Author Topic: Firebox for Finale of Pippin  (Read 2696 times)

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posaune55

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Firebox for Finale of Pippin
« on: Jun 09, 2011, 10:23 am »
Hi all,
I'm directing Pippin with HS and College actors and was wondering if anyone could give me some guidance on building/renting/finding a firebox for the finale of Pippin. I'd like something that isn't "fake" flames but something with Flashpowder?? Any suggestions are welcome and I appreciate your input.
Thanks....

planetmike

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Re: Firebox for Finale of Pippin
« Reply #1 on: Jun 11, 2011, 12:01 pm »
I SMed Pippin a couple years ago. For the firebox we had a very creative volunteer build a box about three feet square, 8 feet tall. A plastic Halloween skeleton was hanging from the top center, behind a piece of black fabric, also hanging from a small piece of wood. The wood, fabric and skeleton could all be rotated quickly, probably a lever on the side of the box. There were light ropes inside the box, and on top was a small tube. The tube was filled with flour? Talcum? something powdery. The other end of the tube was hooked to an air compressor and charged up before the show. The leading player could then hit the power button for the lights and the air compressor, which resulted in a bright-ish flash of light with a nice mushroom cloud of smoke. Another assistant at the same time would pull the lever, so it looked pretty much like a flash of flame, a fireball and poof a skeleton appeared. I wish I had photos or a video to share. All in all, it worked pretty well, except the time I accidentally triggered the mushroom cloud about 15 minutes before the show started.


loebtmc

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Re: Firebox for Finale of Pippin
« Reply #2 on: Jun 11, 2011, 12:09 pm »
not sure where you are, but any time you use pyro, I am a big fan of consulting experts. Start w the magic community (really!) since they are used to making things look like more than they are without actually harming anyone. Does anyone makes fireworks in your town? - and check with your chemistry department (but the profs, since the students might not pay attention to the safety factors). If you have a concert venue, they can point you - lots of pyro (or suggestions thereof) at concerts these days.

 

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