Blacklight Theater

Written by: Luanne Payne, Hampton U.C., Hampton, ON, Canada and Janice Loeb, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Lindsay, ON, Canada

Blacklight (Black Light) theater is a form of puppetry where fluorescent puppets/props are operated on a darkened stage lit only with ultraviolet lighting. The result? A visually glowing, magical show! This document describes using props to put on a captivating black light production that, I thought we needed to share - we guarantee, you will not be disappointed, if you too, see the LIGHT!

Definition: What is Black Light Theater

Black Light theater is a form of puppetry where the puppets are operated on a stage lit only with ultraviolet lighting (black, or sometimes call blue, fluorescent lights). The puppeteers perform dressed in black (head to toe) against a black background (walls and floor) . The ultraviolet light does not pick up the black so the puppeteers blend into the background becoming invisible to the naked eye. In turn the ultraviolet light causes the fluorescent colours of puppets (or props) to visually glow.

Words, puppets, and props as if by magic appear, disappear and move effortlessly about the stage. So for the audience they are captivated as the bible story or theme is portrayed musically and visually. The performance becomes truly magical.

Reasons To Use Black Light Drama

• Putting on a “Black Light Performance” is GREAT fun for the kids and CAPTIVATING for your audience!
• Fun way to retell the story!
• Everyone will want to participate (no one is intimidated as they are invisible)!
• Great way to promote your lesson by performing during or after church, to finish your rotation at the end of the month.
• With Black Light theater you can do things like: a whale swallowing Jonah, Jesus walking on water, do interpretative dance, be creative with music, etc .
• You can use props you've created, no expensive puppets required!

What inspired us to do blacklights?

Janice:

I wanted to try Black Light Theatre after watching it for several years in a public school setting. I was friends with the 'producer' and the first year I attempted it she lent me the hoods and gave me tips for the props. Luanne gave me the suggestion of the "Walking on Water" song and it didn't take too much searching to find two more songs to fit with the Miracles theme. It was very exciting for the children who had never seen or performed in Black Light, so much so that they often ask when they can do it again. We had an absolutely packed room and many disappointed congregational members who missed it, so next time I would definitely schedule more than one performance!

Luanne:

Several years ago I watched another church youth group perform "Noah" using Black Lights. Two mouse puppets told their story, with musical numbers by Noah's family, and of course lots of animals, even a pair of gigantic giraffes and elephants. It was watching the reaction of each child and adult that sold me, they were mesmerized. But, that group had disbanded and I had no luck finding helpful information on the internet to do a low budget performance with professional-looking results. Then, Janice was an answer to prayer, when she said she was going to do black lights. When we did our Miracles Rotation this year she gladly loaned me all her props, black light bulbs, blackout fabric, and hoods. She shared everything she learned from her experience.

Preparing your Space (Stage or Classroom Set-Up)

a) Stage Area

Term “Stage” - We will be using this term throughout.
Note: Stage represents an actual "stage" OR the "classroom area designated" as your stage. Directions are basically the same for either, and will be noted if different.

Walls - whatever area you are using you need to blacken both the back wall and two side walls of your stage area.

Stage Background Materials to Use:

Professionals use BLACK VELVET fabric. Apparently it is the least visible fabric under ultraviolet light.  We on the other hand will use what we can get our hands on!  So on a budget black plastic tarps work great and is what we recommend!  Janice used an old black pool cover that was large enough to cover the three sides of one end of a classroom to create her stage area.

Floor - (is optional), as long as it's not white or a neon color that will glow under the black lights taking away from the production.

Black cotton fabric works fine if

you need to cover your floor area. 

Ceiling does not matter.

Pictured below:  Jaymie Derden, at State Street UMC, created an 8 foot square  stage area using a 12 X 20 ft black tarp  which they hung from their drop ceiling.

In above picture, to hang the tarp from their drop ceiling grids they used 3" grid ceiling clips" (several sources -- search for "grid ceiling clips", other name used for them are "Metal Ceiling Squeeze Clips or Hooks').  See picture of one on the right.

b) What to do if you have floor to ceiling posts/ pipes in your stage area?

c) Preparing Rest of Room

• The rest of the room must also be dark enough for the best effect!
• Black out windows with black fabric, or black garbage bags.
• Rooms outside of main room – that light may filter through to your room – cover windows simply by hanging garbage bags over windows with painters tape (so it does not remove your paint on the walls or doorposts).
• During the performance all lights must be turned off.
  
  * When the performance space is dark, the puppeteer becomes invisible while everything else glows. Words, puppets, and props as if by magic appear, disappear and move effortlessly about the stage.
  
  

c) Audience Area

It is nice to have an area out from the front of your stage with a row(s) of chairs (cushions or if the room is carpeted they can simply sit on the floor), for students not performing where they can sit and be the audience until their turn.

It is also handy to use this area for everyone to sit as you discuss your plans with the kids and do any before or after bible study.

Stage Lighting

a) What Are Black Lights

b) How Do They Work

c) Which Lights To Buy

d) How Many Lights Do I Need For My Space

Will depend on the size of your stage area.
Black lights required – for every 8 ft of depth - place 4 ft. tubes every 8 feet.

e) Diagram of Luanne's Stage Set-Up

How to Build Stands for 4 ft. Fluorescent Light Fixtures

1.  How To Build a Vertical Stand for Blacklights

2.  How To Build a Horizontal Stand for Black Lights

I recycled an old wooden bedroom window valence used to hide roller blind. We laid the light fixture horizontal, on it’s side, across the top of this box (Note: box was painted black after picture was taken) inside was left white.

Telling the Story through Song

Song Selection

Black Light Props

Examples below of two songs we did and props we created for each.

Here are two songs showing the words we chose from the lyrics and the props we created for those words.

Song 1: “Footprints on the Water” (Story - Jesus Walks on Water)

This song is available on several different CDs by "Wonder Kids".
If this song goes out of print, I will be leaving it here as an example on how to look at the song lyrics to decide on props to create.

Note: The song version we used had the narrated voice of “Grandpa fish” at the beginning, one line in the middle, and at the end. That particular song version is NO longer available, but in case you can find a copy somewhere on the internet it is “Sunday Sing-A-Long Classics CD, by Wonder Kids, Madacy Entertainment, 1998, 00056775127923.

But, I spoke to the kind folks at “Wonder Kids” and received permission to include the song lyrics to the version we had of “Footprints on the Water” here for you.

So, if you wish to include the narration, of “Grandpa” in your Black Light presentation, just have someone who can do a Grandfatherly voice, do it from backstage with a microphone.

LYRICS "FOOTPRINTS ON THE WATER”

(Grandpa's narration is shown in "Brown")

Ok little fishes gather around old grampa fish bait and I’ll tell you a story you won’t believe!

When I was a little fish, swimming happily
I heard the sound of footsteps
Walking on the sea
I swam up to the surface
And much to my surprise
There on top of the water
Right before my eyes

Chorus:
And I saw footprints on the water,
Footprints on the sea
Footprints on the water
And I could not believe
I saw Jesus, Jesus
Walking on the waves
Footprints on the water that day.

Ok now, wait to you hear what happens next, you won’t believe it!
Then a man, named Peter
Stepped out on the waves
He tried to walk to Jesus
Then, he sank away
He took his eyes off Jesus
What a big mistake
Down he went into the sea
“O ye of little faith.”

Chorus (Repeat 2 x’s)

Now that’s the truth, I saw them, two feet, and then toes, right above my head and I’m a fish! It was amazing. It was incredible. It was, it was, --a miracle!

Words and music by Stephen Elkins. ©1993 Wonder Workshop, a division of Stephens Group, Inc, Mt Juliet, TN. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

PROPS created for "Footprints on the Water" (pictured above):

• Grandpa Fish (large fish)
• Jesus – (word)
• Peter - (two legs below water)
• Chorus – “Footprints on the Water” (two separate feet with water under them)
• Incredible – (word)
• Amazing – (word)
• Miracle – (word)
• Smaller fish - 3 (small)
• Smaller fish (medium)
• Smaller fish (medium)
• Eyes – (two eyeballs)
• Scenery for this song use an Underwater Theme – "two simple clumps of seaweed" (see above photo).

Eleven props in total. Students can hold multiple props, as needed.

SONG 2:  “THE NEWS” (Story - Feeding 5000)

Here is another song we did, which can be found on the CD – “20 Stories Every Child Should Know” Book/CD, 2004, Standard Publishing, 9780784715864. This you can easily find.

Note:  if this song goes out of print I will be leaving it here as an example on how to look at the song lyrics to decide on props to create.

Photo of Props used for: “The News” (Feeding 5000)

PROPS created for "The News" (pictured above):

• Jesus –(Word)
• 5000 – (Number)
• Five Small fish
• Two Loafs of Bread
• People / Crowd (several simple round faces drawn onto one prop)
• Treat (Word - YUM)
• Tasty Dish (Word - YUM)
  
• Chorus
  • Did You Hear (Words)
  • The News (Newspaper) (Words)
  • About What Jesus Did? (Words)
• Scenery – Meadow / Hill – instead Janice took “two” weaved baskets & spray painted neon orange. Grass similar to the sea weed would also have worked.

Ten props in total. Two, three, or more children can do the 5 fish and two loaves. One or two children can do the two YUM YUM signs.

Note: you could have the children help with the props – but you may want to pre-draw them first and they could help cut-out, paint and assemble (you can use paint stir sticks for handles or see this post how to add a bag handle to the back of a prop.

How to add a Simple Handhold to back of Larger Props

I'm posting how I made my simple fir trees to show my solution of adding a handle to the back.

The trees were light and the handles easy for kids or adults to move or hold upright. It also allowed for them to be stored, packed flat, should you have room to keep them for future years.

The tree on the right was made by a gentleman at Janice's church and had a wooden 2x4 back and base, so it was self-standing. But you can see how nice neon green Bristol board looks under black light. So for one years Christmas skit I needed two tall simple Fir trees and decided to make them dual purpose by using the neon green Bristol board sheets.

Supplies:

• Green Bristol Board Sheets (number will depend on size of trees) ours were tall, so we used 4 sheets per tree.
• Cardboard (cardboard fridge box or foam board)
• Wide Tongue Depressors (if piecing cardboard or foam board together)
• 2 small or medium sized gift bags (from your home wrapping supplies) with those strong twisted paper handles
• dowel rod or yard stick
• duck tape
• marker
• scissors
• glue gun

Directions:

1. Lay your green sheets together, making a butt joint on the widest side (make sure the sides with price bar is face-up), then duct tape over your seam.
2. Now draw on this same back side your tree shape (pattern), so your marks don't show on the good side, then cut out.
3. So it will stand straight: use a piece of cardboard the height of your tree (or piece together cardboard or foam board using the butt joint, then glue on wide tongue depressors across your seam to reinforce it, then duct tape across seam and over tongue depressors, sample pictured.)
4. Lay down your cut tree on your cardboard. With a marker mark a dot at the inside branch indents. Removed the tree then using a yard stick or dowel rod draw a line inside the marks on the fridge box. Then cut out the triangle like shape with a Utility Knife.
5. Glue your tree to the cardboard, centering the cardboard inside the tree so it can't been seen from the good side.
6. Now take your gift bags, and cut out the handle section from both sides of the bag (see in photo yellow area to cut out of side of bag). Then glue this section to the back of your tree as pictured. One handle facing down, the other facing up.

Dressing for Black Light & Costume Suggestions

Please note that it is not necessary to use hoods in the classroom when using black lights in your drama workshop. Asking the children to come dressed in black or dark clothing is helpful.  

Clothing to hide performers/puppeteers

• Hoods – we made of lightweight black cotton broadcloth with a face panel of easy-to-see-through lighter black knit (doubled) and long enough they sat on the children’s shoulders. One size fits all (kids & adults). Directions to make hoods below.
• Black Gloves - when you don't want hands seen (inexpensive kid’s knit black gloves that are available everywhere in the fall/winter).
• Clothing black (long sleeves, long pants).
• Socks – black.
  
  

Costume Suggestions (that will glow under blacklight)

• White clothing also works for dance numbers. Black tights, white wrap around skirt, white gloves, white flower head band, neon streamers from waist, etc.
• Also, use any neon colored costumes you have that glow under the UV lights, have puppeteer wear hood, add a neon wig or white shepherds hat.
• To make wigs – buy mops and spray paint with neon colours. Or watch around Halloween at the costume stores for ones in the neon colours – blue neon is great!
  
  TIPS:
• Have extra clothes on hand, for visitors and kids who forget to wear black. I went to a local used clothing store and picked up a few inexpensive kids “black” sweatshirts, sweaters, pants, and sweatpants. Plus, purchase some extra black socks.
• Have black tape on hand to cover any emblems, logos, track pant stripes. You can get Black Vinyl Electrical Tape that is wider (around 4" or 5” width) that worked nicely.
  
  

Simple “HOODS” You Can Make Yourself

Class Time (Or Practice)

• Have a written list of props and write child's name beside the one they are doing, so if you have more than one practice or especially if you do a performance later, you know who did what, the kids will often decide they want to do something different and not having practiced with that prop it can mess up your performance (I learned the hard way).
• We practiced without the light set-up (and in my case not even on the stage).
• The kids can break into groups anywhere in the building to practice you do not need the light’s or special stage set-up for practice.
• Janice had a larger group of 24 kids (I had 10). She was doing four different pieces, so each group had their own props and music. So they went into different rooms to practice. We practiced as one group.
• Give each group a copy of the lyrics with the WORDS underlined or bolded which will be the cue for the leader (reader) of that group.
• Children can learn when to hold their prop up, take it down, movement, see the other participants, etc.
• As they read the lyrics out loud they can pause after each highlighted word to make sure the kids are on cue for the first run through.
• We had only one practice on stage, with the Black Lights, the Sunday before our performance in front of the entire congregation.
  This was due to scheduling conflicts the entire month. I could never set the stage up the night before as the room was booked for other events. Which at the time was frustrating on my part, but it turned out the kids did great with only one Sunday practice on the stage with the lights, the Sunday before we did our performance, for the church.
• You will need a minimum of two teachers. One to work with the kids and the other to look after cueing the music (same required for performance).

Performance Tips

• Have your list of props and who's using them.
• Check and make sure you CD player works (spare one on hand is handy).
• You will need a minimum of two teachers. One or two to set-up props between performances and to fill in if anyone doesn’t show up. One to cue music.
• Have all the props pre-laid out on floor for first group.
• Have hoods, gloves, and black electrical tape on stage ready (tape to cover logos or strips on pants). Also have your extra black clothes in case anyone needs them.
• If you have a small space and want to perform for the congregation have two or more showings.
• Remind kids when they are gathering up their props and getting in place to be quiet (no talking).
• Wash Hoods after every practice and performance.
• As your audience arrives have the kids hand out “Glow in the Dark Bracelets” (Michaels’ stores have “Glow in the Dark Bracelets” by check-out counter -15 in a tube for $1.50 CDN. Or “Mini Glow In the Dark Tubes” Dollar Store or Party Store - on strings for around your neck. Kids performing can have one – after the performances.

Performance Invite

Janice’s children made invites using Scratch Paper and Styluses, they did this by gluing two papers back to back,

on the front it said:

The Sunday School Children from Grades 1 to presents
Black Light Theater
“THE MIRACLES OF JESUS”
Date: -------
Immediately following the service downstairs.

on the back was this, pictured below.

Bulletin Board Idea

Again using scratch paper.

Where to find Puppet Patterns

Videotaping Blacklight Performances Tips

After doing her first drama lesson using blacklights Jaymie had these words of wisdom for videotaping the students ...

1. Have your video camera on a tripod, or place on a table, locate it in front of center stage.
   
   
2. Test it to make sure you are not too close or too far away from the stage and that the kids will be centered in the video frame.
   
   
3. Have a separate adult/helper monitoring the video camera. (I was busy leading the signs and didn't realize that the kids weren't centered in the video frame. Oops. Process not product, right?)
   
   
4. Start the video camera! (Note: I was really nervous about how this would work, but it was mostly great. There is one place in the video, where the hands were blurry, but otherwise, it worked really well.)
   
   

Photography Tips

Rule #1:  NO FLASH.  If you don't turn your flash off, you will completely lose the glow that the blacklights create.

OTHER CREATIVE WAYS TO USE BLACKLIGHT

This original topic began as "Black Light Theater Instructions" by Luanne and her friend Janice who shared their experiences using blacklight (UV) lights for drama.

Below, Luanne shares ways she has used Blacklight's with her weeknight girl's group, at their annual "Blacklight Night," for art, games, music/movement, puppets, and storytelling, as well as, how some other (fellow board members) have used blacklight for VBS (Vacation Bible School).

Please post your creative ideas for using blacklights below, but if it relates to a specific bible story please post in the related bible story forum. If the method you used can be used with multiple bible stories please post method below and link to story forum for how you used it for that specific story.

Lesson and ideas that use Blacklight (all workshops)

Old Testament

Creation

• (WT) Story of Creation ~ a Glo-Science Workshop Lesson (link available to Supporting Members - become a Supporting Member today!)

• Creative Ways to Read and Discuss the Bible with Children using clay idea by Neil MacQueen, adds the idea to use glow-in-the-dark play dough with blacklight here for the Seven Days of Creation.

Daniel

• Writing on the Wall Skit, by Deborah Ward of Williams Lake Church of the Nazarene, has suggestions added by member Luanne Payne on how to use backlight for special effect is found here.

Isaiah

• Blacklight Skit Ideas ...Hands and Feet of "God with us" These ideas were originally posted in our Lesson Flash Mob Project. Extra ideas were added to Sherry's (Mt. Zion Lutheran Church) original idea and consolidated they are found here.

Jonah

• Retired member Puppetmaker shared idea of their use of blacklights inside their PV framed whale with fluorescent fish and sea stuff link.
  
• Rev Ron Shifley (Scotland UCC) used blacklights and glow in the dark markers inside their whale - check out their lesson "Prayer Inside the Belly of a Whale" link.

Joshua & Caleb

• Retired Member took Supporting Member's CathyWalz's ZONK game and adapted it by painting the point values on felt circles with Glow-in-the-Dark paint so that the numbers did not show though the lighter colors of felt. The children held the circles up to a blacklight to see what they had won. Great game.

Psalm 8

• (WT) Psalm 8 ~ "Look Up!" Drama Workshop--can be used with three different techniques, one being Blacklight (link available to Supporting Members - become a Supporting Member today!)

Samuel

• Guest kbalbert shared her idea to use blacklights with the song "Here I Am Lord" using white gloves & motions.  She lists a few tips for others on doing this link.
  • Jaymie Derden took the above idea and created a black light drama lesson, see it here.

New Testament

Christmas

• Sherry shared in "Isaiah foretells the Messiah" an idea to do blacklight skits on Hands and Feet "God With Us" link.
  
• Luanne shared a YouTube link to a Christmas blacklight found on YouTube to the song "It's About The Cross" by Go Fish, sharing a list of props she created along with the lyrics indicating which words become your props.

Jesus Baptism

• Member ELCOC BLAST shared blacklight Baptism Drama - Water Came Down.

Jesus Calms the Storm

• Member ELCOC BLAST shared The World's Real Superhero-Jesus Calms the Storm Drama. This is a puppet drama which the children prepared and performed while they were studying the story of Calling the Disciples and Stilling the Storm. They incorporated blacklights only for the cardboard props for the superhero symbols.

Jesus Heals the Ten Lepers

• Member, CathyWalz, uses blacklight in one of the experiments in her "Science Workshop" link.

Easter

• Crucifixion: Long time member Jan includes a blacklight/glow-in-the-dark alternative idea for her Crucifixion Drama Workshop link.
  
• Resurrection: How to make an Easter Tomb "STONE" for black light that your kids can roll away! link

Ascension of Jesus

• Member ikinser has three Science Demonstrations about being witnesses, one of which uses blacklight to reveal the work and presence of God among us, idea found here.

Pentecost

• Writing Team's - Pentecost: Wind, Fire, Faith!: Movement and Music Workshop - our first workshop using blacklights! (link available to Supporting Members - become a Supporting Member today!)

Paul's Conversion

• Supporting member ZBCC's "A Glowing Witness - Blacklight Art Gallery" lesson link.
  Using black lights and glowing paints, students explore how Saul’s conversion changed him into a glowing witness for Christ. Students then create a glowing poster that delivers their own message about Jesus to others.

If you have used blacklights, please post your idea or lesson under the appropriate story forum, thanks!

Blacklight Party Ideas

Here are some great ideas I discovered by another blogger ourlittlewomenblogspot.

• Tips about glow sticks - keep the used ones as even after they lose their glow in the dark, they still work under blacklight!
• Hopscotch
• Hoola Hoops - cover in neon tape
• Twister Game
• Inexpensive dishware that glows
• a recipe for making cupcakes that don't use tonic water, the icing glows under blacklight - looks yummy!

OTHER CREATIVE WAYS TO USE BLACKLIGHTS
(Ideas gathered from doing an internet search)

• Cover a wall with paper (white or black) and give the kids highlighter markers (that work under the Blacklights) and have them draw pictures of the story or write out the memory verse.
  I have some old CHALK BOOKS and OVERHEAD GAMES BOOKS and I’m thinking I’m going to go through these and note ideas that would work using the above idea using Paper Easels (or paper taped to wall) .
• Indoor Easter Egg Hunt with glow in the dark eggs.
• Room decorating – a local church, “Ebeneezer United Church” movie theater was painted with fluorescent paint theme “In the Beginning” when I sat down and they turned the lights out, it was like being in outer space – way too cool!.
• Changing room theme – I’m thinking you could take a plain room, paint the walls black and hang objects / characters around the walls done in fluorescent paint and use for a storytelling room – each month it would have a new theme.
• Blacklight Dance or Halloween Carnival
• Missions – take your performance to local shelters, malls, evening street parties, etc.
• Wednesday Night’s – best behaved group gets to sit at the “Bangin’ Table” at end of evening for a snack. This group spray painted one table with clear neon and put some electricity balls on it.
• Blacklight sensitive carpet on stage that the kids can dance on under blacklight.
• Praise dance and interpretive dance.
• Palma Smiley Blacklight Storybooks (11” x 14")
  https://www.palmasmileyearlychildhood.com/shop
  Stories Include:
  a. Armour of God
  b. Baby Moses
  c. Birth of Jesus
  d. Boy Jesus
  e. Creation
  f.  Creation: Sea Life
  g. Daniel
  h. David and Goliath
  i.  Esther
  j.  Fiery Furnance
  k. Good Samaritan
  l.  Jesus Loves the Children
  m. Jonah
  n. Loaves and Fishes
  o. Lost Sheep
  p. Noah's Ark
  q. Prodigal Son
  r. Samuel
  s. Wise & Foolish Builders
  t.  Zacchaeus
• Book: "Let There Be . . . Blacklight! https://www.bringthemin.com/st...be-.-.-.-blacklight/
• Salt & Light Ministries- DVD 4 Nights in the Museum – 5 songs choreographed (for the advanced) http://www.saltandlightmin.org...hts_at_a_Museum.html

How to create a Black Light Photo Booth (Backdrop)

When we do our annual black light event, in late November or early December, we have a special photo booth (background).

This is the one I created years ago and we still use today.

Supplies:

• 2 - Tri-fold Presentation Display Boards (36"H x 48W") in black or white (purchase at any office supply store)
• Black Paint, if you purchased the white Display Boards.
• "Crafter's Neon Acrylic Paint" or "Neon Acrylic Blacklight Paint" (4 colors - Green, Pink, Blue, Yellow). I used the Crafter's paint and it worked fine.
  
• Jumbo Wood Craft Sticks (minimum of 6)
• Black Duck Tape
• Glue

Directions:

1. Lay both display boards on floor, good side down, align the bottom edge of one, against the top edge of the other.
   On the back glue jumbo wood craft sticks to join the two display boards edges —2 craft sticks on each of the side sections, and 4 craft sticks across the back sections. Then take black duck tape and run it across this back seam, right over the glued on craft sticks, to give it added strength.
   
   
   
   
2. Next flip it over, then lay some newsprint around the edges to protect the floor surrounding it.
   As my display boards where white I painted the front black.
   Note: If you bought black display boards you can skip this step.
   
   
3. Once the black paint has dried, with it still laying on the floor, flip it over, again keeping newsprint around the edges to protect floor from the neon painting step.
   
   
4. I stood and had fun drizzling on the Neon Paint in sweeping crazy swirls. Gently squeezing the paint bottle as I went.
   
   Draw a bit with one color, then do the same with each of the other colors, not worrying about filling it in. After you have used all 4 colors continue with colors again until it looks filled in nicely, but still with black background being seen, so the colors pop.
   
   
5. Once the paint is fully dry stand it up and you now have a photo booth (backdrop) for black light photo ops.
   
   
   
   * The stone wall seen behind our photo booth is "Rock Wall Corobuff® Corrugated Paper" comes in a roll 47" wide x 25' long, just do an internet search. It shows really nice under black lights along your wall as you can see in the photos.
   
   Here is our photo booth where we added a stool to sit on.
   [As the two display boards (28"H x 40"W) I used to make mine, only made a 56" tall booth. So we had a stool on hand for taller kids to sit on.]