Lighting (Design)

SESSION – STAGE LIGHTING

• The vocabulary of stage lighting and control systems. The electrical principles at work in a lighting system. Instrument and equipment types and their typical usage. Standard operating parameters and procedures.
• Discussion of the current state of stage lighting equipment in the public schools. Who maintains the equipment? Who is, in fact, in charge of the equipment? How is funding obtained to maintain the equipment?

SESSION – LIGHTING IN PRACTICE

• A discussion of typical stage lighting methodology and variations of same. Specialized equipment and its usage – projectors, special effects machinery, etc.
• Participants will present a report on what their respective school’s equipment includes. Discussions on how each school will be able to present their productions with the available equipment.

Topics:

• Choosing instruments

1. Read and understand a basic light plot.
2. Read and understand basic lighting paperwork.
3. Hang, focus, circuit, and gel stage lighting units; safely.
4. Perform basic maintenance and repair on lighting units.
5. Demonstrate ability in basic wiring techniques.
6. Explain electrical safety in the theater.
7. Running the light board; an art form.
8. Explanatory understanding of what a lighting cue is.
9. Understand how a lighting cue is decided upon.
10. Understand that the play may require a change lighting to communicate the change of day, change of location, or a signal for the audience to clap.
11. Understand all cues are taken from the script in one way or another.
12. Understand what the elements of a lighting cue are.
13. Understand what lights, or systems of lights, will be turning on and/or off.
14. Understand Uptime: how much time will pass from the beginning of the cue to its completion.
15. Understand Downtime: how much time will pass from the beginning of the cue to its completion.
16. Understand Wait or delay times.

• Creating paperwork

1. Know how to read focus charts and hanging cards.
2. Know how to read a hook-up.
3. Know how to read a circuit schedule.
4. Know what to look for in a theatre information packet and how to read it.
5. Be able to read a lighting cue sheet
6. Understand how to read a “magic sheet”.
7. Understand how lighting cues are structured and why they exist.   
8. Be able to construct gel templates or patterns.
9. Understand the following terms:

• -lead
• -lag
• -bump
• -cross fade
• -fade up
• -cue count
• –blackout