow the glue to dry. *Wash Hands*

STEP 5
Cut out the Drawer (Plate Th06). (Put aside Plate Th06's Bases.) Fold up on all the gray lines so that the print on the flaps is on the inside. The Drawer should resemble a "U". Glue 1 Drawer End on the inside portion of the Drawer, covering the printing on the flaps.

Glue the other Drawer End the same way. If you did it right, the skulls on my two "Business Cards" will be staring at each other. *Wash Hands*

PERSONAL NOTE: The reason I included my "Business Cards" in this project is more than just advertising. Besides securing my copyright on The American Miniature Theater, it also has my WebSite address so you can easily find it when new characters, props and sets are added. Anyway, my "Business Cards" become invisible when you close the Drawer on the completed project.

STEP 6
Cut out the 2 Base Triangles, Inner Upper Marquee Support and 2nd Stage Under Support (Plate Th03). (Put aside Plate Th03's Spare Bases.) Fold down on the Base Triangles' gray lines. Glue their far ends together to form equilateral triangles. *Wash Hands*

STEP 7
Cut out Back P (Plate Th07) and Back Q (Plate Th08) along their outer black lines. Glue Back Q atop Back P's overlapping side strip, using the dotted line on Back P as a guide. Do NOT do any folding at this time. Folding will be done after the glue is completely dry. *Wash Hands*

STEP 8
By now, the 1st/2nd and 3ed/4th Marquee Segments have dried enough for you to glue them together into one unit. *Wash Hands*

PERSONAL NOTE: By now, the Bases and Corner Braces are being to pile up. If you are like me, I'm tossing them into the empty Drawer unit for now.

STEP 9
Cut out the Stage Floor (Plate Th01) along its outer black lines. Fold down the two short flaps with the "A" & "B" arrows.

Cut out the 2 Lower Sides and 1 Corner Brace (Plate Th15) along their outer black lines. (Put aside Plate Th15's Lecterns/Music Stands. They will not be needed until after the theater is built.) On each Lower Side, fold down the two long flaps and fold down along the inner black line where the brick side meets with the ornate front corner.

Cut out the Apron (Plate Th18) along its outer black lines. Fold down the six flaps and fold down along the 2 inner black lines between the front panels.

STEP 10

See that the upper flaps on the 2 Lower Sides have notches that correspond with side front slots on the Stage Floor.

Glue the "Clown Posters/Trash" lower side's notched tab to the underside of the Stage Floor (the side with the "A" arrow fold down tab). Glue the "A" arrow fold down tab behind the front corner panel of that side. *Wash Hands*

Glue the "Herb's Irish Tavern" lower side's notched tab to the underside of the Stage Floor (the side with the "B" arrow fold down tab). Glue the "B" arrow fold down tab behind the front corner panel of that side. *Wash Hands*

(The illustration is stretched to better show the Lower Sides.)

STEP 11
Cut out the 1st Under Stage Support (Plate Th02) along its outer black lines. Fold the 2 outer tabs down and fold the 3 inner tabs up.

Cut out the Proscenium, Marquee Frame, Outer Drawer Panel and Corner Brace (Plate Th11). Be sure to cut out the Marquee Frame's center with the 2 arrows. (Use your single-edged razor blade or X-Acto knife to make initial cuts before you use your scissors. That keeps your card stock flatter, preventing your Marquee Frame from buckling)

If necessary, with scissors, trim the combined Marquee Segments so the edges are flat and smooth. If the tops of the "U" are higher than the Marquee Frame, trim them down.

Glue the combined Marquee Segments to the back of the Marquee Frame. If done correctly, none of the top surface of the Marquee Segments will be visible. *Wash Hands*

STEP 12
If the Marquee Frame/Marquee Segments need any trimming, this is the time to do it.

Cut out the Marquee and Drawer Guard (Plate Th13) along their outer black lines. Along the long internal black lines, fold the upper third of the Marquee down and the lower third of the Marquee up so that it has a "Z" shape.

With the Marquee folded, glue the Marquee Frame/Marquee Segments to the Marquee, making sure that the "U" of the Marquee Segments is point up. (In this way, the Marquee Frame can hold billing cards later.) By attaching the Marquee Frame/Marquee Segments to the folded Marquee, you can line up the frame's bottom along the folded edge. Fold the "M" and "N" tabs down.

Fold down along the Drawer Guard's gray line. Glue it together to form a single solid piece. *Wash Hands*

STEP 13
Cut out the Base (Plate Th05), also removing the center portion where the 5 Bases are. (Put aside Plate Th05's Bases.) You will need that center hole later so your hand can reach inside the enclosed theater base. Fold the 2 Base tabs up. Glue the 2 Base Triangles within the dotted lines on the Base. Not only will the Base Triangles strengthen the Base but they will later act as guides for the Drawer. *Wash Hands*

STEP 14
Glue the top three tabs of the Apron to the Stage Floor. For now, do not put glue on the side tabs to prevent glue from smearing onto the Lower Sides' fronts. The top tabs have a thin gray line along their folding edges in case of printer discrepancy.

Now turn the Stage Floor over and glue the side tabs together. *Wash Hands*

STEP 15
Glue the Proscenium atop the Marquee, making sure that the Proscenium's top is straight with the Marquee's lower fold. *Wash Hands*

STEP 16
Cut out the Inside Back Wall (Plate Th10).

Cut out the Inner Proscenium, 2 Proscenium Inner Supports, 2 Corner Braces and 2 Corner Caps (Plate Th12).

Cut out the Back Wall Support (Plate Th09). Fold down the sides and tabs of the Back P/Back Q unit. Glue the Back Wall Support to the blank inside of the Back P/Back Q unit, with the concrete block top flush with the top of the unit.

NOTE: You may have to trim the Back Wall Support to get it to lay flat before you glue it. This would be because of discrepancies between computer printers and their graphics programs, not because of an error on your part.

STEP 17
Before gluing, as a test, put the 1st Under Stage Support underneath the Stage Floor, making sure that the 3 inner 1st Under Stage Support tabs come through completely and that its 2 fold down tabs align with the back (blank) Stage Floor edge. Also double-check that none of the Stage Floor slits are blocked. (The ones on the 1st Under Stage Support are larger than those on the Stage Floor so you should see space around them.) If everything looks fine, remove the 1st Under Stage Support, apply glue to the 1st Under Stage Support and install it under the Stage Floor.

Folding 2 Corner Braces along their gray lines, glue them into the inner corners of the Apron, making sure they are centered enough to not interfere with the Apron's unused Fold Down tabs

STEP 18
Glue the 2 Proscenium Inner Supports to the back of the backside of the Proscenium, just below where the Marquee unit is attached. The Proscenium Inner Supports should fit in snugly. If any of the Proscenium Inner Support hangs down below the length of the Proscenium (not including the "C" or "D" tabs), trim that off. *Wash Hands*

STEP 18
This Step can be a little tricky. Read it thoroughly before beginning.

Apply glue to one of the Lower Side unit sides (I started with the "Clown Poster" side) and the 2 1st Under Stage Support/Stage Floor Fold Down tabs. On the Back P/Back Q unit, make sure that those 2 Fold Down tabs beneath the "Stage Door" are hanging down and out of your way. Line up that glued corner end ("Clown Poster" end for me) and attach the Back P/Back Q unit's corner as straightly and as squarely as possible. Once that is secure, rotate the whole thing and glue the other corner ("Beer Sign" corner) the same way. Then go back press the already glued 1st Under Stage Support/Stage Floor Fold Down tabs into place.

If you did that properly, the outer back wall should be in place.

Glue the BACKSIDES (unprinted sides) of the 2 Fold Down tabs beneath the "Stage Door" and attach them beneath the 1st Under Stage Support/Stage Floor unit. *Wash Hands*

STEP 19
Cut out the Outer Drawer Panel Support, 2 Lower Side Supports, 2 Lower Rear Supports, the Apron Inner Front and the Apron Stage Support (Plate Th19).

Glue the Outer Drawer Panel to the Outer Drawer Panel Support, blank side to blank side. Make sure that the word "Bottom" on the Outer Drawer Panel Support and the "Street Drain" on the Outer Drawer Panel are back to back.

Fold down along the gray "Edge of Drawer Opening" flap on one of the Lower Rear Supports. Glue down that flap, making sure it is flat. Repeat the process with the other Lower Rear Support.

Glue the Apron Stage Support to the underside of the Stage Floor, pressing it in as tightly as you can into the corners without buckling the card stock. Glue the Apron Inner Front to the inside back of the Apron, centering it the best you can.

Glue the 2nd Stage Under Support to the underside rear of the Stage Floor. Make sure that the lower "T" of its shape is pointing towards the Apron so none of the 10 scenery slits are covered. The 2nd Stage Under Support, however, will be covering the 3 tab slits and the 2 "Fold Down" tabs of the Back P/Back Q unit. *Wash Hands*

STEP 20
Glue the Inner Proscenium to the Proscenium/Marquee unit's black side, overtop the Proscenium Inner Supports. Do NOT glue the "C" and "D" tabs together. They will have to "Butterfly" open later when you attach them through their slots in the Stage Floor. *Wash Hands*

STEP 21
Cut out Tower N (Plate Th18) along its outer black lines. (Put aside Plate Th18's Music Stands/Lecterns. They will not be needed until after the theater is built.)

Cut out Tower M and the 2 Inner Tower Supports (Plate Th17) along its outer black lines. (Put aside Plate Th17's Barrels. They will not be needed until after the theater is built.)

Fold down along Tower M's and Tower N's inner black lines. Turn them over, exposing their blank sides. Glue an Inner Tower Support inside each one of them. In this case, DO glue the Inner Tower Support's tabs to the lower "A" and "B" Tower tabs. *Wash Hands*

STEP 22
Lay the Inside Back Wall printed side down, on the now reinforced Stage Floor. Center the Inside Back Wall snugly against the 3 tabs, then glue the tabs down to the blank Inside Back Wall. *Wash Hands*

STEP 23
If the Outer Drawer Panel needs any trimming, this is the time to do it.

On one "Business Card" end of the Drawer, glue the Outer Drawer Panel unit, making sure that the "Bottom" of the Outer Drawer Panel unit is also along the bottom of the Drawer.

On the other "Business Card" end of the Drawer, glue the Drawer Guard along the upper edge. The Drawer Guard has to be up along the top so it will not snag against the Base Triangles. *Wash Hands*

STEP 24
If the Proscenium unit's arch (the open space) or Tower M & Tower N's 2 Inner Tower Supports needs any trimming, this is the time to do it.

Glue Tower M's "I" tab to the Proscenium. When doing so, make sure that the dotted lines on the "I" & and "J" flaps are aligned with the top of the Proscenium and that Tower M is aligned with the fold down "M" on the tab on the Marquee section.

Now do the other side. Glue Tower N's "K" tab to the Proscenium. When doing so, make sure that the dotted lines on the "K" & and "L" flaps are aligned with the top of the Proscenium and that Tower N is aligned with the fold down "N" on the tab on the Marquee section.

Once Tower M & Tower N have been properly affixed to the Proscenium/Marquee section, glue tabs "J" & "L" to their respective sides. This will square the Tower units. *Wash Hands*

STEP 25
Lift the Inside Back Wall from the Stage Floor. Glue the Inside Back Wall against the 2 Back P/Back Q unit's tabs. (If you cannot get your fingers into the opening to hold the tabs secure, you can use the ruler for leverage.) *Wash Hands*

If the Back Wall unit needs any trimming, this is the time to do it.

STEP 26
Glue the "Glue Behind Tower M" & and the "Glue Behind Tower N" tabs to the backs of the extended tower tabs on the Proscenium/Marquee unit.

Glue the "Fold Down M" & and the " Fold Down N" tabs to the sides of the Marquee to Towers M & N. *Wash Hands*

STEP 27
The 2 Gridiron sections can be a little tricky. This is, for me, the easiest way to do it.

When cutting out the 2 Gridiron sections &: the 2 Gridiron Undersides (Plate Th16) along their outer black lines, do NOT cut out the 4 scenery slots. Just cut straight across their tops, ignoring them for now. Fold the large & small attached "Grills" up and fold down along the other internal black lines.

Glue the E - G Underside to the Gridiron with the "E" & "G" tabs, aligning both pieces along the "wood plank" edges. Glue the F - H Underside to the Gridiron with the "F" & "H" tabs, aligning both pieces along the "wood plank" edges. While the glue is still soft yet strong enough to hold the pieces together, cut out the slots in the E - G Gridiron unit. In that way, the unit's internal scenery slots will not need trimming later. Cut out the slots in the F - H Gridiron unit. *Wash Hands*

STEP 28
Glue the Inner Upper Marquee Support to the back of the Proscenium/Marquee unit.

STEP 29
If the 2 Gridiron "wood plank" ends needs any trimming, this is the time to do it.

Glue the Gridiron tabs to the "blank" parts of the Gridiron Undersides. The tabs should be touching the internal folded corners. (Use the tips of the scissors to press the tabs down firmy within the triangular sections.) *Wash Hands*

STEP 30
Cut out the Marquee Back along its outer black lines, the 2 Ghostlight pieces and the Music Stand/Bench (Plate Th14). (Put aside Plate Th14's Ghostlight pieces and the Music Stand/Bench. They will not be needed until after the theater is built.)

Fold up along the Marquee Back's upper black line and fold down along its lower black line that is between the tops & the ends of the "wood planks".

Glue the 'Lights" section of the Marquee Back to the Inner Upper Marquee Support of the Proscenium/Marquee unit. Do NOT glue the other two sections of the Marquee Back to the Proscenium/Marquee unit. You will need to raise those sections to reach a finger inside the towers to press the Gridiron tabs down. *Wash Hands*

STEP 31
Insert the tabs of the Proscenium/Marquee unit into the Stage Floor unit.

From underneath the Stage Floor, glue the "A" & "B" tabs flat against the front lower sides.

Spreading the "C" & "D" tabs into a "Butterfly" formation, glue the flat against the Stage Floor. *Wash Hands*

STEP 32
Glue the Gridiron units into place. For a guide, use the dotted lines signifying where the "Large Grill" & the "Small Grill" go so you do not install them backwards. Tab areas are also lettered.

Start by gluing the tab inserted into the Tower first because it is the most difficult tab to do. (Pinching together the 2 pieces until the glue sets is what I do.) Then glue the tab into the Back Wall unit. To keep the Gridiron level, glue the "Large Grill" & the "Small Grill" into their dotted line areas.

Turn your theater around and glue the other Gridiron unit into place the same way. *Wash Hands*

STEP 33
Glue the upper 2 sections of the Marquee Back to the of the Proscenium/Marquee unit. *Wash Hands*

STEP 34
Underneath the Stage Floor, fold the 4 Corner Braces along their gray lines and glue them into the 4 right-angle corners.

Glue the 2 Lower Side Supports into place, allowing them to overlap the Corner Braces.

Glue the 2 Lower Rear Supports on both inside sides of the Back Wall. Make sure that the folded over area is aligned with the opening for the Drawer for additional strength. *Wash Hands*

STEP 34
Glue the Base onto the bottom of the theater, starting with the 2 tabs on the Base's ends that attach to the front corners. Then glue the two angled sections of the Apron. If there is a bow between the front of the Apron and that part of the Base, just make a snip with your scissors on the Base and then glue the Base to the Apron, making sure you also glue that snipped overlap together.

(Thanks to card stock thickness, etc., this bowing of the Base happens 90% of the time. Since this adjustment is on the bottom, no one will see it unless you turn your theater upside-down.)

Glue the Base's sides and rear, keeping the Base as flat as possible. *Wash Hands For The Last Time*

STEP 35
Put aside the theater for at least an hour to make sure the Base has properly dried.

Bend, NOT FOLD, the Drawer Guard ends in towards the Drawer just enough so you can get that end in through the rear opening in the Back Wall.

STEP 35
Clean up your mess. Your American Miniature Theater is finished and you are done.