The d&b audiotechnik M6 stage monitor

d&b audiotechnik M6 is a low-profile 2-way stage monitor using an integrated 12"/1.3" exit coaxial driver with a CD horn and passive crossover network. Described as having a notable midrange presence and a dry and compact low end, it features 50-degree-by-80-degree coverage, feedback stability and sensitivity.

The wig of Stacie Jaxx (played by James Carpinello, shown here) features four different colors and even dyed roots, for true verisimilitude.

Wig designer Tom Watson talks craft and hairspray on Broadway’s Rock of Ages

The fun and nostalgic ‘80s flashback that is Rock Of Ages has become a pop culture phenomenon on Broadway. The jukebox musical—about a would-rocker named Drew and a would-be actress named Sherrie who go to L.A. to chase their dreams, only to learn the harsh and seedy realities of Hollywood life (through song, of course)—surprised some by gathering five Tony nominations. Star Constantine Maroulis has signed on through early 2010. The tongue-in-cheek show has inspired guest appearances (notably, Styx’s Tommy Shaw and REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin) and a few after show parties at the neighboring China Club where Twisted Sister, Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt and former Poison guitarist Richie Kotzen have appeared. There are some fans who have seen the show repeatedly; one claiming 75 times.

Water Sculptures, a U.K. firm, designed the rain storm from last season’s Mary Stuart on Broadway. More than 400 gallons of water was purified with UV light before raining down each night.

How to design and tech water SFX of every kind, for any show.

Including a water effect in your show certainly adds a dash of the spectacular, but in order to safely include this effect you’ll need to make sure you’re covered in four crucial areas: basic set-up/execution techniques for your space; ease of utilization when it comes to actors working with the wet stuff; teamwork to ensure a fantastic SFX end result; and above all, safety measures that will fully protect your personnel.

The American DJ Propar 56 RGB and Propar 56CWWW

LOS ANGELES—American DJ has introduced two new ultra-bright LED par lights, the Propar 56RGB and Propar 56CWWW, an RGB color-mixing and warm/cool white unit respectively. The brightest members of the company’s “Pro” series of professional LED par cans, the Propar 56RGB and Propar 56CWWW are each powered by 36 super-high-output 1-watt LEDs.

The Pilewind Hoist System from Thern Stage Equipment

WINONA, MN—Thern Stage Equipment (TSE) has released its new Pilewind Hoist Systems. The latest addition to their line of theatre rigging products, Pilewind line sets provide theatre operators a variety of installation options in a compact system. The Pilewind system is designed for theatres and stages where space is at a premium and has a load capacity of up to 2,100 lbs., while the compact design conserves valuable space. The Pilewind line set also supports up to 10 lines to accommodate various batten lengths and pick point requirements.

Lex Products Slim Dimmer

STAMFORD, CT—Lex Products’ new Slim Dimmer is an ultra-portable single 1.8kW dimmer. It features a high quality fader coupled with a digital intensity display designed to make intensity matching of multiple units a snap. The Slim Dimmer, while pocket sized, is UL Listed. Housed in an all metal case, it has extra protection around the display and fader area to survive the rigors of location use.

Only the façade stayed the same, as Henry Miller’s Theatre became the first new Broadway theatre built in more than 20 years. Photo by Michael Fortunato

Designing the New Henry Miller’s Theatre on Broadway

The Henry Miller's Theatre is the first new Broadway theatre in more than 20 years and the first theatre to be designed to green standards in New York City. The 1,055-seat theatre, located on 43rd Street is a part of the new Bank of America tower that was designed by Cook+Fox Architects in collaboration with theatre consultant Fisher Dachs Associates and acoustical consultant JaffeHolden. Operated by the Roundabout Theatre Company, the theatre opened in September with a revival of Bye Bye Birdie.

If terms like “parity errors” or “overflow errors” mean nothing to you, seek help from books like these, or other DMX guides.

For best results, leave the audio gear in the toolbox

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there was a lighting consultant who received a call from a theatre who wanted help. The theatre had just purchased its first automated lights and they asked the consultant to help them program the console. The lighting consultant was happy to comply, but he made several requests of the theatre in order to make the best use of the time. The first was that all the fixtures should be tested and the DMX512 addresses set before they were rigged and flown. The second was that the fixtures should be rigged, powered and connected to the DMX512 network before the programming started. The theatre thought the requests were reasonable and they complied.

[We get letters here at Stage Directions, but it’s rare that we get such a thoughtful, thorough reply like the one we received this month from Professor Mark Shanda at The Ohio State University. His comments on Dave McGinnis’ article “Off the Beaten Tenure Track ” from the October edition were so insightful that we’re forgoing an Editor’s Note this month to bring you his complete response. —Ed.]

As the chair of the USITT Tenured Technical Director Mentoring project since 1997, I have a rather unique platform from which to respond to McGinnis’ assertions about tenure. While I certainly agree that there remain a variety of challenges associated with the tenure process for technical directors, I cannot abide by the concluding questions that center around if one “does a good job” one should be granted tenure and promotion.

Dan Moses Schreier at rest

The works of Stephen Sondheim have been undergoing quite a revival on Broadway lately, from Sweeney Todd to Company and now West Side Story. While all those shows are major works, the latter musical is a landmark theatre classic that has always electrified audiences with its urban Romeo and Juliet tale. So when it was announced that the show was being reintroduced to the Great White Way after nearly 30 years, with two famous songs that would feature lyrics sung in Spanish, many eyebrows raised up; some in intrigue, others in concern.

Dramaturg John Baker, playwright Duane Kelly and director Christopher Curry rehearsing for the sit-down reading of The Thing with Feathers at the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference.

Developing plays and playwrights.

Playwrights conferences, festivals or workshops are more important now than ever, as their small size and low overhead allow them to take risks and seek out new playwrights and fresh voices. While a large regional theatre may only be able to extend one slot per year to a new or emerging playwright, these festivals help ensure that new works have a place to grow.

The second annual Stage Directions High School Theatre Honors Program has once again yielded some exciting results from five U.S. regions and Canada. The mix is varied: public and private institutions; big and not-so-big cities. Some are very active in competitions, and others prefer to focus energies elsewhere.

Plays that manipulate space and time

Spacetime” is a scientific concept that combines three-dimensional space and time as a fourth dimension. It’s a concept that theatre takes to easily, as we see in this month’s roundup of recently-released titles that play with time and space in intriguing ways.

So often do we forget that the early bricks support the building.

This month’s edition began as a simple wish list—a list of new gear I would appreciate for my shop.  Then again, a new shop also made the list, so who knows how far the list might have gone? As I wrote it, however, I came to the console that I thought would best suit my needs—the ETC Express 24/48—and recalled that the console with which I have maintained a long-term love affair has rolled off the assembly line for the last time.

Gabriel Luna as Orestes and Smaranda Ciceu as Helen in Cambiare’s Orestes

Cambiare Productions builds their shows and audience in unconventional ways 

Cambiare Productions from Austin, Texas, came online to TheatreFace.com to talk about their lightning-fast development of a new adaptation of the Orestes myth, which cadges from Sophocles’ Elektra, Aeschylus' Oresteia and Euripides' Iphigenia at Aulis, Iphigenia Among the Taurians in addition to his Orestes. The resulting work ended up reflecting all those different sources in a “fractured fever dream” of a narrative. The production was nominated for several Austin Circle of Theatres B. Iden Payne Awards, including Outstanding Production of a Drama.