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Stage Directions

2023 Vectorworks Design Scholarship Now Accepting Submissions

Global design and BIM software provider Vectorworks, Inc. invites students to see where their designs can take them by entering the seventh Vectorworks Design Scholarship. The global competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students in major disciplines related to entertainment design, architecture, landscape architecture and design, and interior design. Students can submit a new design or past project from any of their classes for the chance to win up to $10,000 USD.Read More »2023 Vectorworks Design Scholarship Now Accepting Submissions

2023 ASTC-USITT Renovation Challenge

Rendering from The Ohio State University’s Sullivant Outdoor team, showing the reimagined space.

In person presentations by four teams of students highlighted the 2023 ASTC – USITT Venue Renovation Challenge. The student presentations took place at the USITT convention in St. Louis. Each of the four teams chose a building on their campus as the subject for renovation. Two projects were existing theatres in need of modernization and two were spaces to be converted to theatrical performance use. The teams created a concept and developed documentation that detailed their renovation plans. The project culminated in the live presentation during the USITT conference. A group of five ASTC members acted as judges and offered comments to the teams throughout the process and determined the final awards.Read More »2023 ASTC-USITT Renovation Challenge

T11 Profiles Join T1s and T2s at the Opera National de Paris

The Paris Opera has ordered nearly 300 x Robe T11 Profile and T11 PCs. Palais Garnier photo courtesy Robe France

As part an inventory renewal of static profile luminaires, the Paris Opera has ordered nearly 300 Robe T11 Profile and T11 PCs, which will join the 200 T1 and T2 Profiles already in place at the primary opera and ballet company of France. All the fixtures are supplied via Alterlite, and like the T1 and T2 moving heads, the T11s will be distributed between the Opera’s two landmark venues in the French capital, Palais Garnier and Opéra Bastille.Read More »T11 Profiles Join T1s and T2s at the Opera National de Paris

Elynmarie Kazle Honored with the USITT Joel E. Rubin Founders Award at USITT23

At the USITT 23 Conference in St. Louis, USITT honored Elynmarie Kazle with The Joel E. Rubin Founder’s Award, which is presented to a USITT member in recognition of outstanding and continued service to the Institute. This award was named in honor of Dr. Joel E. Rubin, co-founder and the second president of the Institute. Given to USITT members in recognition of extraordinary and continued service to the Institute, the award is presented as an important highlight of the Annual Conference & Stage Expo.Read More »Elynmarie Kazle Honored with the USITT Joel E. Rubin Founders Award at USITT23

Purdue Offering Online ‘Prequalified Structures for the Stage’ Course

The course focuses on the engineering behind theater set construction

For theater lovers, there is a kind of magic to watching a play come to life on stage. Good stage productions transport audience members into the story, making them momentarily forget their lives outside of the theater. But making productions come to life takes a lot of work – set elements, for example, require months of careful planning and construction. Safe and effective set construction is often the literal foundation behind a production’s ultimate success, as well as the safety and well-being of its actors. The secret behind safe set construction? Smart engineering.Read More »Purdue Offering Online ‘Prequalified Structures for the Stage’ Course

In Memoriam: Bob Roach, Lighting Industry Veteran, 67

Bob Roach

Robert David Roach, 67 of Longwood, FL, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on March 7, 2023. Bob had recently been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and received a successful bone marrow transplant from his son, Mike. Sadly, in his weakened state he contracted pneumonia and was not able to rebound from it. He was born in Johnson City, TN on March 25, 1955 to John and Josephine Roach who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by brothers John and Jim Roach.Read More »In Memoriam: Bob Roach, Lighting Industry Veteran, 67

Robe Lights the Way for ‘Macbeth’ at New Zealand Opera

The New Zealand Opera’s recent acclaimed production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Macbeth unleashed a classic and grisly narrative of power, politics, corruption, murder, and authoritarianism… that is every bit as pertinent today as when William Shakespeare penned the original play, circa 1606.Read More »Robe Lights the Way for ‘Macbeth’ at New Zealand Opera

Stifel Theatre Creates Modern System in Historic Structure with CHAUVET Professional

The Stifel Theatre in St. Louis, MO. Photo by Scott Rovak/St. Louis Blues

Adrian Silverstein and Joe Beck both relish talking about history, and it’s easy to understand why, As the Assistant General Manager and Master Entertainment Electrician respectively of the venerable Stifel Theatre in St. Louis, MO, they work in a building where the past seems to echo off every inch of beautiful Art Deco walls.Read More »Stifel Theatre Creates Modern System in Historic Structure with CHAUVET Professional

TCG Announces the 2023 Recipients of Willa Kim Costume Design Scholarship

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, is pleased to announce Kaʻiukapu Baker, Claudia Brownlee, and Lia Wallfish as the recipients of The Willa Kim Costume Design Scholarship 2023. Administered by TCG with support from The Estate of Willa Kim, the Scholarship provides exceptionally talented costume designers who are enrolled in a university or professional training program with the opportunity to supplement their fine arts training in hand-drawing and painting. The Scholarship honors costume designer Willa Kim’s legacy and her life’s work as a pioneer, legend, and inspiration for many of today’s theatre artists. The recipients were announced at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts on February 22 at 6:30pm ET as part of the exhibition The Wondrous Willa Kim: Costume Designs for Actors and Dancers. Learn more about the recipients and The Willa Kim Costume Design Scholarship here, and the exhibition here. Read More »TCG Announces the 2023 Recipients of Willa Kim Costume Design Scholarship