An Introduction

• A Method of Lighting the Stage by Stanley McCandless. This is the OG textbook on lighting. It might not be the most important read, but it’s good to honor the history of the art.
• Stage Lighting Design by Richard Pilbrow. Another original, but for the modern age. A fantastic read.
• Lighting and the Design Idea by Linda Essig. One of my favorites for students. She’s approachable and articulate.
• The Magic of Light by Jean Rosenthal. A mother of the art. This is a beautiful text – art speaking to art – something to inspire.
• A Practical Guide to Stage Lighting by Steven Shelley. Less about the art and more about the craft. A seminal read if you’re interested in going into the industry.
• ETC Educational Resources – Want something immediate and free? Here’s a handful of educational resources from ETC, the creators of the EOS lighting software.

The following is my personal distillation of several sources, the principals that guide my art form, and the way that I’ve found best to teach my students. I like to break everything into two questions …

• What is my artistic goal as a lighting design – these are the functions of light.
• What are my artistic paint brushes for light – these are the elements of light.

I’ve broken the elements of light down into individual lessons since these are the tools you can bend and break to accomplish your vision and achieve your goals.

If you’re returning back to the full course, the elements have corresponding projects that I would encourage you to step through.

Enjoy this tangent!