The Lighting Designer (LD for short) is a much coveted position. You probably think I’m being sarcastic, but I’m not. Really. For the first several weeks a show is in rehearsal the LD attends design runs and works with the director to determine the nature of the design. The LD then usually makes a light plot, which a program such as Vectorworks can greatly help with (some LDs prefer a less organized method of hanging lights on the fly without a light plot, which is not recommended). Then, starting the Monday before tech, the LD comes into the space when the cast is not rehearsing (11pm-2am is a prime time for light hangs) with an electrics crew to achieve the following before tech:

• Hang the lights
• Cable the lights to dimmers in the space
• Focus the lights (also involves dropping colored gels into the lights)

During dry tech, the light designer works with the director to program cues into the light board. Wet tech the next day involves adjusting and fine tuning the cues to the presence of the actors.

The LD should be present at every run during tech week to take notes and further adjust cues.

The LD job is a very time consuming position for a little less than two weeks, but extremely rewarding. You get to pick pretty colors! And program special effects into the light board! It rocks, believe you me.

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Useful LDing links
PW's light inventory and other light information

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Want to be contacted to LD a show? Email pw@brown.edu expressing your interest and list your name in the greenbook!

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If would like to know more about LDing or have any questions, email Drew.