HAMLET LIGHT CUES

In general the lighting will be foreboding and dark, but will not sacrifice the ability to see
the actors. This does not mean that there will be a lack of color. Some groups of light, with the
same color gel, will be hung in the same location in order to have more of a point source of light.
A wide pallet of colors will be used to suggest time of day and mood. I plan to use patterns on
the set and floor, to break them up and give the sense of shadow without always being in
shadow. Lighting will isolate on the actors/action when warranted and blocking allows for it. I
will experiment with using the tower lights to suggest the mood of the scene, but will also be
used to suggest a source of illumination when applicable. I may project cloud patterns on the set
or floor. Striplight wash on floor if possible. Blacklight will be used for fight scene and possible
ghost scenes and funeral processional.

CUE 1: Houselights/Preshow. Suggestion of tragedy in preshow lighting. Slate blue

striplight wash on floor. Slow moving cloud projections on set. Wash of patterns on the set and
floor (with color scrollers?, if so what color?). Sidelight in blues & lavenders. Tower lights are
amber at a low level.

CUE 2: House to Half.

CUE 3: House Out

CUE 3.1: AF - Preset out/Blackout (multipart cue)

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Prologue Funeral Processional

CUE 4: No frontlight. Amber back sidelight. Blue sidelight at low level. Dark blue back
light. Patterns to breakup the space and to allow the actor to walk through shadows (color?).
Tower lights are amber. (Page 2)

CUE 5: Flash of backlight pattern.

CUE 5.1: AF Transition to isolated lighting

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Prologue Elsinore. A room in the castle. A non-descript time.

CUE 6: Add single lavender front light on Hamlet (with S4R?). Dark blue back light. No
sidelight. Patterns to breakup the space and to allow the actor to walk through shadows (color?).
Tower lights are amber at a low level. (Page 2)

CUE 7: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out.

CUE 7.1: AF Transition night without frontlight.

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Act 1, Scene 1 Elsinore. A platform outside the castle. Night.
CUE 8: Lavender & blue front light. Dark blue back light. Patterns to breakup the space
and to allow the actors to walk through shadows. Low intensity dark blue striplight wash on
floor. Sidelight? Tower lights are bluegreen at a low level. (Page 3)

CUE 8.5: Isolate on actors (if possible).

CUE 9 9.5: Reduce lavender intensity or lower general intensity slightly. Add series of
moving light cues that create Path (Swirl effect w/ML) of the Ghost approaching isolating on
Bernardo, Horatio and Marcellus. Change color of tower lights. (Page 4)

CUE 10 -10.5: Add series of moving light cues that create Path (Swirl effect w/ML) of the Ghost
exiting. (Page 4)

CUE 11: AF - Return to Cue 8.5 (Page 4)

CUE 12 12.5: Reduce lavender intensity or lower general intensity slightly. Add series
of moving light cues that create Path (Swirl effect w/ML) of the Ghost approaching isolating on
Bernardo, Horatio and Marcellus. Change color of tower lights. (Page 5)

CUE 13 -13.5: Add series of moving light cues that create Path (Swirl effect w/ML) of the Ghost
exiting. (Page 5)

CUE 14: AF - Return to Cue 11 (Page 5)

CUE 14.1: AF Add hint of sidelight sunlight. (Page 5)

CUE 15: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out. (Page 6)

CUE 15.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 1, Scene 2 Elsinore. A room in the castle. Past Noon.

CUE 16: Amber & blue front light. Sunlight streaming through windows (patterns). Muted
low level amber back sidelight to suggest sun. Blue sidelight. Isolate on Claudius, Gertrude and
Hamlet (for a brief time) where ever they are, if practical. Tower lights are off. Blue striplights.
(Page 7)

CUE 16.1: Add light on rest of Space as needed. (Page 7)

CUE 17: Slowly isolate on Hamlet if practical. (Page 9)

CUE 18: Return to Cue 12.5, if necessary adjust acting area lights to match blocking. (Page
10)

CUE 19: Isolate on Hamlet. More foreboding. (Page 14)

CUE 20: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out. (Page 14)

CUE 20.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 1, Scene 3 A Room In Polonius House. Late afternoon.

CUE 21: Amber & blue front light. Sunlight streaming through windows (patterns, if
possible not the same as Elsinore). Muted amber sidelight to suggest late afternoon sun. Blue
back sidelight from opposite side. Tower lights are off. No Break-up pattern projected on set.
(Page 15)

CUE 22: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out. (Page 19)

CUE 22.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 1, Scene 4 Elsinore. A platform outside the castle. Midnight.

CUE 23: Lavender & blue front light. Dark blue back light. Patterns to breakup the space
and to allow the actors to walk through shadows. Low intensity dark blue striplight wash on
floor. Sidelight? Tower lights are bluegreen at a low level. (Page 20)

CUE 24 24.5: Reduce lavender intensity or lower general intensity slightly. Add series
of moving light cues that create Path (Swirl effect w/ML) of the Ghost approaching isolating on
Bernardo, Horatio and Marcellus. Change color of tower lights to blue or orange. Increase
pattern intensity. (Page 20)

CUE 25 -25.5: Add series of moving light cues that create Path (Swirl effect w/ML) of the Ghost
exiting. (Page 22)

CUE 26: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out. (Page 22)

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Act 1, Scene 5 Elsinore. Another part of the platform outside the castle. Midnight.

CUE 27: Lavender & blue front light. Dark blue back light. Patterns to breakup the space
and to allow the actors to walk through shadows. Low intensity dark blue striplight wash on
floor. Sidelight? Tower lights are blue or orange at a low level. Increased pattern intensity like
Cue 24.5. (Page 23)

CUE 27.1-27.5: Add series of moving light cues that create Path (Swirl effect w/ML) of
the Ghost entering. (Page 23)

CUE 28 -28.5: Add series of moving light cues that create Path (Swirl effect w/ML) of the Ghost
exiting. (Page 25)

CUE 29: Isolate on Hamlet. Tower lights return to bluegreen.(Page 25)

CUE 30: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out. (Page 26)

CUE 30.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 2, Scene 1 A Room In Polonius House. Afternoon

CUE 31: Amber & blue front light. Sunlight streaming through windows (patterns, if
possible not the same as Elsinore). Muted amber sidelight to suggest late afternoon sun. Blue
back sidelight from opposite side. Tower lights are off. No Break-up pattern projected on set.
(Page 27)

CUE 32: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out. (Page 28)

CUE 32.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 2, Scene 2 Elsinore. A room in the castle. Afternoon.

CUE 33: Amber & blue front light. Sunlight streaming through windows (patterns). Muted
low level amber back sidelight to suggest sun. Blue sidelight. Tower lights are off. Slate
blue/blue-green striplights. Breakup pattern in no color at low level if possible. (Page 29)

CUE 34: Adjust acting area as needed. (Page 32)

CUE 35: Adjust acting area as needed. (Page 36)

CUE 36: Reduce acting area if possible. Add breakup pattern in Red color if possible.
(Page 39)

CUE 37: Isolate frontlight on Hamlet with ML if practical. Maybe add ML toplight on
Hamlet. Sunlight streaming through windows (patterns). Change color of break-up pattern and
increase intensity. Deep blue-green or red striplights. (Page 29)

CUE 38: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out. (Page 30)

CUE 38.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 3, Scene 1 Elsinore. A room in the castle. Afternoon.

CUE 39: Amber & blue front light. Sunlight streaming through windows (patterns). Muted
low level amber back sidelight to suggest sun. Blue sidelight. Tower lights are off. Slate
blue/blue-green striplights. Breakup pattern in no color at low level if possible. (Page 42)

CUE 40: Adjust acting area as needed. If Claudius and Polonius stay on stage light them
dimly. (Page 43)
CUE 41: Adjust acting area as needed. Slowly increase intensity of break-up patterns and
add red to them if practical. (Page 44)

CUE 42: Isolate frontlight on Ophelia with ML if practical. Maybe add ML toplight on
Ophelia. Sunlight streaming through windows (patterns). Change color of break-up pattern and
increase intensity. (Page 45)

CUE 43: Add frontlight and other lights on Polonius and Claudius. (Page 46)

CUE 44: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out. (Page 46)

CUE 44.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 3, Scene 2 Elsinore. A hall in the castle. Early Evening/Midnight.

CUE 45: Lavender & blue front light. Dark blue backlight. Dark blue-green and/or blue
sidelight to suggest evening. Patterns to breakup the space and to allow the actors to walk
through shadows. Low intensity dark blue striplights. Moonlight streaming through window.
Tower lights are amber. (Page 47)

CUE 46: Isolate on Hamlet & Horatio, if practical. (Page 48)

CUE 47: Return to Cue 45, adjust area lighting if necessary. (Page 49)

CUE 48: Increase intensity of lighting in Players area and lower intensity of other areas
slightly, except Hamlet & Ophelia. Lower intensity of tower lights. (Page 51)

CUE 49: Lower light level on Hamlet & Ophelia. (Page 53)

CUE 50: Increase intensity on Hamlet, Gertrude, Claudius & Polonius if necessary. (Page
54)

CUE 51: Return to Cue 47, but change striplights to bluegreen and patterns to magenta.
(Page 56)

CUE 52: Isolate on Hamlet and Horatio. (Page 56)

CUE 53: Isolate on Hamlet (with ML like Cue 37?). Increase intensity of breakup. (Page
58)

CUE 54: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out. (Page 58)

CUE 54.1: AF - Blackout

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INTERMISSION
CUE 55: Intermission Up (Similar to Preshow but with more of pattern & backlight)

CUE 55.1: AF - House Up

CUE 56: House to Half.

CUE 57: House Out

CUE 57.1: AF - Preset out/Blackout (multipart cue)

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Act 3, Scene 3 Elsinore. A room in the castle. After midnight.

CUE 58: Lavender & blue front light. Dark blue backlight. Dark blue-green and/or blue
sidelight to suggest evening. Patterns to breakup the space and to allow the actors to walk
through shadows. Low intensity dark blue striplights. Moonlight streaming through window.
Tower lights are amber. (Page 59)

CUE 59: Isolate on Claudius. Add isolated lighting for Hamlet with ML like Cue 53.
Change break-up patterns. (Page 60)

CUE 60: Return to Cue 48. (Page 61)

CUE 61: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out. (Page 61)

CUE 61.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 3, Scene 4 Elsinore. The Queens Closet. After midnight.

CUE 62: Lavender & blue front light. Dark blue backlight. Dark blue-green and/or blue
sidelight to suggest evening. Patterns to breakup the space and to allow the actors to walk
through shadows. Low intensity dark blue striplights. Moonlight streaming through window.
Tower lights are amber. (Page 62)

CUE 63: Add red to striplights and change color of breakup to red or magenta. (Page 63)

CUE 64-64.5: Add series of moving light cues that create Path (Swirl effect w/ML) of the Ghost
entering. (Page 66)

CUE 65-65.5: Add series of moving light cues that create Path (Swirl effect w/ML) of the Ghost
exiting. (Page 67)

CUE 66: Return to Cue 53. (Page 67)

CUE 67: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out. (Page 69)

CUE 67.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 4, Scene 5 Elsinore. A room in the castle. Daytime.

CUE 68: Amber & blue front light. Sunlight streaming through windows (patterns). Muted
low level amber back sidelight to suggest sun. Breakup pattern at low level but present. Blue
sidelight. Tower lights are off. Blue striplights. (Page 70)

CUE 69: Change striplights to deep lavender or purple and change color of breakup to red
or magenta. (Page 70)

CUE 70: Return to Cue 68. (Page 72)

CUE 71: Change striplights to red. (Page 74)

CUE 72: Change striplights to deep lavender or purple and change color of breakup to red
or magenta. (Page 76)

CUE 73: Isolate on Laertes & Claudius. (Page 77)

CUE 74: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out. (Page 78)

CUE 74.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 4, Scene 7 Elsinore. Another room in the castle. Late Afternoon/Early Evening.

CUE 75: Amber & blue front light. Deep amber or magenta sunlight streaming through
windows (patterns). Muted low level deep amber or magenta sidelight to suggest sun. Breakup
pattern at low level but present. Blue sidelight. Tower lights are off. Bluegreen striplights.
(Page 79)

CUE 76: Change patterns to lavender. Isolate lighting, as much as possible, on actors.
(Page 80)

CUE 77: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out. (Page 82)

CUE 77.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 5, Scene 1 A churchyard. Morning, but overcast w/Haze.

CUE 78: Amber & blue front light. Muted low level amber back sidelight to suggest sun.
Breakup pattern at low level in blue, but present. Blue sidelight. Tower lights are off. Blue
striplights. Isolate on grave. (Page 83)

CUE 79: Add lighting on Hamlet & Horatio. (Page 85)

CUE 80: Adjust acting area to match blocking. (Page 87)

CUE 80: Add light for procession without frontlight. (Page 90)

CUE 81: Add frontlight on procession and lower intensity on Hamlet. (Page 90)

CUE 82: Change striplights to red. (Page 92)

CUE 83: Isolate on Claudius and Laertes. (Page 93)

CUE 84: Flash of backlight pattern. Frontlight out. (Page 94)

CUE 84.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 5, Scene 2 Elsinore. A hall in the castle. Afternoon.

CUE 85: Isolate on 3 actors. Amber & blue front light. Deep amber sunlight streaming
through windows (patterns). Muted low level deep amber sidelight to suggest sun. Breakup
pattern at low level but present. Blue sidelight. Tower lights are amber. Bluegreen striplights.
(Page 95)

CUE 86: Enlarge acting area to encompass increased actors. (Page 98)

CUE 87: Highlight fight, but not at the expense of the rest of the acting areas. (Page 101)

CUE 88: Increase intensity of break-up pattern. (Page 102)

CUE 89: Slowly change striplights to red. (Page 103)

CUE 90: Change sidelight to magenta. (Page 104)

CUE 91: Isolate on Hamlet and Horatio. (Page 104)

CUE 92: Fade out all frontlight, except special on Hamlet. (Page 105)

CUE 93: Move Hamlet special to follow exit. (Page 105)

CUE 94: Fade to striplights and patterns only. (Page 101)

CUE 94.1: AF - Blackout

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Curtain Call/Post-show

CUE 95: Curtain Call.

CUE 96: Brown Out/Striplights Only

CUE 97: Blackout

CUE 97.1: AF - Post-show Up

CUE 97.2: AF - House Up