Costume Symposium 2019
Join USITT and Cynthia Settje of Redthreaded for a Costume Summer Symposium July 31 – Aug. 3, at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center University of Maryland, College Park surrounding the construction and history of synthetic whalebone as it pertains to corsetry. This corset making workshop will utilize Redthreaded patterns and cover a mix of historically accurate and theatrical construction for 18th- and 19th-century stays and corsets.
Primary focus will be on the properties of synthetic whalebone, how and when to use it, and why it is becoming a popular alternative to steel boning. Topics such as flossing and embroidery, fitting, and pattern development will be covered. Workshop attendees may choose between 18th-century stays or 1860s gored corsets and will leave the Symposium with a finished or nearly finished corset. Cynthia will be getting personal with attendees and sharing her story of why she started Redthreaded and her tips on how to build a successful business in the costume world.
Find registration, hotel, and detailed information here.
TOP Flight 2019
TOP Flight is an annual, multi-day workshop that trains technicians, operators and performers on installing flying systems, operating flying equipment, and conducting flying choreography. TOP Flight 2019 dates will take place July 30 – Aug. 3. In the past, participants from around the world — riggers, administrators, actors, dancers, aerialists, technical directors, and other entertainment professionals — that attend TOP Flight receive the knowledge and practicality of operating a flying system. ETCP Renewal Credits are available throughout TOP Flight. Riggers, administrators, actors, dancers, aerialists, technical directors, and other entertainment professionals — Learn how to elevate your story at TOP Flight.
Stage Machine Design Competition
Information provided by Rich Dionne
Last month over 25 undergraduate and graduate students on six teams from five universities in the Midwest region gathered at Purdue University to demonstrate a wide variety of prototype designs to accomplish a “petal drop” effect.
In the end, after an hour-long deliberation, the judges selected the design of the team of graduate students from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as the best overall design winners for this year’s competition: Patrick Szczotka, Mark Quiles, Patrick Storey, and Bobby Reynolds (coached by Ryan Schultz). These four students will be the recipients of four full-conference passes to the 2020 Annual Conference and Stage Expo in addition to the acrylic trophies that they received on Saturday.
Additional certificates of achievement were awarded as follows:
Best Proposal
Zack Kovalenko, Leigh Witek, Janna Jackson, Issy Block; coach: Rich Dionne, Purdue University
Most Efficient Load-in
Ben Marsh, Kyle Langreck, Patrick Librandi; coach: Andrew Gutshall, Valparaiso University
Most Effective Machine
Patrick Szczotka, Mark Quiles, Patrick Storey, and Bobby Reynolds; coach: Ryan Schultz, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Most Elegant Implementation
Ben Marsh, Kyle Langreck, Patrick Librandi; coach: Andrew Gutshall, Valparaiso University
Best Teamwork
Caroline Kester, Kaleb Dunn, Olivia Martinez-Rice, Shepherd Dick; coach: Rich Dionne, Purdue University
This event was made possible by the generous support of the sponsors inclusing USITT, USITT Midwest Regional Section, Creative Conners, Electronic Theatre Controls, Reed Rigging, and Texas Scenic, Co. A special thank you to colleagues Kent Cyr from Michigan Technological University and Mary Pilotte from Purdue University.
