Expert: Wanda Reinholdt - 5/2/2009

Question
For a school project I am making a director's journal about directing the play Miracle by Reza de Wet. I would like to know how much lighting costs on average if I were to perform in a small chapel. I would only need about 3 lights I suppose plus some coloured gels.

Answer
Hi there, Chloe, on the other side of the world!  Thanks for writing.

It sounds to me like you do not understand the concept of designing lighting for a show.  I cannot tell you an average cost for lighting because every design and every theatre's resources determines the cost.  For e.g. I just finished a show where my designer took the existing theatre's lighting and just adjusted it slightly to create her design.  On other shows, we have completely revamped and rehung to create a brand new design from scratch.  

So I have questions for you to answer.
1.  Does this small chapel have any stage lighting of its own?
2.  Are you wanting to do a professional design or are you just wanting to light the stage?
3.  How long are you lighting for - how long will you need to have the lights available?  How long is the run of the show?
4.  Will you be renting lighting or installing it?

If you are only lighting the stage (#2), that is a totally different ball game then having a lighting design and lighting the stage.  

Once I know the answers to your questions, I will be able to give you a better answer.  

Does that help you?

Wanda