From Makerspace to Main Stage: Nova Labs CNC Shop Supports Youth Production of Guys & Dolls

When the Town of Vienna Youth Players needed a glowing city skyline for their summer production of Guys & Dolls, they found an enthusiastic production team in an unexpected place: Nova Labs.

Earlier this summer, members of the youth theater program arrived at Nova Labs with a stack of plywood, a digital design, and a vision for their stage set. By the end of the day, twelve 4' x 8' sheets of plywood had been transformed into an intricate cityscape backdrop destined for the Vienna Community Center stage.

The backdrop features layered building facades with carved windows and openings that will be illuminated with LED lighting. Once assembled, the set will create a glowing three-dimensional skyline, helping transport audiences to the bustling streets of New York City when the curtain rises on July 18.

Like many successful projects at Nova Labs, this one was powered by a combination of creativity, technical know-how, and community collaboration.

The theater's digital artist, director, and family members handled everything from delivering materials and moving plywood to sanding the finished panels and loading them for transport. Meanwhile, Nova Labs members and volunteers stepped in to share expertise, resources, and shop space. At the center of the operation was Big Blue, Nova Labs' large-format CNC router. CNC Steward Chris Pittman provided guidance on machining strategy and helped ensure the project was set up for success. Nova Labs member Ralph Goldstein operated the CNC, carefully carving the detailed designs into each panel.

The effort extended well beyond the CNC shop. Jennyfer, Cloud Services Team Lead, helped connect the theater team with the resources they needed and provided support throughout the planning process. Woodshop Steward Christopher Sexton offered technical advice and storage space for materials during production. Member Eugene Morgunov donated spare plywood that was used for practice cuts and testing before the final machining began.

Members throughout the Woodshop, Woodturning, and CNC communities also pitched in, making room for the large-scale project and helping ensure everything ran smoothly.

For the Town of Vienna Youth Players, the backdrop will become part of a summer theater experience that brings together performers ages 10–18 to learn music, choreography, and stagecraft while preparing for a public performance. For Nova Labs, it was another opportunity to put tools, skills, and volunteer expertise to work in service of the local community.

Projects like this are a reminder that makerspaces are about more than machines. They are places where people come together to share knowledge, solve problems, and help turn ambitious ideas into reality. Whether it's building a prototype, creating a work of art, or helping a youth theater group construct a Broadway-inspired city skyline, Nova Labs thrives when creativity and community intersect.

About Guys & Dolls and the Vienna Youth Players

Guys & Dolls is one of Broadway's most beloved musicals. Originally opening in 1950, the show won multiple Tony Awards and ran for more than 1,200 performances. Set in New York City, it follows a colorful cast of gamblers, showgirls, and unlikely romantics, featuring classic songs such as "Luck Be a Lady" and "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat."

This summer's production is being presented by the Vienna Youth Players (VYP), a community theater program sponsored by the Town of Vienna that provides young performers ages 10–18 with opportunities to develop their acting, singing, dancing, and stage production skills.

The Nova Labs team wishes the cast, crew, families, and volunteers of the Vienna Youth Players a successful run of Guys & Dolls. We are proud to have played a small role in helping bring their vision to the stage.

Interested in attending the show or learning more about the Vienna Youth Players? Visit the Town of Vienna's Vienna Youth Players page for information about performances, tickets, auditions, and future programs. Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viennayouthplayers