Theater News

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, 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

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 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

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

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, 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 

Bandit Lites is pleased to share the hiring of Melanie Miller as its Accounts Payable Manager. Miller earned a degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She gained experience in investment and international accounting and has held positions as a controller and chief financial officer. Miller is also a member of the NACM – National Association of Credit Management, SHRM- Society for Human Resource Management, and NAPW- National Association of Professional Women. Read More »Bandit Lites Hires Melanie Miller to World Headquarters

The University of Wisconsin – Madison: Department of Theater and Drama is proud to announce two online summer courses specifically designed for the needs of K-12 theater, music, and dance teachers, and those who work on those shows: Audio for Performing Arts Teachers, and Lighting for Performing Arts Teachers. Read More »UW Madison Offers New Technical Theater Courses for K-12 Teachers

UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Stanley E. Romanstein has announced the addition of Kevin Lawson to the college’s roster of distinguished performing and media arts faculty members. An award-winning theater and television professional, Lawson’s appointment as Assistant Professor of Lighting Design and Technology begins on Aug. 15, 2021.

Lawson’s early career was spent in theater, working as an assistant/associate and lighting designer in regional, off-Broadway and Broadway theaters. After a serendipitous career shift to broadcast television, he has spent most of the last 21 years as a lighting designer, lighting director, and/or programmer on more than 200 televised productions.Read More »Lighting Designer Kevin Lawson Joins UC College-Conservatory of Music’s Faculty

“Time is very long for those who wait,” wrote Shakespeare. The bard penned these words more than four centuries (and a couple of pandemics) ago. But those deprived of the joy of live theatre during the coronavirus lockdown, know all too well the excruciating anguish of which he wrote.

Among this group are patrons of the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. Just before the pandemic, they were eagerly awaiting its production of Shakespeare in Love. They continued to wait for over a year. Happily, now at least a small number of them have been able to enjoy a live performance of the classic romantic comedy.Read More »Mountview Theatre’s Shakespeare in Love Gets Varied Looks from Adam King and CHAUVET Professional

For the next 90 days, the Event Safety Alliance will offer the online Event Safety Access Training (ESAT) course free of charge, enabling live event professionals to complete the training for free. The ESAT course developed by the Event Safety Alliance provides comprehensive core safety skills training for live event professionals. The ESAT course has been underwritten for 90 days, ending on August 1, 2021.Read More »Event Safety Alliance Offers Free ESAT Training