What Does Going Dark Mean?
In theatre, when someone yells “Going Dark” it means that the lights are about to go out and is a warning for everyone to be mindful of their location on stage. It became common practice to help limit the risk of people falling off the stage when the lights unexpectedly change.
During tech rehearsals and whenever lighting is working on stage, there are likely to be dramatic lighting shifts happening often. By warning everyone that the lights are changing to a much darker cue, they know to stop moving if they are at risk of being injured in the dark.
What should you do when Going Dark is called?
When you hear “Going Dark” called, you should answer back with “Thank You, Dark” and limit your movement. Once the lighting shift has completed or you can see to safely move around, you may continue on.
Curtains, scenery, music, and talking all drown out and absorb the “Going Dark” call, which can be a safety hazard. Because “Going Dark” isn’t usually called over a god mic, responding aloud extends the warning to others.
Though replying with “Thank You, Dark.” every time may feel excessive in the beginning, no-one is judging you for replying. Since I am a Stage Manager and typically close enough to hear the initial call, I take it upon myself to repeat the warning over headset for those working in booths, catwalks, and backstage to hear.
I typically task my ASM‘s with keeping their attention on any safety hazards backstage. They should make sure blue lights stay on and there are no hazards backstage for anyone who is exiting the stage.
When is Going Dark used?
Going Dark must be called when the lights are changing to a blackout and it isn’t expected. This includes any look where the stage is dropping from full light to only one or two lights.
An expected blackout would be running through a blackout you have already walked through during tech. Because the blackout has been talked about with everyone involved, they should be prepared for it, so there is no need to warn.
Who says Going Dark?
The two main people responsible for saying “Going Dark” are the Lighting Designer, and the Light Board Programmer. Both people should know they are about to go dark, and one of the two should call it before going to the blackout.
If you are the programmer or designer on a show, I recommend having the discussion ahead of time about who will call it so that it’s clear who will do most of the calls. Don’t be afraid to call it though if the other person forgets, because safety should always take priority.
Other helpful phrases for tech
- Places – The call for all actors and technicians to get into position for the top of show (or other specified moment).
- Half Hour – the 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the run or performance. I have written an entire post about Half Hour and what it entails if you are looking for more information.
- Call Time – The time everyone is supposed to be in the building and ready to work for the day.
- Dark Time – Work time on stage for lighting. Means that work lights will be off so focus notes and programming can happen as necessary. Can also be used to talk about work time for projections.
