Lighting Design

Responsibilities of a Lighting Designer

● Read the play● Attend production meetings● Communicate with the director and the design team● Design the lights● Create a light plot and cue sheet● Sometimes in charge of hanging and focusing the lights● Attend all tech rehearsals

What is the purpose of lighting design?

1. Visibility - the audience needs to be able to see the actors and what is

happening on stage

2. Focus - directing the audience’s attention to a specific actor or part of the

stage

3. Mood/atmosphere - setting the tone of the scene

4. Location/time of day - blues can indicate nighttime, gobos can display a

forest, etc.

Qualities of Lighting

1. Intensity - how bright the light is

2. Color - can help with mood, location, or time of day

3. Direction - shape, quality, and evenness of the beam of light

4. Focus/position - where the light is being pointed and where in the house the

light is hung

5. Movement - some lights move on their own, others move by changing focus

Types of Lighting Instruments

Ellipsoidal reflector spotlight - light that produces a strong, concentrated beam of light

Fresnel - light that produces a light beam with a soft edge

Scoop - light that has a short throw distance and is used to produce a medium to wide wash (spread) of light

Types of Instruments Continued...

PAR can - light that produces an oval wash of light with unfocused edges

Follow spot - light that is used to highlight or follow a moving performer; produces a beam strong enough to project at a distance

Cyc light - lights that give an even wash over a surface such as a cyc or backdrop; strip lights are similar

Accessories

Gel - the material used to change the color of the light

Barn door - used to shape and control the beam of light

Gobo - used to provide texture or shape

Front light

Side light

Down light

Up light

Side light (left)

Side light (right)

Angles of Light

Light Plot A floor plan of the set showing the placement of the lighting instruments

Cue SheetA chart or list showing all of the lighting changes that will occur during a production

General Lighting Notes

● Each scene should end in a blackout or a “blue-out”● The color used for general lighting is called “amber”● Typically lights change when something magical or fantasy related happens● Lights often change when an important character enters or the

mood/atmosphere shifts dramatically● Cyc lights are almost always used

Your Turn

● Read the short scene that is given to you● You’re going to create your own version of a cue sheet that must include the

following:○ 5 different cues (including when the lights go up at the start of the scene and the blackout at

the end of the scene)○ The cue number○ Where in the script each cue takes place (a line or stage direction)○ What types of lighting instruments you think you’ll use in each cue○ The color(s) used for each cue○ Where on the stage the light will hit for each cue○ What gobo(s) are used for each cue (if any)

● Create your cue sheet in a table format

Example

Cue Number

Cue Line Instruments Color(s) Location on Stage

Gobo(s)

1 Why do you weep?

Ellipsoidals, Fresnels, cyc lights

Amber, red CR, C, CL, DR, DS, DL

Window gobo