This document discusses the lighting design plan for the play "Bus Stop". The lighting design aims to establish the mood, style, time and place through a mixture of soft and sharp lighting. Soft lighting will be used for slower scenes, while sharp lighting will grab attention during scenes of action. A realistic lighting style using natural colors is chosen over a nonrealistic style to fit the play's real-life situations. Visibility will be maintained through lights above and in the house. Angles of light will define shapes and forms in three dimensions. Spotlights will focus on performers and dimmer lights will define character areas.

1. By: Danielle Lyday
Group 33
Bus St
op:
Light D
esign

2. Why is lighting important?

3. This play, Bus Stop, is somewhat of a love story.
Throughout the entirety of it, there are various moods
on display, some of action, some of emotion, and others
filled with genuine entertainment. When lighting comes
into play, it is one of the most important elements.
Without light, there would be no visual and with a
visual there would be no play at all.

4. The Plan
o Assist in Establishing the Base
Mood
Style
Time and Place
o Make Sure to Maintain
Visibility
Shape and Form of Props and Characters
Visual Composition

5. Mood
The mood of this play is one of warmth and electricity.
It is seen as a shelter form the blizzard outside and with
the action that occurs within, makes the atmosphere
seem intense.
In Terms of Lighting, I would utilize a mixture of both
soft and sharp lights.

6. Soft lighting would be used for most of the play. While
the characters are being introduced, and at time when
the play is at a slower pace.
Sharp lighting will be used in times of action and
commotion. This will get the audience’s attention and
make them feel a change of pace that is soon to come.
I would make the outskirts of the set dim and slightly
put of focus, while the main part of the stage, where the
majority of the action happens, will be sharp and in
complete focus.

8. Style
I am choosing to go in the direction of a realistic
lighting design instead of a nonrealistic one because it
will fit the mood of the play best. I believe this to be
true because the play has real life situations and
without a realistic lighting design, the audience would
either not take the play seriously or think it came off
too dramatic.

9. Instead of dramatic lighting, with unnatural tints and
hues, I am going with natural colors and lighting
appearances.
A lamp to the side of the stage can be used to add
illumination to the siting area while a dull overhead
light can provide varied visibility to the that is near off
stage.

10. Hung form above, these lights would give the center
stage a soft tone causing a sort of dimmer effect on
the outskirts of the stage.

11. Time & Place
The stage is set to portray a small town Kansas
restaurant set right across form a bus stop between the
hours of 1 and 5 a.m.
Since the play is set indoors, I would try and portray
this knowledge through lighting and color change to the
side of the stage.
By using a mix of white, blue, and purple lights, this
visual can be accomplished.

12. Visibility Is Key

13. After figuring out the initial factors that will need to be
shown through lighting in this play, we come to
visibility!
Making sure visibility is maintained, I will make use of
the lights both above the stage and overhead in the
house of the theatre. This way, there will never be deep
shadows on stage or points of obscured vision.

14. Shapes & Forms
The lighting will not just come form above the stage,
but form the sides and behind the characters and props
on stage as well.
I will use the different angles of light, to make sure all
objects on stage are not viewed as two dimensional, but
in real life three dimensions.

15. Visual Composition
This is essential in order to make sure visibility is kept
during the most active scenes in the play.
In Act II, some of the characters participate in a show in
order to pass the time. As each performer takes on their
acts, I would place a spot light on each, drawing the
main focus to the right person.
Also, as Bo goes to pace in his corner by the window, or
Will walks out the front door to resume his duties as
sheriff, the lighting will be dimmer.