Lighting for a Theater

Theater lights set the mood.

Theater lights do more than simply allow the audience to see the performers. Lights also set the mood and direct the audience's attention to various areas. Many lessons used by theater lighting professionals can also be applied to home decor.

Types

Flood lights provide general illumination. Fresnel lights are soft spotlights that can be focused on a specific object. Profile lanterns are used to project harsh outlines. Follow spots move around to follow a character during an intense moment.

Considerations

According to the American Association of Community Theaters, lighting designers use intensity, color, distribution and movement to create a variety of effects.

The intensity of the light may range from a dim glow to a bright glare. The color refers to the hue. The distribution refers to whether the light is a wide glow or is narrow and focused. These three elements may change quickly or gradually, depending on the movement of the light.

Expert Insight

At professional theaters, the lighting designer will program a computer to run most of the lights automatically, but follow spots must be operated by stage hands during each performance.

References

• American Association of Community Theaters: Lighting Designer

Resources

• Theater Crafts: Types of Lanterns