Theatrical Lighting Plot Generator
Generate lighting plots, cue sheets, and technical specs from scripts and venue data
What You Can Do
Transform theatrical scripts and venue specifications into production-ready lighting documentation. You'll generate detailed lighting plots with instrument placement, create precise cue sheets with timing and intensity levels, produce instrument schedules with focus information, and develop focus charts for technical rehearsals. This skill bridges conceptual design and technical execution, reducing manual drafting time while ensuring comprehensive coverage across all acts and scenes.
Features
automatically maps instrument types and positions based on venue geometry and design requirements
generates numbered cues with timing, intensity, color, and equipment specifications for all scene transitions
produces detailed fixture lists with focus points, color assignments, and channel assignments
creates technical documentation showing exact focus positions, distances, and beam angles for each instrument
organizes lighting requirements by scene with consistent cueing structure across the production
translates design intent into specific gel selections and intensity levels for mood and atmosphere
outputs throw distances, beam angles, and coverage calculations for venue accuracy
produces reference materials for technical rehearsals, operator runbooks, and department handoffs
Example Output
Sample Lighting Plot Output:
- Stage right electric bar (22 ft high, 18 ft throw): ETC Source Four 26° @ position A (warm wash), ETC Source Four 19° @ position B (key light), Altman Leko 2.5K @ position C (special)
- Front of house position (30 ft throw): ETC Source Four 26° (cool backlight), ETC Source Four 50° (fill light)
Sample Cue Sheet Excerpt:
- Cue 1.1 (Lights in, 3 sec fade): Stage wash 80%, key light 75%, back special 60% (L201 blue gel)
- Cue 1.5 (Cross-fade, 5 sec): Fade wash to 40%, bring front fill to full, special out
- Cue 2.1 (Scene transition, 2 sec snap): All to black except side light 30% (L147 amber)
Sample Instrument Schedule:
- Channel 1-4: Source Four 26° (stage right electric), Focus: SC1-SC4, Color: L201 Blue, Purpose: Warm wash
- Channel 5-8: Source Four 19° (stage left electric), Focus: SL1-SL4, Color: L154 Medium Amber, Purpose: Key light
What's Included
- SKILL.md instruction file with complete theatrical workflow and best practices:
- Lighting plot template with standard venue configurations and instrument placement matrices:
- Cue sheet framework with timing conventions and intensity level specifications:
- Instrument schedule checklist with channel assignment and focus documentation:
- Focus chart template with beam angle calculations and throw distance reference:
Who It's For
- Theatrical lighting designers — creating production documentation for stage shows, musicals, and dramatic productions
- Technical directors — managing lighting systems and coordinating with creative departments
- Stage managers — preparing runbooks and cueing documentation for rehearsals and performances
- Regional theatre production teams — standardizing technical documentation across multiple productions
- Lighting technicians — executing focus and setup from designer specifications
Best For
- Rapid lighting design documentation for tight production schedules
- Multi-scene productions requiring consistent cueing structure across acts
- Technical venue handoffs between design and operations teams
- Student productions needing professional-standard lighting documentation
- Touring productions requiring portable, standardized lighting specifications
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