Cueing/LevelsHopefully, the tech schedule includes dark time in the theatre prior to technical rehearsals. If it doesn't, you should ask for it. If asking for dark time doesn't get it added to the schedule, you should beg. If that doesn't work, it might be time for threats- but that's kind of a last resort.
Dark Time: Time in the theatre after focus that is specifically set aside for light cue creation/notes. A time that all work lights can be extinguished in order to allow the lighting designer time to see what the light actually look like in performance. Dark time usually needs to be negotiated with the scene shop and paint shop, as they always will want as much light as possible to do the million tasks that are necessary to their departments as well. Levels: Sometimes called 'rough-in' or 'pre-cueing', level set happens prior to tech, hopefully with walkers (human beings who may or may not be part of the cast) to be bodies on stage. Using dress dummies if the costume shop will spare a couple is a mediocre replacement for real people, but better than nothing. Dark time in the theatre prior to tech allows the lighting designer to write a 'rough draft' of light cues, so that technical rehearsals can run more quickly and efficiently. Writing each cue from scratch during tech rehearsal is a very slow process, and if the designer can come into that rehearsal with some levels already written allow, it can help the other people in the room (actors, dancers, directors, producers, etc.) feel like their time is not being wasted. The cues are being adjusted rather than built from scratch. |
Technical Rehearsals |
If you think of this process as being akin to the writing process that you learned in 4th grade English class, the cue sheet is the outline, the Levels process is the rough draft, the Tech Rehearsal is the first revision, and any subsequent notes and rehearsals that happen are second revisions. Opening Night is the Published Final Draft.