Theatre Design & Technology - May 1973 - 5

EDITORIAL & NEWS
EDITORIAL---

It is appropriate for this issue, devoted largely to the
work of our very able colleagues in Eastern Europe, to
include in the Book Review Section coverage of recent
volumes dealing with the work of Jean Rosenthal and
Josef Svoboda. These two designers, one no longer with
us, epitomize the community of labor and artistry in
World Theatre. Both have worked extensively beyond the
boundaries of their native countries. Miss Rosenthal
traveled frequently to Western Europe with the New York
City Ballet, Martha Graham's Dance Company and other
dramatic productions sponsored by the U.S. Government.
Svoboda visited our shores last fall for the new Carmen at
the Metropolitan Opera and his tour of Universities in
November. He will return next winter for a new production-first time at the Metropolitan-of Verdi's I Siciliani
Vespri.
Both carried enormous amounts of good will with
them and searching enquiry into what the people working
in other countries were doing. Not only were they
curious, they were friendly and compassionate in their
contacts. The writer had the good fortune to have been
associated professionally with Jean Rosenthal some years
ago and to have had the great pleasure of her friendship which he will never forget. He has also had the
great reward of hearing Svoboda speak last fall and the
subsequent pleasure of his very gracious hospitality in
Prague last January. Thus, putting this issue together has
reinforced your Editor's belief that our Art-the Theatreplaces all of us in a remarkable gathering of kindred
spirits and extraordinary individuals. All of us, through our
work, contribute to a common human understanding
with every production we put on a stage and with each
new theatre we manage to build. I think we are very
lucky people for our language is truly international and
our work one that is shared and enjoyed by all the inhabitants of our global village. In this spirit, I am proud
to dedicate this issue to Jeannie's memory and to the
continuing artistry of Josef Svoboda.
This issue represents a departure from the past in the
increased number of pages and more advertising. I n the
fall, we shall go back to our regular number of pages (40)
but we hope very much to attract even more advertising
in an attempt to bring you a larger Journal in the months
ahead. When you correspond with our advertisers, kindly
mention that you saw their ad in Theatre Design and Technology. Nothing warms an advertiser's heart-and the
desire to continue an ad-so much as feedback from
readers who are interested in his product.

THEATRE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

Associate Editor Richard Thompson's Recent Developments contains many new and interesting products and
devices this month. Also mention the Journal when you
write to these product manufacturers requesting further
information and/or catalogs.
We are instituting a new feature in this issue, "Letters
to the Editor." Your Editor encourages further correspondence from readers on any aspect of the Journal. All
such letters will be used in this feature if, in your Editor's
judgment, they contribute to a greater understanding of
our function and purpose.
The February issue contained two errors. They are as
follows: The title of Alvin Reiss' book, reviewed by
Thomas DeGaetani is; Culture and Company: An Improbable Alliance. The photos used with David Jager's
article, "No Wings?!, No Flies?!" are the work of Francis
Landiss.

LAST MINUTE ITEM:
The Department of State has announced that Arena
Stages, Washington's resident professional company, will
tour Our Town and Inherit the Wind in the Soviet Union
next fall. American impresarios are negotiating with the
Russians for a tour of the U.S. in 1976 by the Bolshoi
Ballet and Opera Companies. Our bicentennial year also
marks the 200th anniversary of Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre.
Keep all this in mind as you read Glenn Loney's piece on
the Russian tour of Lawrence and Lee.

NEWS

1973 USITT CONFERENCE
Harold Burris-Meyer, noted authority on stage scenery
and theatre architecture, who has just retired from his
professorship at Florida-Atlantic University, was honored
with the annual Founder's Award of the U.S. Institute of
Theatre Technology at the organization's annual conference held March 11 through March 14 at the Bel Air
East Hotel in St. Louis. Dr. Burris-Meyer's encyclopedic
book, "Scenery for the Theatre," written in collaboration
with Edward C. Cole of the Yale School of Drama, has
just been brought out in a revised edition by Little,
Brown and Company.

MAY. 1973

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - May 1973