Stage Directions

This Spring, the USA 829 Diversity Committee adopted a Mission and Values Statement. This Statement is the culmination of over two years of work by this committee, and was influenced by committee training, membership surveys, and conversations. 

High End Systems’ Sola Series products have replaced part of the lighting rental inventory in the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The Kansas City, MO venue needed upgrading and required the wide range of features and benefits of the LED automated luminaires.

Lighting and video rental specialist 4Wall Entertainment has invested in new Kinesys automation equipment with the purchase of 36 x Elevation vari-speed chain hoists, 36 x LibraCELL load monitoring shackles, two K2 control consoles, and numerous Kinesys Vector control systems. This substantial purchase is for general stock and reflects the growing trend and demand for automation systems as part of shows, events, touring lighting and video systems as well as set element motion.

The Cambridge University European Theatre Group recently toured one of Shakespeare’s darkest plays, Othello, and used effects from Elation SixBar 1000™ LED battens to enhance the drama. Featuring live jazz, this new take on the famed tragedy, which was set within the world of 60s jazz clubs, played venues in France, Switzerland, Belgium, and the UK, before holding an ending run at the ADC Theatre in Cambridge.

The fifth annual Broadway Stage Management Symposium (BSMS) will feature over 30 Broadway Stage Managers and Professionals in an incredible array of panels addressing important aspects of the art and craft of stage management. The 2019 BSMS will be held June 1 – 2, 2019 at the New Victory Theater in New York City. The educational intensive will be open to the public and available via an online webinar as well as in New York City.

For the past two seasons Milwaukee Repertory Theater has been warehousing costumes, hats, shoes, accessories, fabric, props, set decoration, furniture, draperies, surplus tools, materials, stage equipment and specialty items from past productions and THERE IS NO MORE STORAGE SPACE LEFT. Sound and light equipment, scenic and architectural elements, tools, set decoration, props from shows you know and love and a lot of other weird wonderful stuff at Garage Sale Prices. We’re not making money here; we’re picking up real estate. Everything is for sale at “Get This Stuff Out of Here” prices on Saturday, April 20 from 10am – 2pm in the Paint Shop at Milwaukee Repertory Theater (108 E Wells).

It is with a heavy heart that Stagecraft Industries announces the passing of our colleague Ted Ross, Sales Manager for electrical products. Ted passed away on Sunday March 31st, 2019. He is survived by his wife, brother, step-son and grandchild.

Claypaky announces the opening of its U.S. Sales and Operation Center. The company, which is known for placing great value on personal contact with its clients, will now have a local team of American lighting experts providing a high level of customer service for Claypaky products. Leading the new team are respected lighting industry veteran George Masek as well as Dennis Knopf, former Senior Sales Manager at Osram, the parent company of Claypaky.

A Product Recall has been announced by OSRAM for certain PAR46, PAR56 & PAR64 lamps. The recalled lamps are sealed beam Tungsten Halogen quartz and Incandescent lamps consisting of a parabolic glass reflector & front lens. The lens diameter is 6” (PAR46), 7” (PAR56), or 8” (PAR64) in diameter. The words “Made in China” are printed on a black & white label affixed to both the single box and the case package. The lamps defined here also say Made in China on the back of the lamp reflector as shown in the image below. The part numbers listed below do not appear on the lamps themselves, but appear on the box labels. It should be noted that only lamps with these part #s that additionally say “Made in China” are part of this recall.

Eric Rimes, a professor of lighting technology at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, is a recipient of the 2019 University of North Carolina Board of Governors Award for Teaching Excellence. He is one of 17 faculty members – one from each of the UNC campuses – chosen to receive a $12,500 stipend, a commemorative bronze medallion, and recognition at commencement exercises.