Stage Productions

Light gels are used in theater, photography, film and video production to either create mood or to balance out uneven temperatures from different lighting sources. Light gels were once made from...

There are several plays, particularly musicals, which specify a background scene illustrating New York and "The Great White Way." Musicals like "Guys and Dolls," and "42nd Street," require this...

Whether you are designing the lights for an off-Broadway musical, or simply creating a set of cues for your local community theater, the alteration and manipulation of stage lights is crucial for...

Theatrical lighting illuminates the stage so the audience can see the performers, but it does a lot more. Lighting serves an invaluable role in accentuating the mood of the play, enhancing the...

There are eight basic types of lighting instruments for the stage: follow spots, "intelligent" lights, three types of "broad-brush" lights (cyc, scoop and border lights), general "wash" PAR...

When it comes to building a performance space, one thing is certain: You'll need lights. Whether you are creating the light plot for a dance club, a small black-box theater or a large-scale music...

Special effects lighting is fun and easy to do, and can be used at events large and small to give the show a little extra excitement. Special effects lights come in many shapes, sizes and special...

Though it may appear simple, stage lighting design is a complicated process that requires a crew of people to generate. From conception to the show's opening, lighting design requires a precise...

Effective theater lighting does not just involve the lighting effects, colors and shapes you may see during a stage production. Theater lighting also involves lighting the audience and making fine...

Theater lighting is a dangerous profession. Working with suspended, heavy lights in a dark atmosphere with high-voltage electricity poses a number of hazards to your health and safety. Through the...

Theater lighting is not merely a functional technical aspect, but an artistic statement used to enhance the visual and dramatic elements of a stage show. It is designed by experienced artists who...

Lighting is a vital part of almost any live performance. In most shows, lighting has four basic functions: to make the important parts of the scene visible; to establish a sense of time and...

It's a dark, eerie night on the streets of London as the killer stalks his prey. Just as he is about to strike, police searchlights turn night into day and reveal him to his victim. Stage lighting...

Theatre lighting is a complicated task, as different placements, types of lights, intensities and colors all produce different effects. Specific effects can be produced in a number of ways, but...

Lighting design can be one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling jobs in the theater. The designer gets to shape and craft a mood with light. Many times, people remember the lights more than any...

If you do a lot of community, student or children's theater, there may come a time where you will not have a light designer to do the lights for your show. Many people who do theater feel lights...

Stage lights are controlled by an operator who presets the various lighting options for the show, and each light can be made brighter, softer or colored. Understand the function of stage lights...

English teachers and community-theater volunteers often end up with the job of lighting an amateur production. A truck pulls up and unloads a pile of black or gray metal instruments, piles of...

The effect of lighting on a theater production cannot be overestimated. With focus, intensity and placement, the same scene could come across as horrifying or hilarious depending on how it's lit....

One notable exception to this rule is the follow spot. The follow spot is most commonly referred to simply as a "spotlight" and is the quintessential theater light for illuminating a single actor....

Intelligent lighting, sometimes called automated lighting or movable lighting, is an innovative type of stage lighting that is controlled through an automated system. These lights are capable of...

Stage lighting encompasses different kinds of lights, and each has a different purpose. One of the most common types of stage lights is the parabolic aluminized reflector (PAR) light. These lights...

Whether you're considering lighting design as a career or just want to help out with your child's elementary school play, the principles of lighting for the stage are the same.

There are no specific rules to designing your stage lights for a performance. This will depend greatly on the needs of the production. Even so, most designers generally follow the guidelines...

Stage lighting is an integral part of any theatrical production. It has evolved from the most basic of roots into a compelling art form. From its humble beginnings in natural light to high tech...

The technology and techniques used in theater stage lighting are diverse. Stage lighting design is a key element of theater productions, because it can create mood, signal a shift in scene,...