SYRACUSE, NY-USITT is planning to have special speakers and session presenters for its 50th Annual Conference in 2010, including Sally Struthers, Dr. Joel E. Rubin, the founder of USITT, Oscar Brockett and lighting designer Jennifer Tipton. Sally Struthers will kick off the organization's four day lineup of sessions and exhibitions on Wednesday, March 31 with her Keynote presentation at the Kansas City Convention Center. Struthers, a two-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner for her work in the TV series, All in the Family, has continuing roles on the CBS comedy Still Standing and on Gilmore Girls. She has appeared on Broadway and toured with the Tommy Tune production of Grease. Ms. Struthers has worked on behalf of children worldwide and has won numerous awards for those efforts.
Also on tap will be Dr. Joel E. Rubin, a founder of the Institute and its second president, who will deliver the Fellows Address on Wednesday evening. Dr. Rubin was one of the driving forces behind the creation of OISTAT, the International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians in 1967 and was the producer of the United States Exhibits at the Prague Quadrennial in 1987 and 1991. His career has stretched across more than six decades.
On Thursday morning, the Institute will honor Oscar Brockett who will receive the 2010 USITT Golden Pen award, along with co-authors Margaret Mitchell and Linda Hardberger for their work, Making the Scene: A History of Stage Design and Technology in Europe and the United States. The book, which is being published by The Tobin Fund for Theatre Arts and distributed by the University of Texas Press, will be launched at the conference where a special book signing event will honor the authors. The opening session on Thursday will focus on the history of design and technology, with a multimedia slide show featuring images from the book.
Jennifer Tipton, who in 2008 was honored with a MacArthur Foundation "genius award," will speak on Friday morning. She has been an adjunct professor of lighting design at the Yale University School of Drama since 1994.Her presentation, "The Art of Stage Lighting," will include her views on how lighting the stage is like painting in time and space.
As USITT celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is also looking to the future. François Leroux Vice President Segment for Products and Services Entertainment Creative Development, Character Strategy, and Walt Disney World Entertainment will speak on Saturday, to give his perspective on what lies ahead for the entertainment industry.
The new Conference format, designed to highlight USITT's 50 year history and bright future, includes opening the Stage Expo on Wednesday instead of the traditional Thursday opening, and time for major sessions at the start of each day. The Conference will conclude with a gala anniversary party on Saturday, April 3.
For more information, please visit www.usitt.org.
