Creating the World of Sleepy Hollow
When Dance Kaleidoscope reached out in early 2026 to ask the Heath Outdoor team to transform the entryway and lobby of McGowan Hall for their world premiere production of Joshua L. Peugh’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” we unhesitatingly said “YES.”
Over the course of several months, we met with the Dance Kaleidoscope artistic team, to get a better understanding of their vision for the production. They were committed to being authentic to the time period, in environment, set design and costumes.
The scenic design was done by William Boles, the lighting was designed by Laura Glover and costumes were done by Liz Bourgeois. The production design was austere and haunting, and our installation needed to help set that scene. Our team got to work.
“We’re quite accustomed to transforming spaces with lush, green plants,” said Heath Outdoor marketing director Karen Kennedy. “We’ve created landscaped environments and large-scale photo backdrops and moss walls for Butter Fine Art Fair, Downtown Indy’s Fall Fest, IUI and the Indiana Flower and Patio Show. But after our first meeting, I realized pretty much everything we used had to be dead! Sourcing exclusively DEAD plants was a new one for us, and honestly, was more of a challenge than we anticipated. Our procurement team thought I was crazy.”
The Heath Outdoor production team partnered with local environment designer Amy Lapka of Mudpie Creative. She created a darkly gorgeous and spooky vibe, complete with a bridge to Tarrytown, a cemetery, an abandoned farm stand and a twisted branch archway that invited guests into the performance space. Once her designs were done, the team got to work.
“I specialize in creating cool stuff out of what other people would consider trash,” laughed Lapka. “It’s all about upcycling. Heath Outdoor had a bunch of old wood and beams in storage, as well as old ladders, doors, shutters, pallets and farm implements. They all fit perfectly with my concept.”
Amy and her team built the installation pieces while the Heath Outdoor team sourced the plants, hay bales, fodder shocks and other decor elements needed to complete the design, including vintage barrels, crates and a wheelbarrow from their retail location, DIGS Garden Center. The procurement team sourced over fifty trees from various vendors. The build took two weeks and the team installed it over the course of four days, hauling in dirt for the cemetery, fog machines, a generator, plants, trees and lighting.
“The Heath Outdoor team’s work on this project exceeded our wildest expectations,” said Kim Gutfreund, Dance Kaleidoscope’s executive director. “Their team was great to work with, and they truly captured the essence of our vision. Their installation really helped set the scene for what our patrons were about to experience. We would recommend them to anyone who needs event decor, or any kind of experiential event build.”
Got an idea for a space transformation for an upcoming event or production of your own? Our team has the creativity and the capacity to bring your vision to life. Or, if you just need a greenery wall or cool live plant photo op, we’ve got you covered there too.
Give us a call and let’s build something cool.
#eventdecor #immersiveenvironments #experientialeventbuilds #temporarylandscapeinstallations
About Heath Outdoor
Heath Outdoor, a premier, local, family-owned landscaping company established in 2009, proudly serves the vibrant communities of Indianapolis and its surrounding areas. Strategically located in the heart of Indianapolis, we extend our expert landscaping and hardscaping services to both commercial and residential customers in Carmel, Westfield, Fishers, Geist, Noblesville, Zionsville, Avon, Plainfield, Brownsburg, McCordsville, Greenwood, Columbus, Franklin and beyond.
Design and build services include:
Custom gardens and landscapes, paver patios and walkways, water features and recreation ponds, custom outdoor fire pits and fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, pool and spa vaults, tiny houses, storage sheds, pergolas and decks, retaining walls, fencing and playgrounds.
Commercial and residential property maintenance services include:
Mowing, mulching, planting and watering service, irrigation and drainage system installation and repairs, seasonal property clean-ups, and snow and ice management. In 2024, Heath Outdoor added eco-focused private gardening and garden coaching to our property maintenance services through a partnership with Spotts Garden Service.
Why Heath Outdoor?
We’re not just in the business of landscaping—we’re in the business of finding solutions and bringing dreams to life. Whether it’s crafting breathtaking commercial outdoor spaces or creating custom outdoor living areas from scratch, we’ve got the passion, expertise, creativity and team to make it happen.
At Heath Outdoor, we’re also committed to giving back to the community, through our Juneteenth service project, annual participation in the Indy Pride parade, Butter Art Fair and Feast of Lanterns sponsorship and neighborhood beautification efforts.
The Hurst Brothers family of companies
Heath Outdoor is a Hurst Brothers company. Other brands in the Hurst Brothers family of companies include: DIGS Garden Center, Indy Insulation and Spray Company and Spotts Garden Service.
