URTA is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Training. The awards recognize outstanding work of undergraduate instructors, coaches, mentors, as well as institutions, for excellence in the training and preparation of undergraduate theatre artists.Read More »URTA Announces Recipients of 2021 Excellence Awards
Wenger Corporation announces the addition of a custom Diva® Acoustical Shell at Belmont University’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, TN. The shell complements the majestic architecture at Belmont and will accommodate the school’s dance, theatre, and musical performances, as well as an array of special events, including performances by the Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, traveling Broadway shows, and international artists.Read More »Belmont’s Masterpiece: Custom Shell Helps All Performers Shine
USITT has announced its newest Fellows of the Institute: Kathy A. Perkins, Jenny Kenyon, Paul Brunner, and David Stewart. Fellows achieve this recognition through many years of exceptional participation in various aspects of USITT and the entertainment industry.
There are many tributes to the late Stephen Sondheim. Here are two more that Stage Directions has learned of—Broadway theaters will be dimming their lights on December 8, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. EST for one minute. Also, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has an exhibit of the many letters and correspondence of Stephen Sondheim as well as set models and photos of his collaborators. Read on for further details on each of these tribute to the iconic composer and lyricist of musical theater.Read More »More Tributes to Stephen Sondheim
LONDON – disguise released its r20 software on Dec. 1 in English and six other languages (Spanish, German, French, Korean, Japanese and Simplified Chinese). The… Read More »disguise r20 Software Released in English and Six Other Languages
NEW YORK – Broadway veteran Craig Jacobs, Production Stage Manager on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, died Nov. 22. The Majestic Theater, home of the long running production will honor Jacobs’ memory by dimming its marquee on Dec. 6 at 7:25 p.m.
NEW YORK – City Theatrical welcomes New York City-based lighting professional Al Crawford to its leadership team as general manager starting on Jan. 1, 2022. “Al has a unique leadership style gained from many years working on tour and in large entertainment projects,” said Gary Fails, president and founder of City Theatrical.
Stephen Sondheim, legendary composer and lyricist, died unexpectedly Nov. 26 at his home in Roxbury, CT at the age of 91. His many honors include nine Tony Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, an Oscar, and eight Grammy Awards. His extensive list of credits include West Side Story, Company, and Sweeney Todd, among numerous others.
Not-for-profit theatres contributed nearly $2.1 billion to the U.S. economy and attracted 23 million attendees, according to Theatre Facts 2020, released by Theatre Communications Group (TCG), in partnership with SMU DataArts. Based on TCG’s Fiscal Survey and SMU DataArts’ Cultural Data Profile (CDP), Theatre Facts is the only in-depth report that examines the attendance, performance, and overall fiscal state of the U.S. professional not-for-profit theatre field.Read More »Theatre Communications Group Releases 41st Annual Research Report: Theatre Facts 2020
USA – Although the USITT Conference and Stage Expo is still slated as an in-person event in Baltimore, MD from March 2-5, the three-day New World Rigging Symposium, produced by USITT and ESTA, will be a virtual event this coming year. It’s set to take place online April 5-7, 2022.
Stage Directions and PLSN have learned of the death of Joseph N. Tawil on Nov. 17 at age 84. He was an innovator and marketer of theatrical lighting products over his long career. At the time of his retirement, Tawil was the founder and President of Gam Products, Inc., the Los Angeles-based theatrical lighting and special effects company he founded as the Great American Market in 1975. He was a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, a Fellow of the United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT), and an associate member of The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).
New York, NY—The committee for World Stage Design (WSD) has selected New York-based scenic and costume designer Christian Fleming to showcase his work at the WSD 2022 exhibition and conference. The WSD is a global event held every four years. Fleming will be among 150 emerging scenic designers hand-selected from among 14 participating countries.Read More »World Stage Design to Feature Work of Theatrical Designer Christian Fleming