Theater Photography - First Time - Help!

[sonniejake]

I've been given the opportunity to to take pre-production and production shots at a local community theater. Most of my experience has been with landscapes, flowers, and buildings in natural light- I haven't taken many shots of people but am looking forward to the challenge.
So I'm looking for some advice regarding ISO, shutter speed, etc, for stage lighting.
I will not be able to use a flash during production shots, and I do have a tripod.

[LeeR]

You are going to need to spend some time getting familiar with the setting and especially with the lighting. Most of the time there is plenty of light for getting shots, but not all theaters are the same and you don't want any surprises. You said you won't be able to use flash during the production but you should during dress rehearsal. This may be your best opportunity to get some great shots if production day lighting is weak.
You should also scope out the venue. Is there a catwalk you can access? Shots from above tend to foreshorten people which is not very flattering, but a few shots from on high would be a nice touch. Where can you stand during the production to get wide shots of the entire stage? What are the views like from the sound and light booth? Can you shoot from backstage? What are the most dramatic moments and where do you need to be to get that killer shot? Where is the best light? It's usually front and center, but you may find some other areas are good as well. Are there any dark skinned people? How will you make sure you have enough light on their faces?
In other words. spend some time; go to some rehearsals before the dress rehearsal and talk to stage hands and tech people. On the big day, your pre-planning and these people will make all the difference in your results.

[inkista]

Do you have a fast prime lens? A tripod is nice, but if people are moving, they're going to blur. Higher isos and wider aperture lens are going to help you out tremendously. And find out what your limitations are in terms of being on/around or moving near the stage.

You may want to consider renting a 135/2 or stabilized 70-200 f/2.8 if you're shooting from the house side.

[sonniejake]

Thanks for the advice. I won't be able to go in for the pictures for a couple of weeks but have been given premission to stop by and check everything out and take notes.

[starrylaurie]

When you take notes, ask if they're using multiple gels in their lighting plot. Most shows have a lighting Designer who will have what they've plotted for each scene. This can change the entire feel of the scene & the coloring of the entire stage. Make sure that you don't use Auto White Balance because this will change as the gels change. However, if it's a very small theatre that doesn't have access to a proper lighting system, you may not have to worry with this. I'd definitely ask, though! You never know, the Lighting Designer may give you a copy of his plot, so you can follow the action/lighting changes throughout the show. At the very least, he/she can tell you what lights are changing where & for how long. =)

Have fun!

[sonniejake]

It is a very small theater, but I will ask about the gels. I'll have to see about going in and setting a custom white balance.
Thank you to everyone for the advice.