We're doing Mel Brooks'Young Frankenstein (Ardmore Litle Theatre, Ardmore, OK) next month and trying to come up with a good substitute for hay which is dusty, sneezy and will get scattered all over the stage if we use it..  We thought excelsoir packing material might do, but it is also sticky, clingy also too expensive.   Does anyone have ideas ... shredded plastic?  artificial spanish moss?  anything that could be made to look like a pile of loose hay?
There's not enough time to sweep the stage between scenes and loose straw or hay on a hardwood floor is not a safe surface to dance upon.

Thanks,, vickifrank.  Good tip.  However, someone suggested a duckblind, with weeds sewn to a mesh fabric.  We've found one that we think will work fine.  I'm starting a new topic about burning the monster's thumb.  Appreciate any ideas.