Hobbies And Interests
Purpose
Stage lighting serves the crucial purpose of making the actors visible to the audience, and helps set the mood of a scene. Evaluate each scene individually. The light might need to change based on the tone of a scene, where the actors move, or the setting. Colored lighting can also help enhance a play. For example, if a scene takes place at sunset, an orange filter might help sell the scene. You switch a light off between scenes, slide the filter into place, and switch it back on. Inexpensive versions of these filters are available in most hardware and home supply stores.
Positioning
Lights can be positioned in a number of places relative to the stage. For a simple lighting scheme, use lights at the front and side of the stage, as well as background lights. Front light is used to highlight the actor and to increase visibility of the stage in general. It also works for colored mood lighting. Side lighting is used for effects and to highlight movement. Background lighting is often the biggest and brightest section of lights, creating an overall tone for the play.
Designing
Designing a lighting system for a kids' play does not have to be expensive. Convert ordinary floodlights from any home supply store into stage lights by clipping them to one or more milk crates that double as light stands. Or hang the floodlights from wires tacked to overhead trusses. This allows you as much control as you need over the light positioning, without requiring you to invest in a custom designed light and mounting system. For a small children's play, 300-watt floodlights should be sufficient.
Labor
Designing stage lighting can be a learning experience for children, and beneficial if you are short on parents or teachers to help with production. Create lesson plans for a theater or humanities class about designing the light cues for the show. Some students may prefer to work backstage designing or manning the lights instead of having a role on stage, which helps you stretch your resources further.