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Around the Institute
Past President Speaks in Europe
Bill Byrnes, USITT Past President, presented at the First International Expert Forum hosted by the Center for International Arts Management (CIAM) in Cologne, Germany November 26 and 27. The conference theme was about strategies for arts management programs to best prepare their graduates to meet the demands of 21st century arts organizations.
Following the conference, Mr. Byrnes spoke at the University of the Arts in Belgrade, Serbia. His book, Management and the Arts, was translated into Serbian last year and is used at the university. He closed out his trip to Europe with a trip to ISW Business School in Freiburg, Germany to work with the school leadership on developing a strategic plan.
Catalogs Highlight Firm’s 125 Years
When did the theatre industry move from hemp to counterweights? Who invented the sophisticated automatic release system for fire curtains? What did the first computerized rigging control system look like?
These and many other questions are answered in the catalogs of rigging products published by J. R. Clancy, Inc., throughout its 125-year history. Members of USITT soon will be able to see digital files of every page of these catalogs, beginning with the first catalog in 1886. The company has scanned and digitized all the pages and cover of every catalog and provided access to these files to USITT in acknowledgement of the company’s 45-plus years as a member. More information on J. R. Clancy is available at www.jrclancy.com, or 800-836-1885.
In Memoriam: Russell T. Hastings
Russell T. Hastings, scenic designer for Ohio State University for over 30 years, died October 28. He won many USITT awards and honors.
OSU is planning a celebration of his lifetime achievements. Past students and colleagues are invited to click here to view his memorial and add their memories and thoughts. Survivors include his daughter, Elizabeth Hastings, who may be reached at The Decorative Arts Studio, 1230 Nth 14th St., Kingsville, Texas 78364.
UW-Madison School of Music Selects Architect
The New York City firm of Holzman Moss Bottino Architecture, in association with Madison, Wisconsin-based Strang Inc., was selected by the state of Wisconsin to design the new University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Music performance center. More than half of a projected budget of $43 million has been raised. Ongoing fundraising for the project will ensure that the 57,000-square-foot building is constructed entirely with private funding. A key component of the East Campus Gateway, the building will be located on University Avenue adjacent to the expanded Chazen Museum of Art.
Conference in Austria Seeks Presenters
Performing Arts Training Today will be held May 20 to 24 in Leitring bei Leibnitz, Austria.It is the professional conference open to performers, performing arts educators, and teachers from all over the world. It is a wonderful opportunity for participants to demonstrate their methods and techniques. The conference is accepting presentation proposals. To apply for participation, candidates should send a brief letter of motivation stating the conference dates and CV/resume with photo to theatreconferences@gmail.com Places are limited. The registration will be closed once the group is full.
Two of America's Oldest Theaters Become One
Two of the country's oldest theaters announced that they will join forces to create a new theater group in the cultural hub of Berkshire County, combining performance schedules and resources. The boards of trustees for the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, built in 1903, and Berkshire Theatre Festival (BTF) in Stockbridge, founded in 1928, are creating a new, non-profit organization that will stage performances interchangeably throughout the year at the Colonial, BTF's Main Stage, and its adjacent Unicorn Theatre.
In Memoriam: Dr. Willard F. Bellman
Dr. Willard F. Bellman, known to all his many friends as Will, died quietly from natural causes in his Winnetka, California home on Sunday, December 12. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kay, and is survived by daughter Debbie, son Chris, daughter-in-law, Shirley and two grandchildren.
Dr. Bellman, who was 90, lived an active life up until the last several years. He was active in USITT for many years and was one of only nine people to receive the Lifetime Membership Award.
A more complete remembrance of Dr. Bellman will appear in the February issue of Sightlines.
