I'm wondering what to use for the sides? Plastic table cloth material, white fabric, canvas, etc. ANYONE have any ideas?

I used white fabric on mine. It has been a long time since I have had it, but I think it was just cheap cotton broadcloth or similar. The front was covered with butcher paper.

Get some rear projection screen material for your shadow box.

-=tabman

White butcher paper.

For a while.. I had mine covered in White Broadcloth.. but eventually I switched the whole thing to white spandex..

Both are good.. but I wanted the extra FLEX of the spandex..

Honestly.. I never did use it much.. and if I still owned it. I'd probably change it back to broadcloth. It's cheap.. it's pretty.. and it makes great shadows.

Fabric Roller blinds!

Not only can you have them shoot up at the end to show the audience there really was nothing to the cabinet but it also makes it great for travelling and keeps the material clean and protected when rolled up. Also allows you to break down the illusion much smaller.

As for material, you can have roller blinds custom made with different fabrics, get one that's durable, opaque yet allows the light to emit good shadows. Most Blind manufacturers will have samples that you can test out.

Peter.

Thanks Peter! I'm waay over thinking but do you think having rollershades tips the method?