Stage Lights
Lighting is one of the most powerful special effects at work in modern theater. It is not only necessary for the audience to see the actors, but shapes how they feel about the entire play. Through the use of specific techniques such as angles, colors and intensity, it is possible to influence an audience's emotional response, therefore increasing the power of performance. Known as the McCandless method, a few basic principles guide even the most elaborate productions.
Dividing the Stage
Though there are many different types of performance spaces, the majority of traditional theaters are prosceniums, where the audience sits in front of a raised stage. Prosceniums theaters are large and can be difficult to light. For this reason, it is important to divide the stage into not only stage right, left, up and down, but into smaller circles. The placement of these imaginary circles are based on the movement of the actors during the performance. Lighting crews will work on one circle at a time, so it is possible to control all areas of the stage individually, but with equal detail.
Lighting the Actors
It should come as no surprise that one of the most essential parts of the lighting process is to make sure that the audience can see the performers. For this reason, most lighting crews focus on this aspect first, before moving on to more complex techniques. Illuminating the actor is usually done with intense white lights, such as PAR spots, which are focused on a specific area. The performer is usually lit from all sides, with the majority of attention going to side and top lighting. Although costuming, like a hat, may complicate the angle, the purpose of this process is to make sure it is easy to see the most important aspect of just about any performance---the actors.
The Importance of Scenery
Another aspect of theater that lighting reveals is scenery and props. Once the actors are lit, most designers shift their attention to the rear and sides of the main performance space, to the scenery, such as walls and trees. Such lighting is less intense, but usually still done in traditional or neutral colors. Fresnels and PAR spots allow light to be cast at an extreme angle. Sometimes scenery, especially a sky or other background detail, is accomplished through focusing colored lights on a huge display screen that stretches across the stage.
Details, Details, Details
The kind of lighting special effects and real technique we often associate with theatre are not applied until the actors and the performance space are fully illuminated. Colors, shaped beam focuses and effects are the details that make or break a performance by influencing how the audience responds to it. While a horizontal angle might be best for a drama, a sharper angle might be better for a comedy. Similarly, darker or cool colors such as blues lend themselves toward serious subjects because they elicit negative emotional responses. Sometimes further techniques are needed, such as flash lighting or the use of a follow spot. For example, lightning strikes are often created using rapid flashes and spotlights are essential when the actor moves outside the traditional performance space, such as into the wings or audience. This process of detail lighting is unique to every designer and performance.
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