The Lighting Design For The 2009 Kent State University School Of Theatre And Dance Production Of Jane Eyre A Musical Drama PDF Download

I propose to design the lighting for the Kent State University School of Theatre and Dance production of Jane Eyre, a musical drama as my thesis project. Director Terri Kent has stated that the production design will be a picturesque abstraction of the Bronte novel. Her vision is inspired primarily by visual descriptions in the novel. For example, the music of the score supports Jane's optimism when she is finally free of the Lowood School, just as the novel describes a detailed visual image of the garden at the school. When she first arrives, she sees the barren land, but upon leaving she sees the true beauty of the 'noble summits.' As Jane travels musically through the song, 'Sweet Liberty, ' the lighting must support the image of the land as described in the novel that she travels before she arrives at the unsettling gates of Thornfield. The lighting will provide the primary design element used in identifying the many different locations of the musical. The challenges include creating a design that supports the visual mood and locations in a "picturesque abstraction," the idea and/or feeling of the location. I will achieve this abstraction by selecting specific elements (direction, angle and texture) to represent locations and mood. This is in keeping with the director's vision for the design. The lighting design is the primary design element used in identifying the many different locations of the musical. The movement between locations is seamless within the script and score. Lighting will provide a visual transition as locations flow from one to the other and isolate playing locations within the larger context of the stage space. Another challenge is to selectively reveal the ensemble while maintaining focus on the principles. For example, in Jane's song, 'The Death of Helen Burns, ' the stage directions indicate that the ensemble "emerges from the darkness of the graveyard." Seeing the ensemble is important here as they provide Jane's inner voice. Documentation for the project Jane Eyre, a musical drama will include, but is not limited to, a concept statement, a lighting plot with paperwork; (including a channel hookup, instrument schedule, accessory hookup, color and template schedule.) I will also provide a shop order, budget sheet, magic sheet and a cue sheet.