Hi all- my theater is doing their first musical this summer, and I need help with two or three things. First, what falls in the lights category- If you are familiar with Pippin, you probably know of the light curtain needed for the beginning scene, for actors to put their hands in. How do I build this?

If you aren't aware of what this curtain is, I'll explain. In the beginning number, all that is seen is hands, seemingly floating in the air in the dark. A lighting instument on the bottom of the stage creates a thin "sheet" of light, straight up to the ceiling. Actors can place their hands in the light, and it appears that is all there is. The light from the curtain can't light anything else on stage.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Drew

I designed a production of Pippin for a High School production a few years ago, and did the light curtain effect as follows. I built two long (approximately six feet long) boxes about 10" across, and about 15" high. In the bottoms of those boxes, I mounted a series of miniature reflector lamps. When the boxes were in place, the cast could hide upstage of them and the light coming out of them until the right time, and then they would reach into the light to create the effect. 

If you are interested, you can see other photos from the production at http://members.aol.com/bmiller025/Pippin.htm - http://members.aol.com/bmiller025/Pippin.htm