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. A wide pallet of colors will be
used to suggest time of day and mood. I plan to use patterns on the walls break them up and give
the sense of shadow without always being in shadow. If available, moving lights may be used
for these patterns. Lighting will isolate on the actors/action when warranted and blocking allows
for it. The cyc will be used primarily to suggest time of day but will also be used to suggest
mood when applicable. Cloud patterns may also be projected on the cyc.

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

Moving cloud projections on cyc (If equipment is available). Wash of patterns on walls and
floor. Strong backlight, if possible, to create shadows of walls on the stage floor. Sidelight in
blues & lavenders. Add Haze.

CUE 2: House to Half.

CUE 3: House Out

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

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Act 1, Scene 1 Elsinore. A platform outside the castle. Night w/Haze.

CUE 4: Lavender & blue front light. Dark blue top light. 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 cyc with stars and/or moon. (Page 1)

CUE 4.5: Isolate DSC

CUE 5 5.4: 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. Add fog &
backlight. (Page 2)

CUE 5.5: Add slowly rotating pattern on Ghost if blocking allows. Pattern should not be in
hard focus. (Page 2)

CUE 5.6 -5.9: Add series of moving light cues that create Path (Swirl effect w/ML) of the Ghost
exiting. Add fog & backlight. (Page 2)

CUE 6: Return to Cue 4 (Page 3)

CUE 6.1: AF Add hint of sidelight sunlight coming over walls

CUE 7: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 3)

CUE 7.1: 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 8: Amber & blue front light. Sunlight streaming through windows (patterns). Amber
toplight to suggest noon day sun. Blue sidelight. Moving cloud patterns on cyc (possibly).
Break-up pattern projected on set but at a lower intensity. Slate blue cyc. Isolate on Claudius and
Gertrude on Upper Platform. Special on Hamlet below platform at low level. (Page 4)

CUE 8.5: Add light on rest of Space as needed. (Page 4)

CUE 9: Slowly isolate on Hamlet if practical. (Page 6)

CUE 10: Return to Cue 8, if necessary adjust acting area lights to match blocking. (Page 7)

CUE 11: Isolate on Hamlet. More foreboding. (Page 9)

CUE 12: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 9)

CUE 12.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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

CUE 13: Amber & blue front light. Light blue toplight? Sunlight streaming through
windows (patterns, if possible not the same as Elsinore). Amber sidelight to suggest late
afternoon sun. Blue sidelight from opposite side. No Break-up pattern projected on set. Slate
blue cyc. (Page 10)

CUE 14: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 12)

CUE 14.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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

CUE 15: Lavender & blue front light. Dark blue top light. 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 cyc with stars and/or moon. (Page 13)

CUE 16 16.4: 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. Add fog &
backlight. (Page 13)

CUE 16.5: Add slowly rotating pattern on Ghost if blocking allows. Pattern should not be in
hard focus. (Page 13)

CUE 16.6 -16.9: Add series of moving light cues that create Path (Swirl effect w/ML) of
the Ghost exiting. Add fog & backlight. (Page 14)
CUE 17: Fade out Ghost special or separate groups dependent on blocking. (Page 14)
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Act 1, Scene 5 Elsinore. Another part of the platform outside the castle. Midnight w/Haze.

CUE 18: Lavender & blue front light isolated on Ghost and Hamlet. Dark blue top light.
Dark blue-green and/or blue sidelight to suggest evening. Patterns to breakup the space are
much more pronounced. Low intensity dark blue cyc with moon. Ghost pattern is used at a slow
rotation, if possible. (Page 15)

CUE 19: Change cyc, add green or red. Or possible change color in moving lights if
possible. (Page 15)

CUE 19.5: Special for when Hamlet & Ghost touch. Shake/shuttering growing ML Cue.
(Page 16)

CUE 20-20.4: Add series of moving light cues that create Path (Swirl effect w/ML) of the Ghost
exiting. Add fog & backlight. (Page 16)

CUE 20.5: Isolate on Hamlet. (Page 16)

CUE 21: Enlarge acting area if necessary. (Page 16)

CUE 21.5: Special for when they swear. Shake/shuttering growing ML Cue. (Page 18)

CUE 22: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 19)

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

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

CUE 23: Amber & blue front light. Light blue toplight? Sunlight streaming through
windows (patterns, if possible not the same as Elsinore). Amber sidelight to suggest daytime
sun. Blue sidelight from opposite side. No Break-up pattern projected on set. Slate blue cyc.
Scrim is opaque. (Page 20)

CUE 24: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. Scrim becomes
transparent. (Page 20)

CUE 24.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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

CUE 25: Amber & blue front light. Light blue toplight? Sunlight streaming through
windows (patterns). Amber sidelight to suggest afternoon sun. Blue sidelight from opposite
side. Break-up pattern projected on set but at a lower intensity. Moving cloud patterns on cyc
(possibly). Slate blue/blue-green cyc. (Page 21)

CUE 26: Adjust acting area as needed. (Page 22)

CUE 27: Change of time transition. Change amber sidelight to suggest later afternoon and
darken blue sidelight.

CUE 27.1: AF - Adjust acting area as needed. (Page 24)

CUE 28: Adjust acting area as needed. (Page 27)

CUE 29: Reduce acting area if possible. (Page 29)

CUE 30: Isolate frontlight on Hamlet Light blue toplight? Sunlight streaming through
windows (patterns). Lower intensity of amber sidelight. Change color of break-up pattern and
increase intensity. Deep blue-green or red cyc. (Page 29)

CUE 30.5: Add Lightning downlight on Hamlet w/ML (Page 30)

CUE 31: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 30)

CUE 31.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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

CUE 32: Amber & blue front light. Light blue toplight? Sunlight streaming through
windows (patterns). Amber sidelight to suggest afternoon sun. Blue sidelight from opposite side.
Break-up pattern projected on set but at a lower intensity. Moving cloud patterns on cyc
(possibly). Slate blue cyc. (Page 31)

CUE 33: Adjust acting area as needed, but emphasize Hamlet for his monologue. (Page 31)

CUE 34: Adjust acting area as needed. Slowly increase intensity of break-up patterns and
add red to them if practical. (Page 32)

CUE 35: Adjust acting area as needed. (Page 34)

CUE 36: Fade to cyc and break-up pattern. (Page 34)

CUE 36.1: AF - Blackout

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INTERMISSION

CUE 37: Intermission Up (Similar to Preshow but with more of pattern & backlight)
CUE 37.1: AF - House Up

CUE 38: House to Half.

CUE 39: House Out

CUE 39.1: AF - Preset out/Blackout (multipart cue)

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

CUE 40: Lavender & blue front light. Dark blue top light. 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 cyc with moon. Moonlight streaming through
window. (Page 35)

CUE 41: Isolate on Hamlet & Horatio, if practical. (Page 35)

CUE 42: Return to Cue 40, adjust area lighting if necessary. (Page 36)

CUE 43: Increase intensity of lighting in Players area and lower intensity of other areas
slightly. (Page 38)

CUE 44: Increase intensity on Hamlet, Gertrude, Claudius & Polonius if necessary. (Page
38)

CUE 45: Add lights, but isolate on Hamlet and Horatio. Change cyc to dark blue-green.
(Page 39)

CUE 46: Isolate on Hamlet. Increase intensity of breakup. (Page 43)

CUE 47: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 43)

CUE 47.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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

CUE 48: Lavender & blue front light. Dark blue top light. 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 cyc with moon. Moonlight streaming through
window. (Page 44)

CUE 49: Add lighting for Hamlet (Page 44)

CUE 50: Return to Cue 48. (Page 45)

CUE 51: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 43)
CUE 51.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.
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Act 3, Scene 4 Elsinore. The Queens Closet. After midnight.

CUE 52: Lavender & blue front light. Dark blue top light. 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 cyc with moon. Moonlight streaming through
window. (Page 46)

CUE 53: Add red to cyc and change color of breakup to red or magenta. (Page 46)

CUE 54: Add slowly rotating pattern on ghost if blocking allows. Pattern should not be in
hard focus. Will fog be used in this scene? (Page 48)

CUE 55: Return to Cue 53. (Page 49)

CUE 56: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 50)

CUE 56.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 4, Scene 1 Elsinore. A room in the castle. After midnight.

CUE 57: Lavender & blue front light. Dark blue top light. 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-green cyc with moon. Moonlight streaming through
window. (Page 51)

CUE 58: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 51)

CUE 58.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 4, Scene 2 Elsinore. Another room in the castle. After midnight.

CUE 59: Lavender & blue front light. Dark blue top light. 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-green cyc with moon. Moonlight streaming through
window. (Page 52)

CUE 60: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 52)

CUE 60.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 4, Scene 3 Elsinore. A room in the castle. Dawn/Early Morning.
CUE 61: Lavender & blue front light. Dark blue top light. 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-green cyc with moon. Moonlight streaming through
window. Cyc is medium blue to suggest coming dawn. (Page 53)

CUE 62: Isolate on Claudius. (Page 54)

CUE 63: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 54)

CUE 63.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 4, Scene 4 A plain in Denmark. Dawn/Early Morning w/Haze.

CUE 64: Amber & blue front light. Muted blue top light. Amber Sidelight. Blue sidelight
to suggest daytime. Patterns to breakup the space and to allow the actors to walk through
shadows. Medium blue cyc with clouds. (Page 55)

CUE 65: Isolate on Hamlet (Page 56)

CUE 66: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 56)

CUE 66.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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

CUE 67: Amber & blue front light. Light amber toplight? Sunlight streaming through
windows (patterns). Blue sidelight from both side. Break-up pattern projected on set but at a
lower intensity. Moving cloud patterns on cyc (possibly). Slate blue cyc. (Page 57)

CUE 68: Change cyc to blue-green and increase movement of clouds if possible. (Page 58)

CUE 69: Isolate on action if blocking permits. (Page 59)

CUE 70: Add low level special on Ophelia if possible. (Page 60)

CUE 71: Return to Cue 69. (Page 60)

CUE 72: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 61)

CUE 72.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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Act 4, Scene 6 Elsinore. Another room in the castle. Afternoon.

CUE 73: Amber & blue front light. Light amber toplight? Sunlight streaming through
windows (patterns). Blue sidelight from both side. Break-up pattern projected on set but at a
lower intensity. Cloud patterns on cyc (possibly). Slate blue cyc. (Page 62)
CUE 74: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 62)

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. Dark blue top light. Dark blue-green and/or blue
sidelight to suggest evening. Patterns to breakup the space and to allow the actors to walk
through shadow. Cloud patterns on cyc (possibly). Blue-green cyc. (Page 63)

CUE 76: Change patterns to lavender. Isolate lighting, as much as possible, on actors.
(Page 65)

CUE 77: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 65)

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 amber top light. Patterns to breakup the space
and to allow the actors to walk through shadow. Blue sidelight to suggest daytime. Blue cyc
with clouds. (Page 66)

CUE 79: Decrease front light slightly. Increase sidelight and patterns. Change cyc to blue-
green. (Page 68)

CUE 80: Change cyc to red. (Page 69)

CUE 81: Isolate on Claudius and Laertes. (Page 71)

CUE 82: Fade to only cyc. Possibly add in top light and/or patterns. (Page 71)

CUE 82.1: AF - Transition of time of day and location.

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

CUE 83: Amber & blue front light. Light amber toplight? Sunlight streaming through
windows (patterns). Blue sidelight from both side. Break-up pattern projected on set but at a
lower intensity in red. Moving cloud patterns on cyc (possibly). Blue-green cyc. Isolate on
actors as much as possible. (Page 72)

CUE 84: Enlarge acting area to encompass increased actors. (Page 75)

CUE 85: Highlight fight, but not at the expense of the rest of the acting areas. (Page 76)
CUE 86: Increase intensity of break-up pattern.

CUE 87: Slowly change cyc to red. Slowly sharpen breakup patterns.

CUE 88: Isolate on Hamlet and Horatio.

CUE 89: Add light on Fortinbras

CUE 90: Fade to specials on Hamlet and the dead.

Cue 90.5: Move Hamlet special to follow exit.

CUE 90.6: AF - Fade to only Hamlet

CUE 90.7: AF Fade to cyc and backlight only.

CUE 90.8: AF - Blackout

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Curtain Call/Post-show

CUE 91: Curtain Call.

CUE 92: Brown Out/Cyc Only

CUE 93: Blackout

CUE 94: AF - Post-show Up

CUE 95: AF - House Up