A new kind of live entertainment design and production program is here. It’s common for live event professionals to talk about the uncertainty of starting their own industry careers. Where can interested students get involved? Are degrees necessary, or should talented technicians and designers jump right into gig life and learn on the job? How do we find our specialties and our mentors? The incoming generation needs a space to hone their skills before joining our teams full time. The Academy of Live Technology, at Rock Lititz and the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design have partnered in creating a bespoke program designed to connect young professionals to embedded opportunities in industry, while providing a safe space to test their skills while earning a four year BFA degree in Live Experience Design & Production.
This innovative hands-on degree program is asking the industry to help in creating the production personnel we need. It was essential to find a team to provide both structure and out of the box vision to allow this experience to take space. Academy of Live Technology (ALT) is proud to announce that Sharon Huizinga will serve as ALT at Rock Lititz Program Director and Marisa Rinchiuso will serve as Project & Operations Manager. The first class of LiveX students will move into the new Academy of Live Technology building on the Rock Lititz campus this Fall 2024.
Sharon Huizinga (she/her) comes to ALT from directing the MFA lighting program at University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music. A lighting designer, programmer, and educator for more than 20 years, she has global experience in the industry. In Amsterdam, she worked for the Dutch National Opera & Ballet, as the Northern Europe Field Project Coordinator for Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC), and designed lighting, projection, and scenery for multiple European/Russian tours with Deva Premal & Miten. She also lectured for the Academy voor Theatre en Dans Amsterdam. In North America, her lighting design experience in theatre and dance extends to work for Olympics, Paralympics, Broadway, the Detroit Auto Show, and serving as the lighting director for the Home States Ball during the 2009 Presidential Inauguration. Her touring credits include designs for Diana Krall and Jesse Cook, lighting direction for Norah Jones and Ballet British Columbia, and technical expertise for Cirque Du Soleil. She also has experience in production management and working as a booking agent in North America.
Marisa Rinchiuso (she/her) joins ALT after working as a project manager for TAIT. There she worked on a number of tours, including The Weeknd, BLACKPINK, Blake Shelton, and Justin Bieber. She earned her BFA in Production Technology and is pursuing a Master’s in Social Work and Human Sexuality. She is passionate about creating an industry that fosters growth and holistic support for live events professionals and their loved ones. Rinchiuso is particularly close to the project, as she was able to start her own career through the Rock Lititz educational programs, participating in the intern program and other events, such as Live Events Career Exploration.
Rock Lititz has been building their range of educational offerings of the years and is thrilled to be entering a new phase of growth, with students on campus. They are especially excited to be collaborating with a program that has known success. Since 2012, ALT has been ushering professionals into the industry under the name Backstage Academy, based at Production Park in the UK. Over this time, students have been able to work alongside the professionals on their working campus to find firsthand opportunities and learn from trying. Alumni from this program have found successful, international pathways into production and live entertainment, boasting of the unique experiences that set their education apart and feeling more prepared to build sustainable careers.
ALT at Rock Lititz plans to duplicate that foundational focus on apprenticeship and hands on alternative learning. Partnered with local Pennsylvania College of Art & Design (PCA&D), the Academy of Live Technology will offer an experiential BFA degree in Live Experience Design & Production. The BFA degree will teach skills in sound, lighting, video and staging and automation, as well as including visual storytelling and world-building through immersive technology, 3D design and modeling, professional development and production/tour management.
Rock Lititz is eager to welcome students, prospective students, and guests of ALT to the Lititz campus. The school building is set to open at the beginning of May 2024, including classrooms, state of the art labs, top end equipment and technology plus Studio 4, which has been designed for educational use. The building will also be home to Studio 3, an additional rehearsal location available for rehearsal rentals to all. To learn more about the Academy of Live Technology, please visit: https://www.academyoflivetechnology.com.
Inquiries about teaching, guest appearances, gear donation, student internship or other immersive ideas, please email: sharon.huizinga@academyoflivetechnology.com, marisa.rinchiuso@academyoflivetechnology.com
