RJ Stangherlin

Keystone Technology Integrator and STAR Discovery Educator

This site is for Mrs. Stangherlin's classes at Salisbury High School.

Lighting the Stage: Behind the IP Scene

So many people who often remain invisible help make IP a success.  Parents are the largest support group; I often wish I could be that proverbial fly on the wall and see what a parent sees, or even a student.  The “clickers” can make or break a presentation; if their timing is off, or if the people on stage don’t hit their “tag line,” even lighting is off.  And that’s my segue for today’s post.  Getting lights right involves more that which series of le.vers to raise and lower, or when to use the spots; it requires setting the lights so they are where they are needed.  Our lighting issues are driven by the technology in our presentations--we need light on actors and off of the big screen.  Today, when they had a long list of to-do things when school was closed, our custodians rigged our lights.  We cannot thank them enough; now our audience will not have to cope with ambient light on the right and left side of the big screen.

Equally important is running lights and sound.  Doing these jobs has been a Yorgey family tradition at SHS, and this year is no exception, except that Jeff, as a graduating senior, just made our job harder next year because he’s the last of his siblings.  Since we are toggling between video and stage presentation venues, lights are more complicated than past years, all 12 of them.  So, a special thanks to the men on lights, and to Tom Smith, who hates having his images captured, who keep the behind-the-scene problems from becoming crises.  Bravo for a job well done, and for sending into a long holiday weekend stress free!  Amen.