OK, so our homecoming dance is a little over the top...

[jlancaster]

...but my boys attend a small (350 boys, grades 5-12), Catholic school and homecoming is The Main Event of the year. Using a lot of imagination, donated materials and borrowed props (and a little construction and decorating assistance from the parents) the boys transform the gym into a fantastic set where the homecoming dance has become a very special event.

For last year's "The movies" theme the boys built a 20' tall replica of the Brooklyn Bridge and the marquis for the Cotton Club among other things. The year before, the theme was board games and the 10' tall Rock e'm Sock 'em robots were quite a sight, as was the Clue Mansion, complete with a suit of armor standing in the corner.

I'm hoping I can learn some new set decoration techniques to bring back to the boys. I'm particularly interested in incorporating illusions, forced perspective, the use of projected images, and green screen technology, and learning simpler construction and more sophisticated lighting techniques.

Jim

[MSLD]

For lighting, you can really get away with some cool stuff if you just have LED lights to create mood lighting and what not.