The Great Gatsby
Cue Synopsis
Cue # Pg/Line/action
Fade time
1
Preshow
7
1.5 House Warning
7
1.7 Curtain speech lights out
7
2
House and fade to black
10,7
2.5 Follow cue 3 seconds
7
3
9, Start of show
7
3.3
Follow cue 7 seconds
7
3.5
9, Characters perform
jumble of previous events
9, Gunshot
Follow cue 5 seconds
9, Nick’s narration
7
10, With Gatsby’s love
theme
10, “A great deal more
than that”
10, End of Nick’s
narration
10, After Tom is off
Platform
7
13, Telephone rings
5
14, Daisy: “what I said
when she was born”
10
14, Jordan and Tom
reenter
11
15, Nick: “been haunting
me”
11.5 15, Follow cue into 12
12
15, Tom: “Come on, I
want you to meet my girl”
12.5 15, Tom: “terrible place”
12
13
7
3.7
3.9
4
5
6
7
7.5
8
9
14
15
17, As music starts/ Tom:
“NY to see her sister!”
19, As music fades down
and Myrtle speaks
20, Tom punches Myrtle
0
7
7
7
5,7
10
5,7
7
3
7
5
5
3,7
Lighting Designer: Sean Saari
Description
House opens, Water effect on dock/curtain
House lights to Half and curtain speech
Lights for Curtain speech fade out
All Lights fade to black, curtain up
Dock lights up with music
Collage of later events/looks throughout the
piece. Characters are silhouetted
Front light is added at low level for Nick’s
reactions to flurry of events
Party lights are added to the mix to further the
confusion –Eyes not present
Flash of light
Lights fade to black with Eyes fading up
Lights fade up for Nick’s narration areas A-C
cooler light, chorus light like 3.5 up as well
Gatsby’s silhouette is revealed on CS platform
And Daisy on Dock via Green-blue light
Lights focus on Nick USCR
The Buchanan House, warmer atmosphere
with neutral look on cyc. Lav accents on Voile
Light fades down on upstage platform
Light fades up further upstage platform and
areas M S
Lights focus in to Nick and Daisy, areas CDE,
Light goes colder
Lights shift back to Normal/Cue 7 look
Lights focus on Nick in narration light, dock
light is up low
Eyes of Eckleburg glow, and Gatsby exits
The Valley of the Ashes is revealed. Cooler,
harsher light with grayish breakup
Lights dim on the Valley and xfade to street
scene
Xfade to Myrtle’s apartment. Garish, lusty,
unattractive. Yellowish accents on voile.
Front light is brought up in intensity as the
dancing winds down
Apartment lights shift to dark, dim, foreboding
and foreshadowing look. Accents of death
light, and Eyes up
16
20, Nicks narration as
7,7
Cast arrives USC platform
16.3 20, Party Starts
7
16.5 20, Party starts
5,7
17
19
20
20, As Gatsby is about to
speak to Nick
22, With music, Nick:
“having a good time with”
23, Wolfshiem interrupts
22
7
7
5,7
24, As Gatsby and Nick
start to head towards
lower platform
22.3 Follow cue 10 seconds
5
22.5 24, Nick: “How did he do
that?
23
24, Gatsby: Good night,
old sport”
7
25, Daisy: “& the space
about the world was
warm”
25
25, Gatsby: “I SAID,
WHAT”S YOUR….”
26
26, Gatsby: “You’ll be
having lunch with…”
27
27, Nick and Jordan sit,
Gatsby exits
28
28, Jordan: “Daisy
Fay…the most popular..”
29
28, Jordan: “And excited
officers from Camp…”
30
28, As Daisy spins off
31
28, Jordan: “Anyway, they
became inseparable,”
33
28, Jordan: “Tom
Buchanan of Chicago”
34
28, Jordan: “$350,000”
35.5 29, Nick: “What was in the
letter?”
35.7 29, Nick: “Incredible.”
36
30, Nick and Jordan Kiss
38
30, 2 minutes before
Sound of rain/thunder
7
24
7
7
5
10
15
10
3
3
3
Stardrop in, Nick is in narration look, while cast
is in silhouette. Water lights present on dock
Cast starts dancing in Silhouette of Party look
Festoons are in, Platform lights and party
lights added
Lights focus in on Nick and Gatsby, party
lights lower in intensity in surrounding areas
Lights focus around Jordan and Nick DSC,
romantic dance, Roses, Deep blues, lavs
Lights return to prior party lights look/ like cue
17
Lights fade up on areas LMNO to
accommodate action
Lights fade in lower areas to draw focus to
Nick and Gatsby on upper platform
Dock light comes up as Gatsby: “He saw an
opportunity and took it.”
Xfade to Dock with green, blue and water
lights, with Area CDHI for Tom. Nick is still
present CS platform low, Stars as well.
Xfade to hydroplane in front of SR False pro.
Gobo rotator and shadow light.
Xfade to Area EFGJKQ, Slightly Rose, yet
Cool lights
Lights open up to form Restaurant, more
amber and warm incandescent look
Lights focus in to Nick and Jordan, Areas
IHJKEF
SR shadow screen light fades up. Lights on
Nick and Jordan cooler, blue accent on Screen
SL shadow screen light fades up
2
SR shadow screen light fades out
SR shadow screen light fades up while SL
fades out
SL shadow screen light fades up
3
10
SL shadow screen light fades out
Lights return to normal in the restaurant
10
Xfade to street scene, DS areas in Rose look
7
Xfade to Nick’s cottage. Warm lighting
10/7 Rain effect is added and sky darkens more
39
30, Gatsby exits with car
horn
40
31, Gatsby: “I’ll help you”
41
31, Nick: “there all alone.
Go on”
42
31, Love theme music
43
31, Daisy: “He’s a good
polo player…”
44
32, Nick: “its’ stopped
raining
45
32, Music as Gatsby’s
house forms
46
33, Daisy: “in all the world
has ever had!”
47
33, G, D and N throw
shirts
47.5 33, As G,D Kiss
48
34, Intermission
7
48.5
49
50
50.5
34, Audience warning
34, Fade to black
Follow cue 5 seconds
34, Start of Act II
7
7
5
7
51
34, Party music starts
7
34, Daisy: “these things
excite me so”
53
34, Gatsby: “Are you
having a good time?”
54
34, Daisy: “Where have
you been?”
55
35, Tom: “You’re
embarrassing us”
56
35, Daisy: “ Jay, I---“
57
35, Gatsby “I’ll be right
back”
58
36, Nick: “You can’t
repeat the past”
59
36, Gatsby: “the way it
was before”
59.5 As Daisy joins Gatsby
52
5
7
7
10
Lights open up area MSL for Daisy’s
entrance/Gatsby re-entering
Lights focus in to areas JKQ on Gatsby&Nick
Lights xfade to areas EFGJK on Gatsby and
Daisy
Lights shift more Rose and romantic
Lights return to prior look, but cooler, sadder
5
Water effect stops, Nick’s house opens up to
areas EFGIJK
Xfade to Gatsby’s house, Platform lights,
Golden amber accents, green blue cyc
Lights shift more romantic and focus in on
Gatsby and Daisy
Front lights fades to silhouette Gatsby, Nick
and Daisy
Lights fade to black for intermission
House lights up, Set is in a warmer/pleasant
glow, water effect on dock?
House lights to half to signal show resuming
Lights fade to black
Eyes fade up with black fade out
Gatsby and Daisy are kissing USC platform in
silhouette
Full party lights, platform lights, stars,
festoons. This is the largest and warmest
moment of the play
Party lights lower in intensity, more front light
is added in
Lights focus in more DSC, still romantic, areas
CDEFGIJKL
Lights shift more cool
5
Lights shift more harsh
7
7
Lights focus CDE on Gatsby and Daisy. Rosy
Lights open up to Nick and Jordan, more
normal
Green light is added, festoons, voile and stars
out
Xfade to narration lights on Nick, Gatsby is
silhouetted
Gatsby and Daisy dance under deep Golden
amber back light and the stars visible in the
midnight sky behind them
7
10
7
10
10
7
7
7
7
10
30
60
36, As Daisy joins Gatsby
7
61
36, Jordan enters
5
37, Nick: “I’ll drive.”
37, Jordan: “That’s why I
like you”
64
38, Tom: “I’ll get some
whiskey”
65
39, Tom, Nick, J, head to
car
66
39, Tom: “Oxford, New
Mexico” With car sound
67
40, Tom and myrtle share
one last look
67.5 40, To music
68
42, Tom: “I want to know
what Gatsby wants…”
69
43, Daisy: “Why…how
could I love him…”
70
43,Tom:“Even that’s a lie”
72
44, Tom: “stop calling me”
73
44, Tom shoves Gatsby,
right before Gatsby
shoves back
74
44, The fight stops as
Tom has ice pick to
Gatsby
75
44, Gatsby leaves
75.5 44, Nick: “Today’s my
birthday”
76
44, Nick: “I’m 30 Years
old!”
77
45, Nick: the cooling
Twilight
78
45, Sound of car coming
79
46, Myrtle: “I’M HERE!”
12
7
80
Blackout
80.3 Follow cue 3 seconds
80.5 46, Myrtle’s corpse is
revealed
81
46, After a beat and as
others enter the scene
0
3
5
62
63
7
7
7
7
Lighting fades to stars with the pair embracing
in Silhouette and Nick still lit
Xfade to more normal light across areas D-G
and I-K. Exterior lighting outside Nick’s house
Lights focus more CS-SR
Xfade Buchannan’s house, Oppressively hot
day, Voille in more hot/amber white color
Focus in on Gatsby and Daisy
Xfade to Car in front of SL False pro. Car and
shadow light up
Valley of the ashes appears
7
5
Car light disappears and eyes of Eckleburg
change
Xfade Uptown Suite
Lights start to become more tense
7
Lights go more cool, reflecting despondence
7
10
5
Lights become harsh again
Lights focus in on Gatsby and Tom
Lights open up and grow in intensity, go more
white
5
7
5
Cyc drops in intensity and Tom and Gatsby’s
area goes to highest intensity with addition of
white-blues as well
Lights stay same color but lower in intensity
Lights shift back to cue 74
7
Lights Xfade to narration lights around Nick
5
Xfade to Valley of Ashes. Twilight, cool and
dim, dingy. Eyes low and star drop lit
Car lights start to fade up on Myrtle
Head lights build to full intensity, manual car
light swings onto Myrtle from DSL
Blackout
Eckleburg eyes fade up
Lights fade up with Myrtle in pool of blood and
light
Lights open up on the valley of ashes
3
5
7
82
47, Tom: “Didn’t even
stop his car”
7
Myrtle and Wilson are dimly lit, Nighttime,
whirlpool breakup and front areas lit in R68 on
Gatsby and Daisy
Lights focus in more on Gatsby and Daisy
48, Gatsby: “Do you
believe that I love you.”
85
48, Tom, Nick and Jordan
enter
85.3 48, When Tom notices
Daisy’s home
86
49, Jordan exits
87
51, On Nick’s last name
7
88
51, Mrs. Michaelis enters
5,7
89
51, Wilson:“I spoke to
her”
51, Wilson: “God sees
everything”
51, Gatsby enters
5
Llights focus on Nick and Gatsby
Myrtle Wilson and Eckleburg eyes up while
Nick fades out
Xfade Valley of the ashes. Nick is on CS
platform
Lights focus on the pair, more harsh
5
Lights fade with Eyes more intense
7
52, Gatsby goes to the
pool after Nick exits
52, Gatsby lays back
5
Xfade to Nick and Gatsby at Gatsby’s Pool.
CS Platform and SR stair lights are up
Pool water effect up, Gatsby in Silhouette,
83
90
91
92
93
5
3
5
5
7
93.5 52, 1st gunshot+sub bump
0
94
95
96
96.5
0
7
0
5
52 series of shots
52, After gunshots
52, Wilson shoots self
52, After Wilson hits the
floor
97
52, Nick goes to USCR
98
53, Nick moves towards
dock
98.5 53, Wolfshiem leaves
99
53, Nick: “to avoid
overtaking them.”
100 54, Tom and Daisy exit
101 54, Nick: “THE MESS
YOU”VE MADE!”
102 54, With Sound cue
103 54, The music fades, on
Nick: “Boats…into the
past”
104 54, Fade to black
7
7
7
7
7
5
Lights open up on the trio, still night, no more
breakup though
Buchannan window up
Warm hopeful lights on Gatsby, reflected in
the Cyc
Cyc goes out, Gatsby’s lights go out, CS
platform lights go out
Manual flashing for gunshots on bumps
Gatsby’s Death lights fade up
SR stairs out
Wilson death lights up and Eyes of Eckleburg
at their highest mood and intensity
Nick is in opening position
Narration light up on Dock and Wolfshiem
Light off on Wolfshiem
Lights up on Wolshiem’s area for Tom and
Daisy
Lights out on Tom and Daisy
Lights fade out on Myrtle and Wilson
5
7
Dock and green light up, water light on dock
Lights on Gatsby and Nick fade, Eckleburg
eyes glow, water light stays on dock
10
All lights fade to black
105
106
107
Curtain call
House up
All out
15
7
7
Lights up warm and bright for curtain call
House lights up, stage lights fade low
Once all audience is clear and stage work
lights are up power off non-dims, projector and
power down board. Unplug scrollers from fly
rail and PARs in pit.