Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 2010 - 71

Karen Mannes, Co-Commissioner, 2007-present.
The Scene Design Commission, like most of the other commissions, is
made up of people with many diverse interests. My initial attraction to the
commission, over ten years ago, was because of the people like me who
have a special interest in scenic art. Over the years, people like Mary Heilman, Susan Crabtree, Howard Jones, Lance Brockman, Rachel Keebler,
Claire Dana, Jenny Knott, Bob Moody, Kamilla Harkless, Joan Newhouse,
Diane Fargo, and Clare Rowe have given conference sessions in which
they shared their expertise in materials, classical and contemporary painting techniques, pedagogical perspectives, and much more.
In addition to our regular conference sessions, Professional Development Workshops with master painters, sculptors, props artisans, and
designers have become a regular avenues for our members to meet and
learn from the experts in our field. Often, USITT corporate members like
Rosco, Rosebrand, Limelight, Sculptural Arts, and Smooth-On have generously donate their products. Additionally, the Scene Design Commission
has worked with the Health & Safety Commission to promote product
safety and healthy work habits.
On a lighter note, one of my favorite USITT memories is the tour
of the National Ballet production space and paint shop during the 2005
conference in Toronto. The tour was fantastic and we saw some beautiful
Santo Loquasto drops being painted, but the really fun part was the transportation. Realizing that we only had a few people signed up, I booked a

2008

van-a Karaoke van. It was priceless. With speakers blaring, we sang our
way across snowy Toronto.
Looking to the future, the Scene Design Commission has begun a relationship with "5D," an organization that promotes the cross-pollination
of design practitioners and technology to redefine the concept of design
as a whole. We have programmed and will present our first in a series of
sessions on the topic of Immersive Design this spring in Kansas City. To
support this new and important focus we have created a new leadership
position to oversee the area of Immersive Design and act as a liaison to
our fellow commissions.
Finally, a wonderful statement by Michael Devine speaks to the spirit
the Scene Design Commission and the institute as a whole: "We've grown
up with USITT as a part of our professional landscape, whether it has been
as a resource, an organization that has provided opportunities to students
(who might later have assisted us), a forum to communicate ideas to our
colleagues, or to provide a center for the education and advancement of
the disparate members of our tribe. The core of USITT is a legacy of passing along hard won knowledge to new members of our craft. Passing on
the knowledge and passion which is at the center of our profession."
Heidi Hoffer is resident designer and professor at Oklahoma State
University. She serves as Vice-Commissioner of Publications for the
Scene Design Commission, and is an associate editor of TD&T.

48th Annual USITT Conference & Stage Expo,
Houston, TX.

2009

Ursula Belden (1947-2009)
scenic designer, teacher, and
leader in many USITT activities,
especially international.

2008
2008-2010

Carl Lefko USITT President

First Tony Award given to a sound designer.
First costume and scenic designer awards were in
1947; first lighting design award was in 1970; from
1948 to 1963 a Tony Award was given to the best
stage technician.

2008

Jennifer Tipton named a
new MacArthur Fellow.

2008

Golden Pen Award
goes to George Tsypin
Opera Factory: Building in
the Black Void.

2008

Publication of
The Designs of Abe
Jacob by Richard K.
Thomas

W I N T E R

2010

theatre

design

technology

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