"Examining the theories behind stage lighting practice to help readers learn to analyze the aesthetic and critical impacts of light in performance, this book traces the development of lighting practice, focusing on developmental shifts in technology and aesthetics from the classical period to the modern era. Through a range of historical and contemporary case studies, it focuses on light as a collaborative medium and advances a variety of approaches to performance analysis and creation. By concentrating on major innovations in the field, it addresses the gap between theory and practice. A companion website features links to images, chapter summaries, questions and further resources for study"--