Chicago Play Final Project Presentation

Student lighting designers showcase their creative visions for the school production

Apr. 17, 2026 at 4:39am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen-style illustration featuring multiple images of a theater lighting instrument, such as a Fresnel spotlight or LED par can, repeated in a grid pattern with vibrant neon colors and heavy black outlines, conceptually representing the technical and artistic elements of stage lighting design.Student lighting designers showcase their creative visions for the school's upcoming play production through innovative use of color and repetition.Chicago Today

Students in a Chicago theater program have been tasked with designing the lighting for their final school play production. The assignment requires them to submit a detailed lighting plot, sample lighting images, a color rendering, and a comprehensive lighting cue sheet.

Why it matters

Lighting design is a critical element of any stage production, setting the mood, highlighting key moments, and enhancing the overall audience experience. This project allows students to showcase their technical skills and creative problem-solving abilities as they bring the play to life through innovative lighting choices.

The details

For the final project, students must create a lighting plot with at least 40 individual lights, including the channel number and color for each. The plot should include a ground plan of the theater space and indicate the direction each light is pointing. Additionally, students must provide 6 sample images demonstrating the desired quality of light, a color rendering featuring their lighting ideas, and a lighting cue sheet with at least 40 individual cues.

  • The final project is due on April 17, 2026.

The players

Chicago Theater Program

A prestigious theater arts program at a high school in Chicago, Illinois, known for its rigorous curriculum and student productions.

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What’s next

After submitting their final projects, the student lighting designers will present their work to the class and receive feedback from their instructor and peers. The best designs may be selected to be implemented in the upcoming school play production.

The takeaway

This lighting design project allows students to apply their technical skills and creative vision to a real-world theater production, preparing them for future careers in the performing arts industry.