Dr. Joel E. Rubin died peacefully on the evening of March 27, 2024. Born in September 1928, he was 95. Dr. Rubin was the Co-Founder and a Past President of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT). He was one of the founding members of the International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects, and Theatre Technicians (OISTAT). He also had a long career in the industry working as the Executive Vice-President of Kliegl Bros. Stage Lighting, Co. Inc., as well as many years as Principal Consultant and Managing Director of Artec Consultants.
Here is a biography for Dr. Rubin put together by Patricia MacKay, a longtime friend, colleague, and USITT Fellow.
Dr. Rubin was the co-founder and a Past President of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) and Founding Chair and Chair Emeritus of its International Committee. He was one of the seven founding members of the International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects, and Theatre Technicians (OISTAT), the UNESCO-related international organization with national centers in 35 countries; and served for eight years as President of that organization.
Awards and Honors include the Annual USITT Founders Award given in his name; member of the College of Fellows of the American Theatre; Fellow, American Educational Theatre Association; Fellow and Lifetime Honorary Member of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology; Gold Pin Recipient of OISTAT; International Jury of the Prague Quadrennial of Scenic and Costume Design and Theatre Architecture; Joel was the Co-Producer of the United States Exhibitions for the Prague Quadrennial in 1987 and again in 1991, leading the United States to the grand prize, the Zlatou Triga, on the first occasion and the Gold Medal in 1991. Joel received the Wally Russell Award for lifetime achievement in theatre lighting in 2010. His biographical profile is in Who’s Who in America.
Raised in Cleveland Ohio where he was a young and active recruit at the Cain Park Theatre. He studied at Case-Western Reserve. Went on to Yale School of Drama where he studied under Stanley McCandless and alongside his future co-author Lee Watson. Joel then went on to Stanford for his PhD.
Dr. Rubin is co-author with Lee Watson of Theatrical Lighting Practice, which inter-relates training for lighting design, the profession of theatrical lighting, and chapters on current practices in lighting for various performance types. His doctoral dissertation, The Technical Development of Electric Stage Lighting Apparatus in the American Theatre, is considered a standard reference. Over the years he has authored several score articles appearing in a wide range of publications here in the United States and in foreign journals in over twenty countries.
A move to New York begins his storied and impactful two decades as Executive Vice-President of Kliegl Bros. Stage Lighting, Co. Inc. and served many years as Principal Consultant and Managing Director of Artec Consultants. Joel’s work at Kliegl Lighting brought him the opportunity to work with a worldwide array of lighting designers and consultants, both supplying equipment and producing innovative new designs. “It was a rare opportunity,” Joel says, “to learn from working one on one”, rattling off a list that among others included in the lighting field—Jean Rosenthal, Abe Feder, Peggy Clark, Charles Elson, Gil Weschler, Gil Helmsley, Tharon Musser, John Gleason, Jo Mielziner, Ed Kook, Rudi Kuntner, Ron Bates, Pat MacKay, Cash Crouch, Martin Aronstein, Tom Skelton, Richard Pilbrow, Claude Engel, Leslie Wheel, Hans Sondheimer, Ken Palius, lmero Fiorentino, Bill Klages, and Sal Bonsignore.
Kliegl provided most of the theatrical and architectural lighting systems in the building of Lincoln Center and the Los Angeles Music Center, and Joel directed a large share of Kliegl’s work on those projects, including developing over 100 different fixture types, the first large-scale use of the then new tungsten-halogen lamps in the public areas and audience chamber of the Metropolitan Opera House. Joel’s work at Kliegl also included his management role over the development of SCR dimmers, a complete line of tungsten-halogen fixtures for theatre and another complete line for television, high-density dimmer racks and lighting control memory systems.
At Artec Consultants, Joel’s role included both project management and responsibility for the design of the production lighting systems on such major projects as The Bartok National Concert Hall in Budapest; The Accolade Project Theatres at York University; the Skirball Center at New York University; the Frederick P. Rose Hall and the Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center; the Sibelius Concert Hall in Finland; the Fox Cities, Four Rivers Performing Arts Centers and the Segerstrom Concert Hall in the United States; Sala Sao Paulo in Brazil and Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto.
He then founded Joel E. Rubin and Associates. There, he brought extensive specialist knowledge to this work including architectural and theatrical lighting and lighting control as well as the design of the production lighting systems for new theatres and concert hall facilities in Iceland, Denmark, Poland, Singapore, Canada, Israel, Hong Kong, and the United States.
Joel is survived by his wife of 70 years Lucille S. Rubin, children Brian, Jennifer, and Rebecca, and grandchildren Cadence, Rachel, Julia, and Brian Jr.
The family suggests that Contributions in Celebration of his life be sent to either the
Fellows Fund (https://secure.usitt.org/donatenow?pid=a1B0b00000e3UNwEAM) of the USITT which seeds new initiatives or
to the Sam Scripps International Fund (https://secure.usitt.org/donatenow?pid=a1B0b00000e3UO6EAM) that provides help for the USITT work abroad including the Prague Quadrennial and World Stage Design
In honor of Dr. Joel’s 95th birthday last year we set up a Facebook group where people have shared tributes and greetings. The group is “private” but visible to all. Just request to be admitted. Celebrating Dr Joel: https://www.facebook.com/groups/901096554375555. Please share.
Personal notes can be sent to Joel’s daughter, Rebecca Rubin: rebecca.r.rubin.preservingnature@gmail.com
A Celebration of Life
The Rubin Family and the Fellows of the USITT plan A Celebration of Dr. Joel’s Life and Contributions to our industry and International Theatre for 2025, in conjunction with the annual USITT conference in Columbus, Ohio March 5-8, 2025
