Lighting Instruments:
Follow Spot

Follow Spot The follow spot, a large, heavy, and expensive high intensity variable beam angle (zoom) spot light, is traditionally used to high light (spot) the lead performer, or performers, in a musical or dance production. The light should have an internal iris, a color-changer, a douser, and should be able to produce a sharp edged, head spot, from the back of the auditorium. Most musicals require a minimum of two lamps. (Cost of an Altman 1000Q: $ 1330)

City Theatrical in New York makes several accessories, a follow spot yoke ($ 640), drop-in iris ($ 125), color boomerang ($ 275), and handle ($ 43) which can be used to turn a Source 4 Ellipsoidal into an incandescent follow spot.

1. What is the function of a Follow Spot?

Isolate the major performer (star) in a pool of light. There are two basic approaches to the use of a Follow Spot. In a Broadway Show the star (or stars) is spotted from the moment he makes his entrance to the moment he leaves the stage. In an academic or community production, the star (or soloist) is usually only spot lighted during the musical numbers.

2. What light source is used in the MainStage follow spot?

A 1000 watt "quartz" lamp. Our unit is similar to the Altman 1000Q.

3. What internal devices are used to shape the light beam?

An iris and a shutter. The iris, which can change the size of the pool of light from a head spot to full body is used more frequently than the shutter.

4. How many colors are commonly held in the color boomerang?

Six. For a musical or ballet I would include (1) a "no color pink," (2) a "warm lavender," (3) a "very pale blue" and (4) a "light frost." The frost can be used to soft edge the pool of light, giving it a more subtle and less theatrical look.

5. How are these colors identified?

By their location, slot number, in the color boomerang. Both lamp and color are assigned numbers. A follow spot cue might sound like "Warning: Lamp 1 in color 2 on Dolly -- Go."

6. What is the minimum number of Follow Spots necessary to light a musical? Why?

Two. Because the plot of a typical American musical is a love story there will undoubtly be a duet ("Tonight") between the pair of young lovers (Tony and Maria in West Side Story). In recent years Broadway designers have used up to six follow spots for a high end musical.

7. Where are follow spots typically located?

In the back of the balcony. Most theatres have a follow spot (or projector booth) located behind the last row of seats. In recent Broadway musicals designers have also located follow spots in the far box boom position and on towers in the down stage torm position.

8. What is the problem with locating the follow spots in the back of the balcony?

Many times the vertical angle from the rear of the balcony is not steep enough to keep the "tail" of the light off of the back drop. For many shows a better vertical angle could be achieved by mounting the light in the Ceiling Cove. For the 1975 Broadway production of A Chorus Line, designer Tharon Musser placed her follow spots on a "temporary" platform (or bridge) suspended from the dome of the Shubert Theatre. (Link to a photo of the Shubert Theatre on the IBDB Web Page which shows this follow spot platform)

For Northern's production of 110 in the Shade (2003), The Rocky Horror Show (2004), Disney's Beauty and the Beast (2005) and Urinetown (2006) the two follow spots (Source4 19° Ellipsoidals without the City Theatrical accessories) were placed in the center of the Ceiling Cove.

9. What are the standard warnings given to a new operator?

1. Keep the light off the front of the stage.
2. Keep the light off the act curtain.
3. Learn to "site" the lamp so you can "open" on the performer.
4. Know where the edge of your beam falls.
5. Don't let the performer slip out of the light.
6. Include the entire body. Remember sometime they move unexpectedly.
7. Don't let the beam get too big. The light should be a little larger than the performer.
8. Don't jiggle.