Stage Directions

The Light Source introduces new additions to its range of LED house lights as well as an innovative Tent Chain Pole Clamping system. These new products will be on display in The Light Source’s Booth #7361 at InfoComm 2017, June 14-16 in Orlando, FL.

As the theater community celebrated the 2017 Tony Awards, the American Theatre Wing also took the opportunity to celebrate how theater inspires us all as artists, audience, students and citizens. Some of this year's Tony nominees talked about what the #TheatreInspires campaign means to them:{youtube}v=yplVtx3gGH8{/youtube}

Lighting Designer Keith Arsenault recently lit the St. Petersburg Opera Company’s production of the Jacques Offenbach classic, Tales of Hoffmann. Following a poet through three fanciful stories of unrequited love, this opera has held sway over audiences since it debuted in Paris 136 years ago. 

Theater consulting firm, Schuler Shook announce the promotion of two talented, dedicated staff members to Principal. Paul Whitaker, LEED AP and Jim Hultquist, ASTC, LEED AP have both been promoted to Principals in the firm.

Broadway casting directors rallied with union and theater supporters outside the Tony Awards rehearsals at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, calling for a union contract. Casting directors are organizing a union with Teamsters Local 817 and are calling on Broadway producers to negotiate a union contract. Though the Broadway casting directors joined Teamsters Local 817 in 2016, the Broadway League refused to negotiate a union contract with them.

ETC is proud to announce the promotions of two new global service managers. Durrell Ramer was recently promoted to the role of Global Customer Service and Systems Manager and Mike Meskill is taking on the role of Global Technical Service Manager.

Props Artisan, (and SD contributor) Jay Duckworth is highly regarded for his mastery of all things props. He has even created an easy to eat steak for onstage meals that made a lasting impression on actor John Lithgow. In fact he asked the art department of his latest film Beatriz at Dinner to contact Duckworth in order to duplicate the easily eatable fake steak for him in the movie. Duckworth's recipe: watermelon and food coloring. It allows actors to chomp on a steak throughout a scene while still able to say their lines! 
Checkout Lithgow explaining the stage secret, crediting Duckworth for his ingenuity, on ABC's The Chew. Then scroll done to see the steak recipe.

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Industry veteran lighting designer and theatre consultant, Josh Allen, has purchased the W.H. Onley Co. rep agency, formerly owned by the late Bill Onley. The new entity will operate under the name WHOCO Lighting & Controls, Inc.

With sadness, Stage Directions notes the loss of lighting, scenic designer, and educator Lenore Doxsee, who passed away on Friday, May 19^th from ovarian cancer at the age of 52. We join the theater community in sending our condolences to her family, friends, students, and colleagues.

While set designer Mimi Lien has won the 2017 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Set Design in a Musical and is up for a Tony Award as well for her set design on The Great Comet, her design didn't stop with the stage or even the audience house. She has also transformed the lobby of the Imperial Theatre, transporting audience members from the  the moment they step inside from the street.

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