As a continuation of our Summer Camp blog series, over the months  leading up to the kick-off of our Levoy Theatre Summer Camp, we will be taking you on an adventure through the ins and outs of what a life in the theatre might look like. This adventure is both for the kids attending our summer camp, their friends, and, of course, their parents! We’ll explore 6 different jobs that are critical to the success of any theatrical production. This month, we explore the world of lighting design as explained by lighting designer of many Levoy Theatre productions including Shrek the Musical, The Who’s Tommy, and the upcoming Sister Act: the Musical,  Caitlin DuBois! Stay tuned for our next blog post, coming at you next month!

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The job description for a lighting designer in a vintage Production Guide reads:

“Upon the electrician fall all the duties of Jove in the delicate matter of making the sun to shine or the moon to cast its pale rays over a lover’s scene.. Operated by the man in the haven of the gallery gods out front, all are under the direction of the electrician who sits up in his little gallery and makes the moonlight suddenly give place to blazing sunlight on a cue.”

That description is a fancy way of saying good lighting design is a tool to help the audience to lose their grasp of reality and escape into the world created onstage.

Good lighting design, therefore, should never be obvious to the audience.

Most people do not notice the detail that goes into lighting a scene for the stage. Take a moment right now and look around the room and imagine how you would mimic onstage the light coming through your window. Chandeliers shining, moon light coming in your window, or the almost strobe effect of riding a school bus.

Now think how different the chandeliers would look today versus the 17th century, or how differently the sun pours in at 11am vs. 2pm. The next time you see a show, or concert or even a movie, consider the detail of the lighting and the thought and creativity that went into it. If nothing else, I hope it will help you to see the world, on the stage and off, in a new light.

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For more information on the Levoy Theatre’s Summer Camp, please visit levoy.net/camp or call us at (856)-327-6400!