The show must go on ... and on, and on.

That's how it was last week for Twin Falls High School drama and costume design students in their annual "Portrait of a Runway" fall fashion show.

Models seemed to slice the room in half as they strutted in their sharp costumes down a bright white runway painted smack in the middle of not just one or two but three packed houses at Roper Auditorium in Twin Falls.

The third annual presentation held an emergency spillover show after the two scheduled shows were filled to the brim with family members, teenagers, teachers and others from the community, seated snugly in rows to see the work.

"We made a lot of money," said drama and costume design teacher James Haycock, noting that 115 to 120 people could fill one showing.

Haycock, the mastermind behind the high school's popular fall and spring fashion shows, said the department tripled the money in the drama program's coffers. Profits will go to a general production fund that will ultimately lead to added learning opportunities for students.

Design students made art come alive with costumes inspired by 18th-century paintings. Fine art students contributed 18 paintings created on black T-shirts and modeled by 17 boys and one girl; she popped in at the last minute to save the day when another model couldn't make it.

The shirt art was put up for a silent auction that brought in $400 to benefit PaLSTEP, an after-school enrichment program for young children.

The assignment to emulate a portrait - by creating Victorian dresses, angel wings, frocks and royal gowns from materials that could be obtained at a thrift store - taught students to recognize proportion.

Ultimately Haycock hopes it will teach them to be clear with their own renderings - their next class project.

"If you're in the field and the designer gives you a sketch, you have to make that exact," said Haycock, adding that the assignment will also help students see that their own renderings need to be clear for those who will create the design from paper sketches.

Haycock said he decided to immerse his students in the fashion show process because he wants them to realize that a career in fashion design is obtainable.

"It's not some weird foreign job that's out of their reach," he said.

Haycock acknowledges that the class is a "slam course" in sewing, and despite the month-long flurry of flying fabric and ribbons, bows and batting strewn across the classroom floor, the kids created a great show.

Just two weeks ago, he wasn't sure they could pull it off.

"Ya know, in my head it's all going to be great," Haycock said Oct. 17, worrying that the puzzle pieces wouldn't fit, that the gowns would fall apart, that some kids would flake out, that the show would somehow implode.

But the night of the show came and he stood in front of the second packed audience, clapped his hands and bent a little at the waist as he addressed the full room.

"A lot of these kids have never sewn before, but they are amazing and they did an amazing job," Haycock announced.

Community support in donations and interest was impressive, and the movements of a giant crowd breathing and clapping as one were enough for Haycock and his proteges to glow.

"Drama is power," Haycock said. It has the power of imagery that gets people involved emotionally in what's going on around them.

Ultimately, he said, that can only translate to positive growth for his students and their creativity.

Title: Runway Rush Date: Oct. 30th, 2008 Students strut their stuff to a packed house Oct 22 for Portrait of a Runway at Twin Falls High School. Check out this slide show. PLAY »