Most performance lighting is made up of a number of different looks which we have called lighting states. Each lighting cue triggers a change to a new state. Like actors, lighting cues usually need a motivation. This might be something very obvious such as a cue required to brighten a room setting when an actor turns on a light switch or the rapid increase in intensity at the end of a dance number in a traditional musical (known as a button cue). At other times we will need a cue to provide a subtle change in atmosphere over a number of minutes, motivated perhaps by the mention of a sunset or the intention to slowly change the feel of the performance from normal to threatening. The question, 'What will lighting do for this production?' needs to be asked for each moment of the production, each dramatic unit or scene, and each transition.