Lighting Design Beyond Theatre: A Process for the Evolving Entertainment Industry

Lighting Design Beyond Theatre provides a step-by-step design process for live event lighting outside of traditional theatre, dance, and opera, including concerts and tours, awards shows, sporting events, benefits, comedy shows, corporate events, fashion shows, political events, and more.

This book introduces the origins and history of live events, establishes a shared practice for lighting designers working in live event design, compares and contrasts where lighting design process for theatre, dance, and opera differs from lighting design process for live events, and provides practical considerations and wisdom about navigating the work culture of these events. Containing case studies and exercises, the book outlines holistic processes and practices for this career, including building a task list, choosing equipment, incorporating constructive feedback, leadership, the realities of money and client relations, and getting invited back for more job opportunities.

This book is written for students of lighting design and emerging lighting designers interested in exploring lighting design outside the traditional theatre industry, as well as instructors teaching lighting design for nontheatrical live events.

Lighting Design Beyond Theatre includes access to downloadable materials for instructors and readers to use as a project, following along with the exercises in the book. These materials represent the information available at various steps in a design process for a realized show, from venue and site information to scenic renderings and schedule details. The final light plot and production photos are also included.

Allen Branton is a Lighting Designer for stage and television. With a career spanning over 50 years, he has worked with some of the most prominent musicians and performers of our time, such as Diana Ross and U2, and has designed notable events such as the MTV Video Music Awards, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the Emmy Awards, and two Super Bowl Halftimes.

Sharon Huizinga is Associate Professor of Lighting at the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music (CCM) and Program Director for the Academy of Live Technology at Rock Lititz. She has been a lighting designer and programmer since the start of the millennium working in many countries and across multiple entertainment industry genres.