Hundreds of small theaters across the United States, and hundreds more around the globe, rely heavily on high‐wattage incandescent theatrical lighting equipment to illuminate the stage. Above a typical stage may hang dozens or even hundreds of fixtures each drawing five to ten times the electricity of a standard 100w household light bulb. Used during each performance and rehearsal and often even for cleaning, these lights constitute a large electrical draw for such spaces and create a great deal of excess heat. And while compact fluorescent bulbs are quickly replacing the incandescent bulb in homes, theaters have been slow to adopt new technologies.

This proposal, entitled Spotlight on Sustainability: A Student Lab Theatre, seeks funding to retrofit existing lighting equipment in the student‐run Armory Free Theatre as an important step towards bringing sustainable practices to theatre spaces everywhere. This team intends to retrofit the theatre with low‐energy lighting sources including LED, HID and emerging plasma sources. The space, overseen by the Department of Theatre, is an ideal showcase for sustainability due to its relatively manageable size and its broad cross‐campus student audiences. Those who attend the typically “sold‐out” performances will see theatre and learn about emerging sustainable practices.