I am running a song and dance caberet show this semester. 

Here's what we want to do:
? We have a number that is going to be performed in the dark, using
just black lights.  The cast will be dressed in black clothing,
wearing white gloves, white lipstick, and white glasses.
? We have done this type of thing before in a smaller- 200 seat
stadium, using 3 or four consumer home flourescent-rod blacklights.

Now we're doing it at a bigger venue that holds 900 people.  The stage
is quite large and so is the house.  Can someone with experience
please give me an idea on how this might be accomplished?  How should
we place the black lights?  What kinds should we buy?  Can we get
blacklight bulbs for the canister or spot lights in the lighting rig?

In the answer to this question, please give me a detailed info about
anything I'll need to be aware of to get this to come out well.  Any
experience with materials that luminesce or reflect particularly well
in blacklight will also help.

Regards.

---

Clarification of Question by jgrantl-ga on 23 Feb 2004 14:43 PST

Any people who rent theatrical lighting equipment in the
Ithaca/Syracuse/Binghamton Area would also be helpful.  We can't
really afford very expensive rigs to purchase

Hi jgrantl-ga:

I don't have a theatrical bone in my body, so no personal experience
to relate here, just a comment on how to maximize the blacklight
effect.

The blacklight effect depends on you having a UV lamp (the blacklight)
and UV-reflective materials. While most white objects reflect
ultraviolet light with a shift into the visible spectrum, you will
have much better results if you seek out UV paint and UV makeup at
your local theatrical supply store. Then, even with 'consumer-grade'
UV strip lights, your cast will be visible even to the person at the
back of the darkened theatre. UV paint and makeup will be much cheaper
to acquire than an industrial-grade UV lamp, and a lot safer too -
your cast won't need to wear sunblock on stage! :)

Regards,

aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher