Southwest Shakespeare Company: ‘The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)’

It’s a heck of a shopping list. Wedding veils (30). Togas (60). Doctor scrubs (20 sets). Fat suits (4).

Wireless microphones, fog machines, dry ice barrels.

Table saws, chop saw, belt sanders, pneumatic nail gun.

And don’t forget the body parts. No theater company can get by without a severed head or two.

These eclectic items are just a fraction of the 24 years’ worth of costumes, props and equipment that Southwest Shakespeare Company lost when its main storage building, owned by the city of Mesa, was destroyed by fire in June.

“Something as silly as like the rubber chicken,” said Daniel Davisson, production manager for the state’s only classical theater troupe. “You’d think every theater prop shop would have that, but we don’t anymore.”

And that means that as Southwest When: Friday, Sept. 8, through Saturday, Sept. 30. Where: Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. Admission: $18-$44. Details: 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com, swshakespeare.org. Shakes prepares to kick off a new season Sept. 8 with a zany romp titled “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged),” staffers are also furiously collecting items that can be used for years to come.

“We have to think, what is every specific item we would ever want to have?” Davisson said. “And those aren’t things you can necessarily buy on Amazon or eBay or go to Home Depot for.”

Stacy Walston, prop designer for “Complete Works,” has been sawing off hands from old mannequins, while costume designer Maci Hosler and her team are sewing their fingers off.

“If the director says can he have a cape in this, I can’t just run to stock, I have to borrow it or make it,” Hosler said. “So we’re making some doublets, things that can be easily altered for a vast variety of sizes, skirts that are easy on and off that can be altered as well, a lot of breeches, robes.”

The June 17 fire, which was accidental, started outside the metal building at 55 S. McDonald and destroyed everything inside.

“The irony of the situation is that we had struck a deal with the city to move from that location to a new location across the parking lot, less than 50 yards, and we were moving the following weekend,” said Patrick Walsh, senior associate artistic director.

Walsh said the company carried insurance, but mostly liability, and definitely not enough to replace all that was lost. Because so much of it was custommade, he said, there was no way to accurately estimate the value. But Southwest Shakespeare is getting plenty of help with the recovery. Valley theaters including Childsplay and Arizona Theatre Company have offered to share resources, and a crowdfunding campaign on Go Fund Me has raised about $13,000.

Several supporters have replaced expensive and hard-to-find items. Michael Flatt of Mesa donated tools including a table saw, drill press and even a tape measure, while Robert Curtis, also of Mesa, parted with a collection of Renaissance weaponry and Shakespeare memorabilia.

“You really do find out how many friends you have,” said Michele Peters, chief executive administrator for the theater.