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Stage Directions

Calling All Stage Managers to Help Celebrate ‘Our Town’ Stage Manager’s Day

The 125th anniversary of Thornton Wilder’s birth (April 17, 1897) will be observed throughout 2022 with nearly 150 productions of his plays worldwide—including Our Town, a new production of The Skin of Our Teeth at Lincoln Center Theatre, and a first-ever staging of his unfinished play The Emporium completed by Kirk Lynn (Rude Mechanicals) at the Alley Theater in Houston. Almost 50 years after his death in 1975, Wilder remains one of the most widely produced playwrights in the world.Read More »Calling All Stage Managers to Help Celebrate ‘Our Town’ Stage Manager’s Day

37th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards Recipients Announced

The 2022 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were handed out on Sunday, May 1, 2022, to recipients in 16 categories, with two honorary awards also bestowed. Returning to a live, in-person ceremony for the first time in three years, the Awards were distributed in a ceremony at NYU Skirball. The Lucille Lortel Awards are produced by the Off-Broadway League and Lucille Lortel Theatre, with additional support provided by TDF.Read More »37th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards Recipients Announced

#Rigsafe Day 2022: Are You Rigging Safely?

Today April 29th is Arbor Day in the technical theater industry. It’s also known as #Rigsafe day! While normal Arbor Day is typically a holiday focused on planting trees to celebrate their importance, an “arbor” in the technical theater world is a rack that contains weights used to balance a load in a counterweight rigging system. USITT recognizes Arbor Day as a day to celebrate rigging safety and training for everyone in our industry. Use Arbor Day to thank a rigger, celebrate safe practices, or to promote a renewed commitment to safety. Here’s a sneak peek at one of the many rigging safety videos USITT will be posting today:

Read More »#Rigsafe Day 2022: Are You Rigging Safely?

In Memoriam: Martee Nuruddin, 68

PLSN learned of the passing of Martin “Martee” Nuruddin, Vice President of PRG Orlando on April 14th. Nuruddin, born on February 15, 1954, was 68. He was a 44-year member of IATSE Local One, having been initiated on February 2, 1978. He worked throughout the Broadway jurisdiction and started his career as an apprentice at Vanco in New York. He would move to Florida to open Vanco Orlando.Read More »In Memoriam: Martee Nuruddin, 68

Wheeler Moon Lights Rock Musical ‘Passing Strange’ with Bandit Lites

When UNCSA schools of Drama and Design & Production presented the groundbreaking rock musical Passing Strange, written by Tony-award winning artist Stew, Lighting Designer Wheeler Moon knew he needed a unique rig for the unique show. Bandit Lites was thrilled to provide gear to help Moon realize his vision for the production’s lighting.Read More »Wheeler Moon Lights Rock Musical ‘Passing Strange’ with Bandit Lites

Shure KSM11 Wireless Vocal Mic Capsule

On April 18, Shure introduced the KSM11 Wireless Vocal Microphone Capsule, which features the company’s new premium condenser microphone transducer technology. Promising an elegant combination of low and mid-range clarity and essential high-end detail, the KSM11 is already being adopted by some of the industry’s biggest names. Here’s a preview video from Shure on the KSM11:

Read More »Shure KSM11 Wireless Vocal Mic Capsule

Announcing The Release of USITT/TSDCA Sound Documentation Recommended Practice

Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association (TSDCA), in partnership with USITT, are very proud to announce the immediate release of the USITT/TSDCA Sound Documentation Recommended Practice. A multi-year collaboration of members of the Sound Commission of USITT and Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association (TSDCA), this comprehensive document is recommended for all practitioners of Theatre Sound in both professional and educational theatre.Read More »Announcing The Release of USITT/TSDCA Sound Documentation Recommended Practice

Ayrton Diablo Impresses on Musical Theater Tour of ‘Ghost: Nachricht von Sam’

Ayrton was recently delighted to receive this message from lighting designer Phil Kong of Kong Design, Inc.: “We just used 20 Ayrton Diablo’s on Ghost: Nachricht von Sam [Ghost: Message from Sam] for ShowSlot GmbH and I wanted to let you know I was very happy with them for all of the things they were able to do, and how fast they were. The flat field, the gobos, the color rendering – a lot of good things going on with them – and the size and price point are great. I was so glad to have these Ayrton fixtures on the show.” Naturally, Ayrton just had to find out more.Read More »Ayrton Diablo Impresses on Musical Theater Tour of ‘Ghost: Nachricht von Sam’