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Stage Directions

In Memoriam: Nino Novellino, President of Costume Armour

Nino Novellino, President of Costume Armour, died on June 11, 2021, from complications with Myasthenia Gravis. He was 80. We at Stage Directions send our sincere condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and the staff at Costume Armour. Here’s a video interview with Novellino in 2013 on his work as a theatrical sculptor and the work of the team at Costume Armour from the American Theatre Wing:

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Terminology Working Group Looking for Suggestions

The USITT and ESTA Terminology Working Group is gathering suggestions about problematic racist, sexist, genderist, and other exclusionary language in our industry as well as suggestions to replace those terms. The group’s endeavor is to identify any terminology that is linguistically rooted in, or suggestive of oppression or exclusion, and supplant it with more inclusive and accurate language.Read More »Terminology Working Group Looking for Suggestions

Counting Together Provides Critical Data on Equity in American Theater

Counting Together, a growing coalition of theater artists, arts professionals, and organizations engaged in separate, long-term studies of race, gender, and disability in our field, announces the launch of a new online resource (CountingTogether.org) designed to provide free and easy access to industrywide data and statistics in these areas. By telling the stories of its findings, Counting Together’s stated goal is to identify and forge pathways to greater equity and inclusion. Currently made up of fifteen separate projects, Counting Together includes both individuals and groups engaged in countering systems of exclusion in the theater.Read More »Counting Together Provides Critical Data on Equity in American Theater

ATW’s The Network | Stage Management, Charting Your Course Panel Discussion, June 16

The American Theatre Wing produces The Network, which provides emerging and developing theatre professionals advanced education, networking opportunities, and tools for career advancement within a supportive creative community.

Coming up next on The Network is a Free panel discussion with Stage Managers, Stage Management | Charting Your Course. Learn from the masters of logistics, communication, time management, and problem-solving during this panel discussion. The panelists of Stage Managers, who will share career advice and more, includes Cody Renard Richard, Cherie B. Tay, Rachel Sterner, and Kamra A. Jacobs. This discussion will be moderated by David Mendizábal. This will be held on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. EDT.Read More »ATW’s The Network | Stage Management, Charting Your Course Panel Discussion, June 16

Michael Ritchie to Retire as Artistic Director of Center Theatre Group on December 31, 2021

Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie. Photo courtesy of Center Theatre Group.

Michael Ritchie has announced that he will retire as Artistic Director of Center Theatre Group on December 31, 2021. Having taken over the position from Founding Artistic Director Gordon Davidson in January 2005, for more than 16 years, Ritchie has led one of the country’s largest nonprofit regional theatres, producing and presenting 266 productions—which included 49 world premieres, four Pulitzer Prize finalists and led to 59 Tony Award nominations—while programming the Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum in downtown Los Angeles at The Music Center and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City.Read More »Michael Ritchie to Retire as Artistic Director of Center Theatre Group on December 31, 2021

CIC Feature l Penn & Fletcher, Inc.

In this CIC Features video from the Costume Industry Coalition, they celebrate and proudly showcase the work and legacy of Ernie Smith, owner and founder of Penn & Fletcher, Inc. Smith and his team are masters at the craft of embroidery, which is a dying art. Penn & Fletcher is one of the last embroidery companies in New York City. Join Industry Associate Edwin Schiff as he learns about Smith’s many contributions to the industry and the incredible people and machines that create such beautiful work.

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Philadelphia Designers on Display at Set Model Theatre

1812 Productions is pleased to present a one-of-a-kind digital theatre experience, Set Model Theatre. In early 2021, they gathered more than a dozen Philly theatre designers and technicians together with a one-of-a-kind task: find the funny in Shakespeare’s infamous tragedy King Lear. The only rule… there are no rules! (Oh, except that the entire production has to fit in a space the size of a breadbox!)Read More »Philadelphia Designers on Display at Set Model Theatre

The Shubert Foundation Awards $32.1 Million in 2021 Grants

Following the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on the performing arts, The Shubert Foundation announced that it is awarding a record $32.1 million in 2021 grants to 575 not-for-profit theatres, dance companies, professional theatre training programs, and related service agencies across the United States.

The grants, which range from $10,000 to $325,000, benefit the broadest possible spectrum of theatre and dance organizations—from large to small, from urban to rural—including groups that provide crucial early arts exposure to young audiences. The announcement comes as many longtime Shubert grantees have been fighting for their survival.Read More »The Shubert Foundation Awards $32.1 Million in 2021 Grants

ACT Lighting Welcomes Bradley Cronenwett as Regional Outside Sales 

Bradley Cronenwett

ACT Lighting, Inc. is pleased to announce that Bradley Cronenwett has joined the company as Regional Outside Sales for the southeast. An Ohio native, Cronenwett brings to his new post more than a decade of production experience in lighting and design with touring shows such as Cirque du Soleil as well as theme park design at Universal Creative.Read More »ACT Lighting Welcomes Bradley Cronenwett as Regional Outside Sales