Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1979 - 5

Theatre Design
&

Technology
Volume

xv *

Letters

Number 2 * Summer, 1979

We are printing the leNers below because they raise a valid quesJournal of the United States
Institute for Theatre Technology
Number 57

Contents

tion despite the tone and aNitude of one and the apparent confusion
of the other. TD&T is not only the journal for the USITT membership,
but it is, for the most part, wriNen by the members. Anyone is entitled
and encouraged to submit articles for consideration. The Technical
Reports section, for instance, is intended to fill the need for information on "how to" without space-age technology and budgets. Yet that
section has been omitted a few times over the past year or two due to
lack of material. We cannot magically know what is going on in every
theatre in the country-someone must tell us.
So once again we make our plea: If you have done, or know of,
something interesting in design or technology, write a short article. If
you do not have the time or inclination to write, get someone else to
do it (give a student a chance to publish). If no one is available, give
us a call and we will find someone to write on the topic. A primary
function of USITT is the sharing of ideas and information. TD&T is the

Letters

Deriving Precise Measurements from
Scenic Sketches
by Paul S. Hoffman

~~~~ffl~

The Scenography of Ladislav Vychodil

_ _ _ _ _ _ Too Much Broadway?

by Jarka M. Burian
17

Dance Tour Lighting for Small Companies
by Peggy Clark

Upcoming Costume Exhibitions
by Vicki Earle

Book Reviews

New Products

Research
The Museum of Modern Art

Mount Holyoke College

_ _ _ _ _ _ Too Much Star Trek?

OISTT

On the Cover: Ladislav Vychodil's design for Rhapsody in Blue.

Theatre Design & Technology is published four times a yearSpring, Summer, Fall, Winter-from editorial offices at 1024
Holmes Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22901. Manuscripts for TD& T
may be submitted by anyone. A copy of the journal's "Editorial
Guides" will be mailed on request. Unsolicited manuscripts will
not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Subscription to TD& T is a privilege of membership in USITT. Only libraries may subscribe separately at the rate
of $12.00 per year/Domestic and $18.00 per year/Foreign, payable in U.S. currency. Changes of address should be mailed to the
Circulation Manager, c/o of the New York office, 1501 Broadway,
New York, N.Y. 10036.

*
Back issues of Theatre Design & Technology are available from
Xerox University Microfilms, 300 North Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI
48106.

For some time now I've been arguing with my colleagues about the
make up of the USITT membership. It is my contention that 80% of
the membership is involved in educational theatre and another 10%
are in business to sell them equipment and supplies. These are the
people who read the Journal of the USITT (sic) and Theatre Crafts. It
follows that many of their articles should be for, by, and about them.
The lavish articles on Broadway shows and new opera houses are
marvelous but there is at present a disproportionate number of them.
John Howard

by Ginnine Cocuzza

Just a brief note to call your attention to an article in Theatre Crafts
March/April 1976, p.64. Your article of Fall '78, p. 19 is curiously
similar. It is interesting that the USITT masthead is three years behind
Theatre Crafts.
More astonishing, to me at least is that this is a glaring example of
the deplorable lack of communication between theatre technicians
everywhere. I guess I always hoped that the technical theatre magazines helped this situation some, but apparently not. If the magazines
don't even pay attention to each other, I hate to think what we readers
do with our copies. Maybe I should present this as a challenge to all
the trade magazines.
I would think that if nothing else were accomplished in technical
theatre in '79, improved communication would be a suitable goal. I
know there are things happening all over the United States that might
help some technician in Seattle.
I'm not talking about info on the latest most recent 1981 ultra sonic
memory board that dances and has a Star Trek program or even
holography. Star Trek and holography are interesting, but ozone
technology affects very few technicians. I am talking about info on
good air tools that will save someone from ever using a hammer
again or even info on styrofoam floors or even foam adhesives.
Simple day to day problems that maybe Ashland has a good answer
to that Seattle sure could use.
Maybe communication in the tech theatre world should be a topic
of your Seattle conference? Maybe it already is? Yes, three years
later the wheel was invented in Irvine and yes, USITT WAS THE
FIRST ON THE SCENE.
Peter Davis

Se8«le, WA.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1979