Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2010 - 6

from the

e ditor

The worldwide technical theatre community has lost a visionary leader. Helmut Grosser died on May 23, 2010. His
accomplishments are many, including president of OISTAT,
president of deutsche Theatertechnische Gesellschaft, the
German centre of OISTAT, and editor of dTHG's journal, Bühnentechnische Rundschau (BTR). In remarks published on
the OISTAT Web site, past president of USITT Joel E. Rubin
remembered the master classes Helmut Grosser gave in the
U.S. in 1973. "The messages that Helmut delivered included
a love of theatre and opera, the obligations of the theatre professional, the leadership role of the Technical director, and the importance of safety in the theatre.
Helmut brought a clear vision of professionalism in the theatre that instilled his own love for the
profession of theatre." dr. Rubin's full remarks, as well as others, are available at www.oistat.org.
This issue has four articles about events at USITT's fiftieth anniversary bash in Kansas City. First
is Kimberly Corbett's piece about the Honor Award and Merit Awards winners of the 2010 USITT
Architecture Awards. Next is Joel E. Rubin's Fellows Address in which he looks back at some of
USITT's founders (he was one of them) and looks forward to some programs and priorities he feels
will carry USITT fifty years into the future, and beyond. Next, douglas Gilpin provides coverage of
design Expo 2010 with beautiful pictures of the work of the fourteen designers selected by the judges
as representing the best of this biennial juried exhibition of costume, scenic, and lighting designs
created by USITT members. Finally, Helen Willard, USITT's Stage Expo Sales Manager, recaps a fitting
celebration of USITT's fiftieth anniversary. Stage Expo 2010 broke all kinds of records: attendance,
number of exhibitors, and number of special exhibits.
In an article related to USITT's anniversary, david Collison, one of the U.K.'s top sound designers, recalls the amazing changes that have taken place in theatre sound since 1960 when both he
and USITT were just starting out. And in the final article in this issue, Catherine bradley returns with
another piece about the digital costume design project she heads at McGill University.
I want to extend a hearty thank you to Richard devin. He has been my steadfast and wise advisor
on all lighting matters since I began editing TD&T in 1995. dick is handing over the associate editor
reins to a longtime contributor to TD&T, linda Essig. She is director of the school of theatre and
film in the Herberger Institute for design and the Arts at Arizona State University, an active lighting
designer, and author of two of my favorite books, Lighting and the Design Idea and The Speed of
Light: Dialogues on Lighting Design and Technological Change.
Correction: we sincerely regret misspelling Rosamond Gilder's first name in "My Nominations
for Godmother and Godfather of USITT" in the Winter 2010 issue.
U s i t t M i s s i o n s tat e M e n t
United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc. (USITT) connects performing arts design and technology communities
to ensure a vibrant dialogue among practitioners, educators, and students.

theatre
design &
technology
T he peer-review jour nal
for design, production and
technolog y professionals
in the perfor ming arts and
entertainment industr y.

EdITORIAl OFFICE
david rodger
editor

deborah hazleTT
art director

*
3001 Springcrest dr.
louisville, KY 40241-2755
502-426-1211 fax: 502-423-7467
e-mail: TdT@broadwaypress.com

ASSOCIATE EdITORS
raYmond KenT
architecture

peggY roSefeldT

Costume design & Technology

paTriCK m. finelli

Computers & Software

William KenYon
education

jerrY gorrell
engineering

david C. gloWaCKi
health & Safety

linda eSSig

lighting design

riChard peTerSon
management

roberT l. SmiTh & heidi hoffer
Scenic design

dave ToSTi-lane
Sound design

bill broWning

Technical production

arnold WengroW
book reviews

William j. bYrneS
inside USiTT

CONTRIbUTING EdITORS
arnold aronson * eric fielding *
sarah nash gates * joel e. rubin *
beeb salzer * delbert unruh *
tom watson * arnold wengrow

AdvERTISING
jim lUCaS

member Services & ad Sales associate

Statements and opinions expressed in articles or editorials in TD&T are the expressions of the individual contributors and do
not necessarily represent the policies or opinions of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc. Advertisements
appearing in this publication are the sole responsibility of the advertiser.
TD&T (ISSN 1052-6765) is published five times a year-Winter, Spring, Summer, Special Issue, and Fall-by United States
Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc., 315 So. Crouse Ave., Suite 200, Syracuse, NY 13210. Subscription to TD&T, also known
as Theatre Design & Technology, is a benefit of USITT membership. Fourteen dollars is deducted from membership dues
to cover cost of publication. Periodicals postage paid at Syracuse, NY and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to TD&T, c/o USITT, 315 So. Crouse Ave., Suite 200, Syracuse, NY 13210. COPYRIGHT © 2010 by United
States Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form
without permission.

theatre

design

technology

S U M M E R

2010

315 South Crouse avenue, Suite 200
Syracuse, nY 13210
800-938-7488 / 315-463-6463
fax: 866-398-7488 / 315-463-6525
e-mail: jim@office.usitt.org

INTERNATIONAl AFFIlIATION
USiTT is the United States Center of oiSTaT: The
international organization of Scenographers,
Theatre architects and Technicians.

http://www.oistat.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 2010