Lecture Notes: Lighting and Projection Design in Beetlejuice the Musical

Presenters

• Ken Posner: Lighting Designer
• Peter Nick: Projection Designer

Key Concepts

Role of Lighting Design

• Texturing and Sculpting:
  • Enhances and reveals actors in unique ways.
  • Provides shape and highlights using bright saturated colors.
• Energetic Response:
  • Ability to shape and sculpt scenes dynamically.
  • Responds to production numbers energetically.

Role of Projection Design

• Transformative Function:
  • Transforms settings (e.g., turning a house into a circus tent).
  • Allows rapid movement through time and space, unparalleled by other means.
• Integration with Other Systems:
  • Synchronizes with lighting, sound, and music.
  • Cues are interconnected; e.g., lighting may trigger projections or sound.

Technical Aspects

Lighting Cues

• Approximately 800 lighting cues in Beetlejuice the Musical.
• Interdependencies between departments (lighting, projection, sound, music).
• Synchronization is crucial for seamless transitions and effects.

Tools and Techniques

• Internally Built Lighting:
  • Transformative machinery integrated into set design.
  • Lighting sources tucked into nooks and crannies of the set.
• Projection Details:
  • Projections can be cast from over 150 feet away.
  • Precision in projection targeting (e.g., coloring specific architectural details).

Integration Challenges

• The show is described as a live-action comedy with cartoon-like elements.
• All visual and auditory components must work in harmony to support the narrative and humor.

Summary

• The combination of lighting and projection creates unique visual experiences.
• Collaboration and technology are key to achieving the desired effects in Beetlejuice the Musical.