Is there any way to light a stage so that no color could be seen, it is all black and white?

Mmm, not really, for a couple of reasons. First off, your set would have to be black and white for it to work, as would all the costumes and actors faces.

Secondly, from my slight understanding of physics, light doesn't work that way. I can't think of how to describe it, but... it has to do with how light reflects off things.

Anyone who has a better understanding of physics able to expand on that?

"You think I'm bad??!! I'm the conservative in the group!" -Myself ~Hope~

I'm not the one to ask on a physics standpoint, but from a practical standpoint, I don't know as it would work well/effectively. The set being black and white isn't necessarily a problem, nor would costumes as long as you didn't pick up varying shades of white or black (there are far too many shades of black and white). The actors' skin would be a hurdle, but could theoretically be mostly covered by makeup. Hair could also theoretically be taken care of through the use of wigs, but that would get expensive rather quickly.

Then you'd get into issues with the actual lighting. Such as making sure all your lights have the same (or very similar) lamps, since there are also far too many shades of white light, and different fixture/lamp combos will give you different temperatures of light. It's possible that, depending on the color of light you're using, you could get odd colored shadows due to the different absorption/reflection properties of various materials. If anyone's from michigan and knows what MIFA theatre competitons are, the lighting is in pre-set areas set up by the host school and has to be very neutral due to the number of performances using the same lighting. However, I'm willing to bet some schools have a very light amber gel in their lights in order to make them a little less harsh. Plain white light is usually only used for specials or spotlights, and even then is normally used in combination with other lights.

However, it IS a unique idea, and if someone's tried it or seen it done feel free to correct me, but I think that the problems would lie more in the paint and costuming/makeup areas in regards to how they'll react to the light rather than in actually lighting the stage itself.

At least in the USA, there is one reason why what you suggest is impossible. To satisfy fire code laws , there must be two exits WITH lit exit signs. As far as I know , the signs come only in neon orange or green. The audience must be able to see the signs in case of an emergency. Practically, this means that there can never be a true blackout , only a blackout + exit sign. The white light isn't hard - a combination of fresnels and scoops would do fine . If you really wanted to use the white light aggressively , you could have whiteouts, but to do that would require a scoop (probably) with a 5 or 10 thousand watt bulb. They do sell them -- not easy to find , but possible.

Actually, you can give the illusion of black and white with gels or brighter lighting. But depending on how it's done, it can be unpleasant for the audience.

If you want dramatic changes between black and white and color, you might consider shadow lighting from the back then using lighting from the front when you're emphasizing color again.

The problem with this is that it tends to detract from the story and the characters.

If you want to remember a certain time period by referring to television programs, you might consider other ways to refer to them: mannerisms, language, plot remembrances, etc.

At any rate, if this is for a local company or school, you may consider talking with the lighting director to see what facilities are available and how they might be used for what you have in mind.

Good luck. -- Mama Q

Rather than black and white, why not shoot for heavily desaturated colour, so that there's just a hint of tone to give the audience something to anchor to. This is how they got the essentially black and white look for the opening of the original production of FOLLIES back in 1973. It *looks* black and white, but there's just enough tint of colour to make it all work.

However, if you're just writing, simply say everything's in black and white, and be done with it. Dont worry about the mechanics; that's not your call. If it's that important, let the designers and director figure out how to do it. They're paid to do that, so let them do their job while you do yours of writing.

Hullo! Fun idea! And I had a lighting designer who managed to turn a color set to look nearly black and white (actors, too) with some futzing with color gels. (He said something about complementary colors and worked it all out with the set and costume designers.)

I don't remember much more other than that it's possible. And we had NO budget, either.

However, I think that you as the writer don't really need to worry about how. That's for the designers and director! I mean, Shakespeare has a rather famous stage direction that reads, "Exit pursued by bear" in Winter's Tale. He doesn't leave instructions on how! He also has ghosts and spirits and apparitions.... and they had no projectors or fancy lights (any lights!) back then. Let the magic of theatre worry about it and write away.

Break a leg!

Yes, i think that there might be someway...hey tell you what? I'll check with a buddie of mine and mail ya' k'?

as far as making it look b&W onstage, as the play is being performed, i am not sure how that could be done.
but if you were to tape your stage play in color, then bring it to your local public access / community channel - they maybe be able to change it to black and white through the editing process / equipment they use or depending on their equipment - you maybe able to tape/film it in black and white, even though it's color.
chances are you may have to join the station to get to be able to use this equipment, etc. but it is well worth the effort and the staff's are usually really talented and skillful in area's of production.
usually the only thing they'll ask you is if they could air it on the city/town's community channel-which would mean the potential of an audience is there as well.
that's what i am thinking of doing with mine.
hope this helps.
good luck.

The only way to do black and white is to do a siloute..(is that how you spell it?). but lighting is all about tricking the audience so if you just have MAJOR contrasing colours and medium lighting, it should work out fine!*^^* I do a lot of lighting for my schools plays and musicals, and already your proposal has gotten me excited! I really want to do lighting for this!XD

Mmm, you probably could, but it'll be a thing to mesh out with the entire designing team, not just lights. Still, just put in 'white/black' wherever you want. Designers will figure it out. It is their job. And I say this as a lighting girl myself.

Do a search on the Internet for the Disney Cruise line. Apparently, there's a dining hall on the ship where the walls are black and white. As dinner progresses, colored lights turn on and light up the walls, and finally, when dinner is done, the walls are magically all colored in! I imagine they accomplish this with scrims and backlighting, which could certainly be used for a staged production.

You can't light the stage that way, but you could design the stage closely to that effect. For example all furnishings, paint etc. would be black and white as could the costumes. Lighting won't do it for you, but there are other ways to do things, after all this is the magic of the stage.