THE JOURNAL FOR DESIGN & PRODUCTION PROFESSIONALS IN THE PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY VOLUME XXIX. NUMBER 1 * WINTER 1993 Features 9 Wichita Conference & Stage Expo Preview We presenr an advance look at the wealrh of activiries which await US ITT members who take advantage of the week of pre-conference and conference events planned for the 1993 USITT Conference & Stage Expo. BY USITT CONFERENCE STAFF 17 The Theatre is a Dream: The Paintings of Jan Vancura A contributing editor explores the personal rheatrical painrings of nored Czechoslovak scenographer Jan Vancura which were created as a world of escape and personal creative fulfillment in order to survive and combat the oppressive sociery that surrounded him for decades until the recent "velver revolution." BY DELBERT UNRUH Page 9 27 Remembering Denis Bablet The man who was arguably "the world's leading authoriry on scenography and theatre architecture" is remembered by one of his former studems. BY MARY BETH TALLON 29 Black Box Theatres and Beyond A contributing editor and former US ITT president explores the history, derivation, and structure of the black box rheatre and the many forms it has assumed in its various incarnations during the pasr several decades. BY JOEL E. RUBIN 37 Page 27 Who Needs Theatre? A compelling essay explores rhe claim (hat we need arr and theatre in order to achieve meaning and significance to our lives. BY DOUGLAS BAILEY Departments 2 Editors' Note 43 Costume 55 Software Reviews by Patrick Finelli, Editor 46 A Costume Facilities Checklist by Marrha Marking 57 Sound 57 by Elbin Cleveland, Editor 60 49 53 New Products by Roberr Heller, Editor Whither to Move? by Charlie Richmond Page 29 New Product Review Health & Safety International Journal Report by orma Adler, Editor Safery Assessment for the Theatre: A Management Tool by Dennis Madigan 61 1992 TD&T Index Book Reviews 63 Index to Advertisers by Sylvia Hillyard, Editor TD&T 1993 WINTER