The lights are dim in the large room, and the stage is empty. A dark figure in costume walks toward the center of the stage, and then the spotlight is on the actor as they recite their lines.

As the scenes change, so does the lighting, all because of the technicians behind the scenes.

“It is really fun, I like the people that are in it and theater,” 8th-grade theater student Lucas Ghent said.

Lucas tried out lighting for a reason: his older brothers.

“My brothers, all two of them, have done lighting for theater and have all been really successful, so I continued and I really liked it,” Ghent said.

He worked on the musical, the play, and the UIL from last year.

“It gives it a whole different character and without lighting you can’t see the actors,” Ghent said

 Lighting is fundamental to theater because of how it affects the setting.

“I love the control I have over the lighting and how I can create a mood with just one click of a button,” Ghent said.

The mood is very easily changeable and dependent on many aspects.

”It affects the mood of the story. If there’s a dark scary scene you wouldn’t want to do bright colors. You select the right colors and areas of the stage and then program it in,” Ghent said.