INFORMATION ABOUT THE VACAVILLE GASLIGHTERS
What are the Vacaville Gaslighters?
The Vacaville Gaslighters is a theatrical group dedicated to educating and keeping the arts alive in
Solano County. They perform in a cabaret/black box theatre type atmosphere. Theatrical genres
include comedic melodramas, comedic murder mystery, small plays/black box theatre, improv
theatre, and "piano bar'" "cabaret atmosphere" singing by The Mario Singers (broadway/opera).
Vacaville Gaslighters is dedicated to providing comedic entertainment that is all PG-13 and under.
We want our audiences having an evening of laughs and walking away feeling good! You will not
see us do any dark dramatic works in this theatre.
When are performances?
The events/shows link on our page will tell you when all of our events/shows will take place. It will
also tell you when other events are taking place by other companies/individuals that are renting
the space.
How did the Vacaville Gaslighters get their name?
First we must start with a brief history on theatrical gaslights:
Gaslight in the theatre was revolutionary and this new technology influenced both the style and the
aesthetics of theatrical lighting [in the 19th century]. Not only was gaslight very bright, it could also
be controlled from a distance, using a system of valves which controlled the flow of gas into the
various pipes - a primitive but effective dimming system. And for the first time light could be
projected onto the stage from new angles, as different types of theatrical gaslighting instruments
were developed: footlights, winglights, borderlights, groundrows, lengths, standards and bunch
lights. Colored light was achieved by what was called a 'medium' - transparent colored cloth
(cotton, wool, or silk), stretched over wire guards and placed in front of the naked gas jets.... These
technological innovations opened endless new artistic possibilities for lighting, but also
influenced other aspects of stage design. Improvements in gaslighting technology in the late 19th
century increased the possibilities of artistic stage lighting. Towards the close of the 19th century
the new Welsbach burner was introduced. It had a wire mesh mantle over the open gas flame,
and as the mesh incandesced it emitted an extremely powerful white light. The pilot light, which
had remained burning even when the main gas flame was extinguished in order to enable
relighting the flame, was now replaced by an electric spark igniter. This, for the first time, enabled
the auditorium to be darkened completely during the performance.
A typical arrangement of stage lighting instruments included gas burners protected by wire guards
at both sides of the stage providing sidelights, gas wings and ladders. In addition, gas battens, or
border lights hung over the stage. Gas footlights were used at the front of the stage.
stage-lighting-museum.com
Since we first started out with our main function of the theatre being melodramas, and
melodramas being popular in the gaslight era, we felt it natural to name the theatre company in
accordance with this technology of the time. Also, the late Alice McDonald, local melodrama
playwright, produced her plays under the name of Vacaville Gaslighters. Being that the
melodramas are now produced in dedication to her and Carol Zadnik, her music director, we also
felt it necessary to continue the name that the melodramas were originally produced under.
I am interested in volunteering backstage/acting in a show, how do I get involved?
Please email contact@vacavillegaslighters.com and give us a short biography on yourself and
your singing or acting experience. Don't worry if you don't have experience. Include your name and
contact information (email & phone number). Someone with the office will get back to you to set
up a meeting/audition.
What are the Vacaville Gaslighters?
The Vacaville Gaslighters is a theatrical group dedicated to educating and keeping the arts alive in
Solano County. They perform in a cabaret/black box theatre type atmosphere. Theatrical genres
include comedic melodramas, comedic murder mystery, small plays/black box theatre, improv
theatre, and "piano bar'" "cabaret atmosphere" singing by The Mario Singers (broadway/opera).
Vacaville Gaslighters is dedicated to providing comedic entertainment that is all PG-13 and under.
We want our audiences having an evening of laughs and walking away feeling good! You will not
see us do any dark dramatic works in this theatre.
When are performances?
The events/shows link on our page will tell you when all of our events/shows will take place. It will
also tell you when other events are taking place by other companies/individuals that are renting
the space.
How did the Vacaville Gaslighters get their name?
First we must start with a brief history on theatrical gaslights:
Gaslight in the theatre was revolutionary and this new technology influenced both the style and the
aesthetics of theatrical lighting [in the 19th century]. Not only was gaslight very bright, it could also
be controlled from a distance, using a system of valves which controlled the flow of gas into the
various pipes - a primitive but effective dimming system. And for the first time light could be
projected onto the stage from new angles, as different types of theatrical gaslighting instruments
were developed: footlights, winglights, borderlights, groundrows, lengths, standards and bunch
lights. Colored light was achieved by what was called a 'medium' - transparent colored cloth
(cotton, wool, or silk), stretched over wire guards and placed in front of the naked gas jets.... These
technological innovations opened endless new artistic possibilities for lighting, but also
influenced other aspects of stage design. Improvements in gaslighting technology in the late 19th
century increased the possibilities of artistic stage lighting. Towards the close of the 19th century
the new Welsbach burner was introduced. It had a wire mesh mantle over the open gas flame,
and as the mesh incandesced it emitted an extremely powerful white light. The pilot light, which
had remained burning even when the main gas flame was extinguished in order to enable
relighting the flame, was now replaced by an electric spark igniter. This, for the first time, enabled
the auditorium to be darkened completely during the performance.
A typical arrangement of stage lighting instruments included gas burners protected by wire guards
at both sides of the stage providing sidelights, gas wings and ladders. In addition, gas battens, or
border lights hung over the stage. Gas footlights were used at the front of the stage.
stage-lighting-museum.com
Since we first started out with our main function of the theatre being melodramas, and
melodramas being popular in the gaslight era, we felt it natural to name the theatre company in
accordance with this technology of the time. Also, the late Alice McDonald, local melodrama
playwright, produced her plays under the name of Vacaville Gaslighters. Being that the
melodramas are now produced in dedication to her and Carol Zadnik, her music director, we also
felt it necessary to continue the name that the melodramas were originally produced under.
I am interested in volunteering backstage/acting in a show, how do I get involved?
Please email contact@vacavillegaslighters.com and give us a short biography on yourself and
your singing or acting experience. Don't worry if you don't have experience. Include your name and
contact information (email & phone number). Someone with the office will get back to you to set
up a meeting/audition.
Vacaville Gaslighters Theatrical Group
344 Main Street Vacaville, California 95688
707.628.3737
344 Main Street Vacaville, California 95688
707.628.3737
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