Ghost the Musical

Ghost the Musical

Theatre Aspen

2019
  • Lighting Designer: Collin Hall
  • Director: Graham Northrup
  • Musical Director: Dory Light
  • Choreographer: Luke Ryan
  • Scenic Designer: Graham Northrup
  • Costume Designer: Ginny Bultman
  • Sound Designer: Lee Sullivan
  • Stage Manager: Hannah Freeman
  • Photo Credit: Mike Lyons

Based on the movie of the same name, this musical is about seizing the day while you can, living your life to the fullest, and staying present in the moment. For example, Sam becomes a ghost because he failed to appreciate his life with his girlfriend, so he struggled to find closure for his relationship with her. All of the ghosts in this musical are people who died and are clinging to their physical lives, unable to continue on to the afterlife.

The lighting design for this musical primarily emphasizes the separation between the living and the ghost worlds. The living world exists in a more realistic state, which is generally brighter and less colorful. However, in most of the musical numbers, I used a lot more movement and punchy colors, since this is a rock musical. In contrast to the living world, the ghost world tends to be more abstracted, with a separation between dark spirits and light spirits. The dark spirits live in a dark, shadowy world, with harsh shards of red light piercing through. The world of the light spirits is hazy, with a soft, warm white glow and gently moving dots.