SPRING volume 44 * number 2 2008 theatre design & technology on the cover w Tempe Center for the Arts. Photo by John Linden. 9 Keynote Address: UsItt Conference & stage expo 2008 by Kevin rigdon The phrase, "Never move forward until you have the beginning right," is a mantra in Rigdon's educational work and a touchstone in his design work. 16 26 48 16 stAge LIghtIng ControL Before CompUters by Thomas J. blalock Throughout the last century, ingenious (and sometimes obscure) means were developed to approximate what we take for granted today: the convenience of presetting complex lighting cues. 26 seeIng wIth three eyes: design for Live performance-theatre and themed entertainment by Holly Poe Durbin Designers must first decide how the audience will gather information-visually or verbally. 39 UsItt ArChIteCtUre AwArds 2008 by Kimberly Corbett Two honor awards and four merit awards recognize the projects' exceptional abilities to nourish innovation and enrich the public's experience of one of the world's oldest art forms. 48 The Subtext Book Reviews Inside USITT Advertisers mUA roI nUoC: Vietnamese water puppets 8 68 76 80 by Treva reimer An ancient folk art celebrates the rice-growing culture of the Red River Delta through puppets that dance on water. 58 Are yoU pLAyIng wIth A fULL deCK? An Analysis of platform decking panels by rich Dionne A comparison of different platform construction methods considers which technique is more cost-effective or efficient for a specific application.