Week 2 - The Light of Eärendil

Ghost light in the Claire Trevor Theatre

What better place to begin a lighting blog than in the classroom itself-- the theatre? Without this lonely, solitary light, technicians, actors, musicians, and all manner of unsuspecting theatre-wanderers would be lost in the dark. I have been fascinated by the eerie nakedness of a ghost light. When I think of the theatre, I think of a grand, colorful stage with spotlights, loud music, applause, people, and general warmth. This photo represents an entirely different theatre world, one drastically drained of the grand colors and warmth of a performance and left with dark, empty seats, a bare, black stage, and hanging electrics that droop as if abandoned. But in the middle of this dark, vulnerable, cavernous space shines a light of hope, a Light of Eärendil to light Frodo's way, signaling that soon the works will come up, the lights will be gelled and hoisted into position, and the theatre will once again light up to welcome its people.