Lesson Plan from California Educators Together

https://www.caeducatorstogether.org/q/lp/yPgxfA

Landing the Lighting

Author: Jason Hamada
Last Revised: September 13, 2021
Exported: November 09, 2021
Grades: Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12

Introduction
Ss will watch two videos. One video will display a performance with a simplistic lighting
design and the next video will display a similar performance, but with intricate lighting
details. Ss will then jot down ideas about what they saw and discuss how the lighting
changed the performance. 

Objectives
 Ss will be able to discuss how major lighting choices can change the mood or
emotional impact of a performance.
 Ss will be able to identify key elements of lighting that contribute to the performance.
 Ss will be able to discuss lighting in various performances.

Vocabulary List
Lighting Cue
A moment where the lighting changes. Often at moments in the script where the mood
changes or during the musical number taking place.

Directionality
The direction of the light. This can be from anywhere in the theatre or the performance
venue. The directions has specific effects on the mood and overall storytelling of the
theatrical work.

Color
Can change the overall tone and mood of a scene. Color is used to activate certain human
emotions that correspond to that color. Sometimes it is culturally locked and does not
always create the same emotions.

Shadow
The darkness created by a light. It can be used to elongate a person or create a change in
the mood. It is the absence of light and it is able to manipulate moods and tones.

Intensity
How bright the light is. Some lights may have high intensity and be bright and others may
be low intensity and create eerie moods. Intensity like all the other aspects creates a
specific mood and tone.

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Landing the Lighting

Activities in this Lesson

Come From Away Video Clips

Type: Hooks / Set

Ss will watch video performance from Come From Away. One performance from the "Good
Morning America" and one performance from the Tony Awards. They will react to and
discuss how each performance is different due to the lighting. 

Resources and Materials

 Come From Away (GMA Performance) - Website

This is a video from the Broadway cast of Come From Away. This is performed on an
open-air stage and does not include lighting cues.

 Come From Away (Tony Awards) - Website

This is a video of the Broadway cast of Come From Away at the Tony Awards. This
performance includes lighting and is done at Radio City Music Hall.

Lecture on Lighting

Type: Lecture

Teacher will provide a short lecture on some of the different elements of lighting. This will
touch on the design elements, not the technical elements. Discussion will include elements
such as, color, direction, shadow, and intensity. T will briefly discuss these topics and ask
students to move into a group discussion on the videos they watched. 

Group Discussion

Type: Group Work

Ss will discuss what they saw in the performances in groups and develop a list of what they
thought about the lighting in each performance. They will then share out their observations
and discuss with the whole class.

Journaling

Type: Check Understanding

Ss will journal about what they've seen and create a written account of what they learned
and how it affected them. Students will be given a few questions to think about in order to

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Landing the Lighting

get them started. This should reflect how the lighting made them feel and helped them
understand the emotional component of the theatrical performance. The second component
of the journal will ask them to think about other areas of their life where they found lighting
to be influential. 

Spotting Your Lighting

Assessment Type(s): Reflection, Writing Samples

Ss will have homework of finding a theatrical performance clip that is changed because of
lighting. They will then create a document that identifies the different lighting elements they
saw and create a list of cues they thought added to the performance. Ss will also be asked
to create a list of critiques and explain how they think a different lighting choice would
change the performance. 

Assessment
Assessment Type(s): Reflection

Ss will submit their journal and discuss some of the things they wrote down with T in a quick
assessment to see if the Ss understood what was happening and how they might deepen
their understanding. 

Spotting Your Lighting

Assessment Type(s): Reflection, Writing Samples

Ss will have homework of finding a theatrical performance clip that is changed because of
lighting. They will then create a document that identifies the different lighting elements they
saw and create a list of cues they thought added to the performance. Ss will also be asked
to create a list of critiques and explain how they think a different lighting choice would
change the performance. 

Assessment
Assessment Type(s): Reflection

Ss will submit their journal and discuss some of the things they wrote down with T in a quick
assessment to see if the Ss understood what was happening and how they might deepen
their understanding. 

California Arts Standards for Public Schools, Prekindergarten

Through Grade Twelve

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Landing the Lighting

 Prof.TH:Cr3c Refine design choices using technical theatre elements to support the
story and emotional impact of a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.
 Prof.TH:Pr5b Use researched technical theatre elements to increase the impact of
design for a drama/theatre production.
 Prof.TH:Re8c Understand how multiple aesthetics, preferences, and beliefs shape
participation in and observation of a drama/theatre work.
 Prof.TH:Re9c Analyze and evaluate the aesthetics and effect of the technical
theatre elements in a drama/theatre work.
 Prof.TH:Cn11.2a Research how other theatre artists apply creative processes to tell
stories in a devised or scripted drama/theatre work, using research methods.

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