My friend is the Technical director for PIPPIN. She Is having trouble with the finale when the person is suposed to be burned alive. She can't use fir because its in a middle school. she was thinking about using fog but she is worried that it will set off the fire alarms. So she was gonna use fog but keep it comtained in a glass box and then release the fog after the show outside. her deadline is soon and any ideas are helpful,
Thanks

(I've not seen Pippin, so I don't know if the accompanying sketch looks anything like what this scene in Pippin should look like, but hopefully it's still enough to get the drift.)

You can accomplish a pretty impressive burning at the stake with a backdrop, a nice flame gobo/projection and a couple of lights within the pyre (whats a good stake-burning without a nice pyre, right?) itself, something like this:


Best thing is, it's smoke machine optional.  In fact, it'd probably look better without the smoke.

Let us know how it turns out!

I only ever tried fog once and it set off the smoke detectors.  A low tech way maybe to get some of the fake candles and torches that they sell ( lots online...try fake candles) they are lights with little fans that blow red streamers around to simulate flames.....a little corny but a lot less technical.

I like EddyZ idea of using the black gauze/scrim to give the lighting transposition effect using the gobo?s [BOGO?s - which I believe is a more theatrically descriptive of the original effect acronym - but that?s another story!}
You can do a very simple fire effect using fluorescent starters with colored globes, connected in series in the active &/or negative circuit of the lamps. However in all cases it is advisable to have this done by a qualified electrician.
 You can use the flouro/starter with the fire gobo?s on a dimmer patch circuit.
However it?s normal practice with fire alarm systems when using smoke on stage, to isolate first any of the alarm zones that could be effected. Remembering that smoke has a mind of it?s own & will be effected by the slightest draught o&/or air movement, therefore smoke has the ability to permiate into other & adjacent  zones very easily, which can cause a false alarm & become embarrassing when the firemen front up during the performance . It is the best policy & practice to have someone who is competent, to be in attendance at the Fire indicator Panel [FIP], to reset the alarm zone after use & when the alarm zone area clears of smoke. Normally if there is a Direct Brigade Alarm [DBA] fitted & monitoring the FIP. it is also a preferred practice to inform the local Fire Brigade. That the DBA is being isolated & for the length of time it will be in that state. In all cases  It is a simple procedure to accomplish this,  as all FIP?s have under the standard fire code, operational instructions inside the panel.

For anybody in the New York, CT, MA, NJ areas, the production of "Pippin" at
Goodspeed Opera (with Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees as Charlemagne, no
less LOL) is FABULOUS. All the special effects were awesome....better, even,
than I remember of the Broadway production. The finale was accomplished
totally with lights, fog, firepots and mirrors ... gorgeous. Well, almost totally,
LOL - the entire metal set revolved AND rotated during the number.

If you can make a performance, it's well worth the drive. I think it's running
through September.