Stage Directions

The Hill School in Pottstown, PA, which was found in 1851, needed to upgrade its AV, lighting, and power systems on its sprawling campus. To that end, the school recently began updating the schools Center for the Arts (CFTA). Built in 1987, the 31,000-square-foot CFTA houses a 700-seat proscenium theater that serves as a learning laboratory for actors, scenic and lighting designers, and theatre technicians. The power control for the stage lighting system hadn’t been updated since the theater was built and was due for an overhaul.

Lighting Designer Mathieu Poirier created the atmosphere of the grand hotels of the past for Hotel, the latest touring show for Montreal-based company Cirque Eloize. In Hotel acrobatics, theater, dance, and live music guide the audience through an intimate refuge with an avant-garde look inspired by the elegance of the greatest hotels. The lives of transient travelers intersect briefly but long enough for tales and memories to be forged. Poirier selected Claypaky’s new Axcor Spot 300 moving LED fixtures to help set the scene for the troupe’s very special 25th anniversary production.

The Istrian National Theatre is located in the medieval port city of Pula on the Istrian peninsula in Croatia and is one of the most important cultural institutions in the region, renowned for the quality and innovation of its productions. It has a 720-seat main auditorium and produces around 10 new works per year, mainly drama or modern dance, plus one children’s production. The original building dates back to 1871 when the theater opened. It was reconstructed in 1918 and extensive further restoration and upgrade work was undertaken in 1989 including the installation of a new fly tower, which made it capable of staging far more ambitious productions.

The 2018 revival of the Rogers and Hammerstein’s classic musical, Carousel, completed its run at the Imperial Theatre in New York City with a sound design that earned the show and its Broadway Sound designer – and Tony winner – Scott Lehrer, along with associate Alex Neumann, a Tony nomination this year. An immediate hit when it first played in 1945, Carousel had to compete hard in the wake of Oklahoma, the first and very successful collaboration between Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein. Hence it is packed with memorable songs, from “If I Loved You” through “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over”, to the popular yet demanding strains of “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

DiGiCo will demo its SD7 Quantum engine at the 2018 Audio Engineering Society (AES) Show at New York City's Jacob Javits Convention Center. Be sure to stop by the DiGiCo AES booth (#629) to see the showcase of the company's highly anticipated SD7 Quantum engine, which is now shipping to SD7 owners around the globe.

In April 2017, Shure announced a rebate program of up to $500 per channel on the purchase of new Shure wireless microphones and personal monitor systems accompanied by the trade-in of wireless systems operating in the 600 MHz frequency band (614-698 MHz). Products from Shure and from other wireless manufacturers are eligible for the trade-in program. Earlier this year, it was announced that the Shure 600 MHz wireless rebate program had been extended through October 31, 2018. This will be the final date to act on the rebate.

In honor of International Stage Manager Appreciation Day, here's information on USITT's Stage Management Mentor Project (SMMP). Did you ever wonder who makes the USITT Conference events run so smoothly? The flow of events such as Keynote, Tech Olympics, and the New Products Showcase is made possible by those involved in the SMMP. Work alongside professionals in our industry and help make #USITT19 come to life in March by taking part in the USITT SMMP. Applications for the program are open now until November 15.

This spring, Second Stage Theater became the latest non-profit company with a Broadway home, opening the newly-renovated Helen Hayes Theater on West 44th St. To prepare for the opening, Second Stage made extensive upgrades to the 106-year-old building, including improvements to the onstage and backstage spaces, the audience chamber, and patron amenities. ETC was proud to be a part of the renovation, supplying power and electrical infrastructure for stage lighting. Here's a video look at the newly renovated Helen Hayes Theater: {youtube}v=b7h5-QHh0WM{/youtube}

A production this big requires big sound – sound that lifts spirits, transports the soul, surrounds you, and leaves no question that you’ve just witnessed a spectacle of historic proportions. Welcome to the Sight & Sound Theatres, where you’re invited to experience this action-packed musical stage adventure that takes you on a miraculous journey alongside the most famous person to ever walk the earth and the everyday people whose lives he changed forever. This is the story of Jesus, brought to life as a stage production also titled Jesus, in two separate, purposefully similar venues, one located in Branson, MO, the other in Strasburg, PA. Here's a video with behind the scenes on the production of the theatre's Jesus: {youtube}v=-agUGD6uS-k{/youtube}

UNI MEI Global Union Renews Leadership, Adopts Priorities For 2019 

Leaders of media entertainment and arts unions and guilds from across the world met in Toronto on October 1-2 to review the work priorities of UNI MEI, the Media and Entertainment Industry division of UNI Global Union, and to renew the organization’s leadership team. Following the retirement of Gerry Morrissey, BECTU, the UNI MEI Executive Committee unanimously elected IATSE Intl. President Matthew D. Loeb as new President. President Loeb, who has served as 1st Vice President since 2008 will now lead the work of the Committee towards the UNI MEI General Assembly of 2020.