Take a behind-the-scenes look at the lighting design for The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical!
Our wonderful lighting designer for this production, Blain Radford, shares his approach, inspirations,
and some of the challenges involved in bringing the show to life on stage.
When it comes to the lightning design for The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, what were your initial ideas / thoughts for this production? And how has it changed?
This show was super fun to light! It’s very dynamic, there are so many locations, and we have a ton of lighting effects during the performance. Lighting for a show is always very nebulous until we are in the space with all the actors and the set in place, so it does change from initial concept to what you watch once the show opens. Colors, emotional beats, and actions that need emphasis always become much more clear towards the end of the design phase.
How does lighting help tell the story in this show?
The lighting for Lightning Thief is there to support the emotional journey of our audience. We accentuate the powerful moments and underscore the sweeter, quieter ones.
Is there a specific lighting cue you’re especially proud of or that is your favorite in this production?
I’m very happy with the scene around the campfire at camp in Act 1. There are a number of small effects in the background that really add depth to the whole scene!
Are there specific characters or locations that have their own lighting style or palette?
Each of the gods that cross paths with our heroes have their own lightning look, and I do my best to make every location in this show have its own feel. There are so many different locations in this show in particular, which made it a little more challenging than usual!
Why is investing in strong technical elements like lighting so important for a community production like this?
When we have such a strong cast, big music, and a big stage, we are always looking to support the production with big technical elements that match the caliber of the show. There are so many lights in this show that add an element of pop and set it apart from other shows this season. With the large flying scenic pieces and revolving floor, it’s also important that every technical element be as safe for the performers as possible.
What’s something about lighting design that most people wouldn’t realize?
Most people might not know that when the designers start meeting to conceptualize the show, the lighting is very hard to talk about! It exists in a nebulous space, so it is tricky to clearly communicate ideas about how lights in the show will look.
Big ideas are easy to gesture at, like flashy, or dark, or spooky, or hazy, but it’s more difficult to zoom in to those ideas and talk through how to achieve them.
Blain’s talents in lighting design bring the show’s scenes to life, but this level of production would not be possible without the incredible support of our donors and sponsors. We’re especially grateful to First Security Bank and NorthWestern Energy for funding our Cyclorama lights, and to the Sample Foundation, Treacy Foundation, Montana State Fund, and Swanson Foundation for funding the Source Forwards! Together, all of your contributions allow the Missoula Children’s Theatre to provide high-quality theatrical experiences for our performers and audiences, and we are so grateful for their ongoing support.
Catch The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical at Missoula Children’s Theatre, opening March 5th and running through March 15th.