Stage lighting is an integral part of any performance. Whether it's a music concert, play, comedy show, or presentation, lighting enhances the experience. In situations where stage lighting is not a focal point, such as in a play or presentation, it is often taken for granted by the audience. There is so much going on behind the scenes, however, that were lighting to cease functioning, the entire event might well be ruined.
Stage Lighting Operation
Performers and playhouses employ lighting engineers to design lighting installations, program the show, and oversee operations. Engineers communicate with a crew of lighting technicians throughout the venue area, ensuring that cued adjustments are made, and fixtures are operating properly. Modern lighting design and control is facilitated by computer, which sends the program information to digital controllers, operated by the engineer or technician.
Stage Lighting Types
Stage wash lights flood specific areas of the stage with soft-edged, color-filtered light.
Fixed spotlights use hard-edged light to highlight performers or objects on the stage.
Follow spots are manually operated by technicians to follow a moving performer across the stage.
Used primarily in music concerts, specials are used to create special effects during the performance. Crowd "blinders," strobe lights, scanners, LED panels, projectors, and other light-emitting fixtures can be used as specials, as can wash and spot lights when employed in a nontypical fashion.
LED screens can act as special wash lighting, or programmed to display designs, images, and pictures.
Projectors are another common special effect, used to project videos, images, pictures, designs, and colors across the stage or onto screens.
Stage Lighting for Plays
Stage lighting for plays differs from other lighting, in that its main function is to create moods and illuminate the performers. Lighting is used to simulate room lighting, day and night, enhance scenes events and changes, and add special effects. Overhead and front lighting is the predominant design layout for plays.
Stage Lighting for Concerts
Concert lighting provides mood, effect, highlight, and enhancement lighting. Back and side lighting is the main design feature of concert lighting, with the addition of special lighting effects to surprise, delight, and enhance the audience experience. Modern concert lighting employs heavy use of washes, moving fixtures, projectors, blinders, LED effects and other specials. Follow spots are also used to highlight performers.
Stage Lighting for Presentations
From political speeches, to award shows and seminars, stage lighting is often transparent. Its main purpose is to illuminate the speaker, and create a lighting mood that is comfortable for the audience, and is not distracting to the event or speaker. Carefully placed washes and fixed spotlights, filtered with muted whites and subdued colors, are a typical design. As in other lighting setups, programmed dimmers control the light intensity of each unit to achieve the desired effect.
