1. Mr. Bartosh Technical Theatre I FUNCTIONS & QUALITIES OF LIGHT

2. WHY DO WE LIGHT A SHOW? There are Six FUNCTIONS, or goals of stage lighting

3. VISIBILITY More specifically…selective visibility. The ability to see a subject. Actors, costumes, and sets need to be seen. How much we see them and in what manner is up to the designer. Selective visibility allows the designer to draw the audience’s focus. How?

4. COMPOSITION Defined by placement & movement of actors Reveals form on stage Is closely related to selective visibility, in that at it’s most basic composition aims to light forms selectively. Light possesses the quality of incredible fluidity, making light an ideal choice for altering stage composition quickly and easily Use & control of shadows.

5. FOCUS Directing audience members attention to certain people or objects, adding emphasis. Sometimes directing attention away from certain things. People naturally look to the brightest part of a set, or where there is movement.

8. REALITY REINFORCEMENT Lighting must support the “givens” of the action on stage. Historical Period Time of day/year Location Socioeconomic In a scene on a bright sunny day, Dark blue light washing the stage would not support this.

9. MOOD A distinctive emotional quality or feeling Effective lighting is subtle and rarely noticed. Establishing mood is difficult because of that goal. What do you most closely associate with mood?

10. CONCEPT REINFORCEMENT In a play or musical, and often dance, the director and design team develop a theme or message for the show. Can be implicit or explicit Lighting must support the concept.

11. HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THE FUNCTIONS? There are FIVE basic controllable qualities of light. Think of these as the “tools” that every designer has to work with.

12. INTENSITY The brightness of a light. Directly related to which function? Intensity is comparative to the human eye The theater offers a way to control this condition

14. In lighting color is two fold: Transmitting colors Revealing colors Used most frequently to enhance mood Also conveys time of day or atmospheric conditions Exaggerated colors can stylize the look of a production COLOR

15. DISTRIBUTION How we see light reflected off of various surfaces “Texture” of the light; can be manipulated with diffusion materials, patterns (gobos). Diffuse light has more divergent rays Soft & lacking intensity Less diffuse light has more parallel rays Harsh & more intense

16. DIRECTION Also called “angle”. Describes where light originates from and its relationship to the surface it’s striking Changing direction can radically alter perception of size and form. Can come from front, top, back, side In theatre 70% of lights are usually front lights Only 30% in dance Why?

17. MOVEMENT Not an intrinsic quality, but extremely important for design. Includes Movement in beam (followspots, automated lights) Change in intensity Change in distribution Change in color Change in cue from one “look” to another is movement