DSA StageCraft and Design
Lighting Design 201 - Semester 1
Syllabus
Stage Lighting 101
Teacher: Keith W. Rice
Office Telephone: 720 424 1771
E-Mail:
Webpage: http://dsa.dpsk12.org/
Office Hours: 2:45-3:20 M-F
Class Times: 1:05-2:35 M-F
Course Objective:
This course covers techniques of designing lighting for various stage forms, creative planning and projection of designs for specific productions. Covered are the fundamentals of learning how to see, exploring the mind's eye, and painting with light. Translating theatrical moments and music into lighting sketches, storyboards, and atmospheres, transitions from one atmosphere to another, and developing points of view and approaches are also studied. Fundamentals of the tools of the lighting designer, preparation for the theatre, production techniques, and assistant skills are covered.
To explore and gain a working knowledge of lighting, electrical, electronic, and mechanical lighting theory.
To understand and apply the basic tools, technologies, and theories of lighting design to the stage and it’s allied art forms.
To understand and use computerized data and storage systems for lighting design. The student will also be able to use the available technical literature, to pursue complex problems and design situations, to a creative end.
To apply critical thinking and creative problem solving techniques to lighting design by developing new ideas, theories, and in using laboratory process.
To show evidence of this process through application, by project work, and through supervised lighting laboratories and design experiences.
Course Content and Methodology:
This course is designed to expose the student to the theories and realities of lighting design for the theatre. The methods of this course employ lecture, discussion, demonstration, and practical laboratories.
· The topics will include, but are not limited to, the theories, physics, and mechanics of light, color, and electricity; the practical application of the theories in light, color, and electricity; the use and development of lighting notation and process in developing the design and it’s supporting paperwork; the development of various methods of graphic representation to communicate the designer's intent; the understanding and application of advanced electronic, electrical repair and calibration techniques; and the maintenance of both crews and the lighting process.
· This class is designed to allow the student to feel comfortable with, and be employable in, an introductory position in the field of lighting design.
The student is expected to participate in class discussions, critiques, and projects. The student will also attend all the plays produced by the department so they may be discussed in class. The student is expected to attend all classes. To fulfill the activity credit section of the class, the student will serve as lighting designer, assistant lighting designer, Head electrician, electrician, etc. for a StageCraft and Design production. Projects turned in after the due date will not be accepted unless for compelling reasons. Exam and project dates are subject to change.
Sketchbook – The students is required to keep a sketchbook. Guidelines for each sketchbook assignment will be given in class. Sketches are to be dated. The sketchbook must be bound, and no smaller that 8 ½ X 11”. Sketchbooks will be collected periodically for progress checks and evaluation.
EVALUATIONS:
The student will be evaluated on practical design projects, utilization of class time, in class projects, tests, work calls, show calls that will count for a total of 45% of the final grade. In addition, there will be a midterm and final project that will each count for 55% of the final grade.
Texts:
Theatrical Design and Production, J. Michael Gillette
StageCraft Fundamentals, Rita Kogler Caver
The Dramatic Imagination, Robert Edmond Jones
Lighting and the Design Idea, Essig, Thomson Publishing
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