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Stage Directions

The Stage Managers’ Association to Present 2023 Del Hughes Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Art of Stage Management, Nov. 6, 2023

On Monday November 6th, 2023, the Stage Managers’ Association (SMA) will present its annual Del Hughes Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Art of Stage Management, at the National Opera Center’s Marc A. Scorca Hall in NYC.  The distinguished 2023 honorees are theatrical production stage managers John M. Atherlay and Gwen Gilliam, and opera production stage manager Brett Finley.  In addition to these Lifetime Achievement Awards, the SMA will honor Elynmarie Kazle with The Founders Award. Read More »The Stage Managers’ Association to Present 2023 Del Hughes Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Art of Stage Management, Nov. 6, 2023

Elation Proteus Bridge Huge Distances at Linzer Klangwolke in Austria

When the director of this year’s Linzer Klangwolke, Francesca Zambello, brought the internationally renowned Austrian Lighting Designer Manfred Nikitser onto the creative team as a specialist for the colossal lighting looks, it quickly became clear to them that the project would require lights of a special format. He found what he was looking for in the Proteus series from Elation Professional. Following thorough tests, Lighting Designer Nikitser chooses Elation’s Proteus Excalibur™ and Proteus Brutus™ for annual open-air multimedia musical event.Read More »Elation Proteus Bridge Huge Distances at Linzer Klangwolke in Austria

OBM/DMXwinkel Reflects Magic of Openluchttheater Ede in Light with CHAUVET Professional

Robbert Mak has been involved in lighting Openluchttheater Ede, located in Ede, Netherlands, for over a decade, and he can’t recall a single instance when a first-time visitor hasn’t been awed into silence by this beautiful and historic open-air theatre. “People who have not been here before look around in amazed silence as soon as they enter,” said Mak, project manager and designer for OBM/DMXwinkel. “Looking from the outside, they don’t expect to find such a beautiful amphitheater when they enter.”Read More »OBM/DMXwinkel Reflects Magic of Openluchttheater Ede in Light with CHAUVET Professional

Elation Lighting Refurb Enhances Safety, Opens Possibilities at Royal Oak Middle School Theater, California

Entertainment market contractors BCT Builders, part of leading AV production company BCT Entertainment, recently upgraded an outdated lighting system at Royal Oak Middle School Theater in Covina, CA, with a state-of-the-art rig of Elation Professional LED luminaires. The theater lighting renovation has created a safer working environment for students and enhanced the overall educational and artistic experience for students and the community.Read More »Elation Lighting Refurb Enhances Safety, Opens Possibilities at Royal Oak Middle School Theater, California

Bellevue Theatre Chooses Robe TX1 PosiProfiles

Bellevue Teatret (Bellevue Theatre) is located in Klampenborg, a desirable suburb north of Copenhagen, Denmark. Its scenic location is about 100 meters back from the beach, and stunning views from the front of the building overlook the Øresund strait. Founded in 1936 and designed by architect Arne Jacobsen, the building is one of his seminal works – and one of several in the area – as well as an important example of Danish functionalism.Read More »Bellevue Theatre Chooses Robe TX1 PosiProfiles

The Théâtre du Splendid in Paris is Equipped with Robert Juliat Sully Modules Converting to LED Technology

The Théâtre du Splendid, an emblematic Parisian venue known for its rich artistic past, has chosen to convert its fleet of Robert Juliat 600SX tungsten profile fixtures to LED using Robert Juliat Sully LED modules, to comply with the fast-approaching regulatory requirements for energy transition.Read More »The Théâtre du Splendid in Paris is Equipped with Robert Juliat Sully Modules Converting to LED Technology

Midwest Rigging Intensive Trainers Receive Volunteer of the Year Award

A team of nine ETCP Recognized Trainers are the recipients of ESTA’s Frank Stewart Volunteer of the Year Award for service in both 2022 and 2023: Bennett Brian (Reed Rigging, Inc.), Tyler DeLong (DeLong Rigging Solutions), Brent “Mickey” Henry (ETC), Shane Kelly (DePaul University), Rebecca Knipfer (ETC), Ed Leahy (The Chicago Flyhouse, Inc.), Verda Beth Martell (DLR Group), Tracy Nunnally (Vertigo), and Patrick Stewart (ETC), whose father is the award’s namesake. These trainers tirelessly volunteered around their busy schedules to plan, design, and deliver a curriculum for the Midwest Rigging Intensive (MRI) two years in a row.Read More »Midwest Rigging Intensive Trainers Receive Volunteer of the Year Award

The Santa Fe Opera Re-Imagines ‘Orfeo’ Opera Production with Lectrosonics Wireless

Throw away your stereotypical stuffy ideas about opera. The Santa Fe Opera is no ordinary opera company, and the company’s home, the open-air Crosby Theatre, is no ordinary opera house. The opera’s new production of Orfeo, directed by Yuval Sharon with music by Claudio Monteverdi and a world premiere orchestration by Nico Muhly, is an innovative reimagining of one of the oldest known operatic works. The artistic choices around this production, which include using effects-processing on individual voices as well as mixing them spatially into the specially built multichannel surround system, required that the key characters wear wireless mic systems. For this, the opera uses Lectrosonics SSM belt pack transmitters and channels of Venue2 receivers.Read More »The Santa Fe Opera Re-Imagines ‘Orfeo’ Opera Production with Lectrosonics Wireless

ESTA Proposed Standards News

ESTA TSP: 12 Draft Standards in Public Review

ESTA’s Technical Standards Program (TSP) announces a dozen draft standards in public review; 11 in development, one to be withdrawn. Twelve public review action items came out of the recent July Technical Standards Program working group meetings held in Westlake, TX, where over 160 attendees across 10 discrete working groups came together to keep the development process moving forward. These public reviews will all run for 45 days, ending on Sept. 26, 2023.

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Vari-Lite VL1600 Profiles Bring Rock Energy and Theatrical Drama to Musical ‘Aida’

VL1600 Profiles from Vari-Lite, originators of the modern moving head light fixture and the Signify entertainment lighting brand, brought a blend of rock and roll energy and theatrical dramatics for Herrick Goldman’s design for the Stages St. Louis production of the musical Aida. When the team at STAGES had to replace some older fixtures at the last minute, Production Manager Josh Aune approached Logic Systems. “We used the Vari-Lites because of a recommendation from our local rental company,” explained Aune. “Their owner, Chip Self, has been our go to person for years and knew what our needs where.”Read More »Vari-Lite VL1600 Profiles Bring Rock Energy and Theatrical Drama to Musical ‘Aida’

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Chooses Ayrton Perseo as the Workhorse of its Sustainable Lighting Rig

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London has become the first open air theater in the UK to install Ayrton Perseo fixtures as part of its plan to update to a more sustainable and environmentally-responsible lighting rig. Perseo Profiles have been supplied to this unique venue by White Light for the full summer season. White Light worked in close collaboration with the teams at Regent’s Park and Ambersphere, Ayrton’s exclusive distributor for the UK, to understand the aims, and facilitate the provision of the correct LED fixtures, to meet all the Theatre’s requirements.

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