SYRACUSE, NY — USITT has announced a partial line-up of speakers and session presenters for its 50th Annual Conference, with events scheduled from March 31-April 3, 2010 at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Mo. Sally Struthers will kick off the organization’s lineup of focused sessions and special exhibitions at 10 a.m. on March 31. MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” recipient Jennifer Tipton will speak on the morning of April 2 to start the conference day.
Struthers, a two-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner for her work on 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.
Tipton, a stage lighting designer, is receiving $500,000 over five years, with “no strings attached.” Her use of white light in theatre and dance has been especially noted, as well as the range of her artistry for both small and large productions, and her influence as a teacher. She has been an adjunct professor of lighting design at the Yale University School of Drama since 1994.
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 with a book signing event. The opening session will focus on the history of design and technology, with a multimedia slide show featuring images from the book.
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 Friday, to give his perspective on what lies ahead for the entertainment industry.
The new conference format includes opening the Stage Expo on a Wednesday instead of Thursday, and major sessions are now set for the start of each day.
Registration is scheduled to open in October.
For more information, visit www.usitt.org/2010.
