LAS VEGAS—Michael Devine, a sales professional with more than 15 years experience in the world of online, print and event media, has joined the sales staff of Stage Directions magazine as National Sales Manager.

A model of the new Signature Theatre Lobby

NEW YORK—Signature Theatre Company has unveiled the models for the Signature Center, a new permanent home for the company, currently under construction as part of Related Companies’ mixed-use development on 42nd Street and 10th Avenue. Signature Center is designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Frank Gehry and will open in 2012.

NEW YORK—Working Man’s Clothes world-premiere production of Chisa Hutchinson’s She Like Girls, directed by Jared Culverhouse was named Outstanding New York Theatre, Off-Off Broadway by the GLAAD media awards. The 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards-New York honors entertainment and news media for their representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

TUCSON, AZ—The Arizona Board of Regents approved the creation of the College of Fine Arts’ new School of Theatre, Film and Television at its March 11, 2010, meeting.   The new School, which merges the Schools of Theatre Arts and Media Arts into a single entity, becomes effective July 1, 2010. The merger is meant to capitalize on the increasing global convergence of the disciplines of theatre, film, television and digital media. At the same time, merging the administrative functions of the two schools responds proactively to the significant budget cuts sustained by The University of Arizona.

BERKELEY, CA—Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s School of Theatre has announced the winning scripts in its annual Teen One-Acts Festival—and both of them focus on comically preposterous crimes. The winning plays for 2010 are The Death of a Nut by 15-year-old Sierra Schoefer of Pleasanton, Calif., and Off with his Head by 17-year-old Kelly Margaret Roderick of San Ramon, Calif. Both plays will be produced this spring by a team of 27 local teens.

MADISON, NJ—The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey has begun enrollment for its summer educational programs which offer training in classical theatre by professional theatre artists.

The EAW SB1001 Subwoofer

WHITINSVILLE, MA—EAW has launched the SB1001 Large-Format Dual-18-Inch-Loaded Subwoofer. The successor to EAW’s SB1000, the new SB1001 is essentially an SB1002 Large Format Flyable Subwoofer without the rigging hardware. The SB1001 is designed for any application requiring articulate, powerful low end. While the dimensions of the SB1001’s vented enclosure and the fundamental acoustical philosophy remain true to the SB1000, the core components are significantly enhanced to include larger 4.5-inch (115-mm) voice coils, 20% higher BI and all neodymium magnet structures. The result is a lighter-weight reference standard that has greater impact, power handling and output capabilities than its celebrated predecessor.

NORTHFIELD, OH—Stage Research has increased the availability of its products in the international market by signing Biyao Ltd. Co. in Beijing as its master distributor in China.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ON—IATSE has released a statement in response to the Shaw’s Fest lockout and the union’s subsequent strike. The IA’s statement said the sticking point in the contract was “the Festival’s desire to have the ability to replace, in whole or in part, union employees with others who would work under a contract service” and Local 461 President Doug Ledingham criticized the Fest’s “misleading” statements about its position that there would be no loss of jobs during the contract. According to Ledingham “The actual offer was to suspend any contracting out until after Dec. 31, 2011, after which they would again have the ability to replace these employees at any point.”

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ontario—The Shaw Festival announced today that it is implementing a lockout of the employees represented by IATSE, Local 461 in the Shaw’s Facilities Department. These are the 16 employees that provide maintenance, grounds crew and housekeeping services. The lockout is effective at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 and is limited to the Facilities Department. The employees of the Production and Audience Sales and Services departments, whose contracts expired November 30, 2008, are not included in this lockout. The Shaw fest provided a statement surrounding the lock out. A representative for IATSE Local 461 could not be reached for comment, efforts are ongoing to get a statement from IATSE.