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Course: THEA 272 Stagecraft

Stage Lighting Design (for 4/22/99)

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Reference: Gillette, Michael J. Theatrical Design and Production, 3rd ed. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1992. Chapter 12, pp. 288-317.

Controllable properties of Light:

• Distribution
• Intensity
• Movement
• Color

Functions of stage lighting:

• Visibility
• Selective Focus
• Modeling
• Mood

Color and direction:

• -Key and fill
• -Warm and cool

Types:

• Motivated light
• Motivating light

Functions and uses:

• Washes
• Area lighting
• Specials

Designing the Lighting

Begin with the same design process as the scenic designer:

1. Script analysis
2. Initial conferences with the artistic team
3. Research: sketching and collecting lighting images
4. Conferences with the artistic team
5. Presentation of lighting images and color ideas
6. Agreement and conceptual approval
7. Technical communication:
   • -Plots and schedules

Plot development:

1. Rehearsal research
   -Lighting keys and maps
2. Cue the show
   -Place all cues and describe all effects
   -Use rehearsal research keys to determine lighting angles and effects.
   -Colors can be determined and assigned in the research keys.
   
3. Create the effects list
4. Draft the section
5. Create a work plot
   -Mark all focus, lamp, color, other info on the plot at the instrument.
6. Go through the effects list one-by-one, and place instruments to create each.
7. Adjust work plot to conform to inventory and limitations
8. Develop instrument schedules
9. Analyze schedules for complete implementation of design in the plot
10. Do the dimmer assignment. This is most easily done with reference to the effects list.
11. Complete the hookup schedule.
12. Draw a finish plot.

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