Any production process must begin with planning. This involves all aspects of the production: artistic, ideological, organizational, technical and economical. When the lighting designer is involved in the planning of the production, he or she will be able to develop the lighting design in conformity with the production concept, enabling the smooth integration of the lighting into the show. However, before joining the production, the lighting designer needs to find out more about the nature of production. He or she will need information such as:
From the program of Sweeney Todd, The New Israeli Opera.
What play is it?
Where will it be performed?
Is it a one-off performance, or is it played as part of a repertoire?
Will the show play at the same venue for a long run, or is it a road show which will play a different theatre every evening?
How many spectators will there be?
Who are the director and the other designers involved?
When is the first performance?
What is the proposed production schedule?
Under what technical conditions will the lighting designer have to work?
What is the proposed lighting budget?
Last but not least, what will the lighting designer's fee be?
Having gathered this information, and, based on it, decided to join the production, the process of designing the lighting usually begins by reading the play and analyzing it.
