In discussing various attitudes toward lighting, she noted that George Abbott, one of the nation's most prominent directors, liked a great deal of light downstage, where he played all the comedy scenes. Agnes de Mille, who knew her choreographic preferences very well, wanted to silhouette her dancers on one occasion, and on another to have a dimensional effect. Jerome Robbins wanted plentiful light from out front to focus on the pantomime expressions and makeup that were important in his work. Sometimes, things did not go the way they were planned. I just want to be seen.
Lighting is visual music.
It sets the mood, enables you to understand what is going on, yet never call attention to itself. Yet preparation for this quiet effect required a tremendous amount of labor. At times, hundreds of pieces of lighting equipment must be coordinated, with painstaking attention required to effect all the nuances of mood and action in the play, musical or dance. Mr. Zvonchenko is a specialist in the Music Division. An exhibit of Clark's work is on display at the Athens-Clarke County Library in Georgia during April.