The document provides details about the play "Bus Stop" by William Inge, including the setting, characters, stages, and lighting design. The play is set in a 1950s diner in Kansas during a blizzard. It will be performed on a proscenium stage. The lighting design uses different colors, intensities and focuses to set the mood during scenes such as conversations between characters. Flood lights and spotlights will illuminate parts of the stage during acts 1-3 to draw attention to actions and enhance the drama.

1. BUS STOP: A 50’S LOVE
STORY
BY: WILLIAM INGE
LIGHTING DESIGN BY ALEX LOCKET
GROUP 92 MEMBERS: ERIC FLORES-VERDAD
ALEXANDER LOCKETT
NGHIA NGUYEN
STEPHANIE RODRIGU

2. BACKGROUND
The play is set in the 1950’s in a diner located small town in
Kansas, just thirty minutes from Kansas City. The roads are filled
with snow due to the blizzard, shut down for any further travels
along the concrete trails from 1 to 5 a.m. After the
announcement has been made to the two waitresses, the
people come into the diner and the play begins to uplift fully.

3. DINER
The diner is ideally to be similar to an older Denny’s (first
opening). It is not like a city filled, urban diner where it is next to
buildings, clean cut, or extremely metallic or modern.

4. STAGE USED: PROSCENIUM
Bus Stop is set on a proscenium stage because the play is NOT interactive towards the audience, no solemn or isolated speeches are used
because each character’s actions are based on each other. A thrust might have been used but the performers most likely need places to hide or
change clothes (possibly character if only a few actors/actresses were used for “Bus Stop”. Based on the diagram shown, the audience can look
solely on the stage and the actors are easily able to project their voices without strain.

5. LIGHTING DESIGN TERMINOLOGY AND FUNCTIONS
Selective Visibility: The ability to see what is going on during the play.
Revelation of form: Different viewings of an object on the stage. Such as seeing an object seemingly in 3D when it really is 2D based on
the lighting.
Focus: Lighting a single particular object or actor of the play. An example is Richard III speaking to the audience variously throughout the
play.
Mood: Setting the tone of a scene.
Projection/stage elements: Lighting may be used to project scenery or to act as scenery onstage.
Plot (script): A lighting event may trigger or advance the action onstage.
Composition: Lighting may be used to show only the areas of the stage which the designer wants the audience to see, and to "paint a
picture"
Color: Different colors can change the mood of a scene from anger and violent to a happy and upbeat tempo.
Intensity: The amount of light plays a role in any scene. No light can signal an intermission or ending of the play while plentiful amount of
light can justify the beginning or possibly an intense climax.
For other lighting terms more indepth: http://alss1.wordpress.com/theatrical-lighting-glossary/

6. ACT 1 LIGHTING
•
lighting is set with bright flood light inside the diner
•
outside scenery is low illumination illustrating night time.
•
As each outside character enters, a single beam of light from the upper bulb cues only each character arrive inside while the rest of
the stage is pitch black; giving the audience attention to each person’s characteristics (physically) how he/she dresses and leisure on.
•
When Bo walks into the building, a quick 15 seconds of lighting shines only on him and Cherie (as he looks infatuated towards her)
with a violet hue; slowly fading into the two characters and instantly flashing out of it.
•
As the play begins with all the individuals, the flood lights burn bright and remain constant throughout the Act; pitch black in the
audience but plentiful brightness on stage.

7. ACT 2
•
When the Philosophy teacher begins to flirt with the high school student, the remains constant to where it stands until Dr. Lyman speaks about love,
changing the illumination to be soft and giving off a soft pink coloring throughout the stage to set the false mood;
•
When Dr. Lyman and others begin to reenact “Romeo and Juliet”, the lights dim somewhat help redeem the William Shakespeare clarification pastel light
•
During the singing by Cherie as Virgil plays the guitar (as shown in the picture) the lighting is pitch black on the outside, with a blue hue around the stage
while the light mainly shines on Cherie, Virgil, and Bo.
•
When Bo tries to demonstrate his tenderness to Cherie, the lights are briefly set on the two before Cherie rejects Bo.
•
While Will fights Bo, a red coloring surrounds the stage.

8. ACT 3
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After the characters awake, the light gives off a Daylight showcasing as the sun rises around 5 a.m.; orange, yellow, and some red
come up as others awake.
•
While the Dr. speaks to Ellsie, only 2 lights are shown at the two.
•
The light returns to its regular and equal lighting throughout the stage and ongoing until the end of the play.
•
As everyone leaves, Virgil is standing outside the diner staring at it, Grace speaks to him saying “I'm sorry, Mister, but you're just left
out in the cold.“ The lights are lowered to paint a picture of the play almost ending and the diner closing, also the resolution of
everyone’s interactions. Virgil replies with, “Well... that's what happens to some people.“ Virgil walks off.
•
Grace goes upstairs gets in her bed, and entire area goes pitch black as she flicks each switch off and finally the last switch; the play
has ended.

9. LIGHTS USED
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Flood light
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Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight (ERS)
•
Rosco X-Effects Projector
•
Elation Design Spot 1200 Compact

10. REFERENCES
"Bus Stop" - A Comedy by William Inge http://plays.about.com/od/reviews/fr/busstop.htm
ALSS – Advanced Lighting & Sound Solutions
Bus Stop Study Guide by Elisabeth Heard http://www.loopplayers.com/pdfs/BusStop-Spr2010.pdf