Outside Stage Tips

[pacific]

I am going to be taking photos tonight for some friends. Already told them with my skill not to expect much more than some useless shots (at least now anything I do will be better then what they expect). They will be performing on a temporary stage set up outside at night.. The stage looks like it will be fairly lit, with lights at the front of the stage pointing back, as well as some taller lights pointing at the performers from both sides. These are not professional lights. It also looks like they may have a light behind the stage pointed out towards the audience. I have a canon EOS20d with onnly one lens, a EFS17-85 (not a very fast lens). Any thoughts?

Also, they will be having a Samoan fire dance. Any additional thoughts on aperture/shutter speed?

[PhotosGuy]

The f-stop on that lens gets smaller as you zoom in, so don't. Move in instead. Chimp some test shots.
In the fire dance, be sure that your cam doesn't expose for the flames. If you can shoot on "M", that would be good.

[pacific]

Thanks for the advice. Should be interesting tonight.