Anthony R. Phelps
VC Programming, Lighting Commission

Hopefully readers already have hotel rooms booked and travel plans made, because the USITT Annual Conference & Stage Expo is right around the corner. This year the Lighting Commission has one professional development workshop (PDW) and 15 sessions to choose from. The programming this year has a lot to offer whether you are a professional, an educator, or a student.

This year the Lighting Commission again has the Light Lab set up. Two spaces at the Kentucky Center in downtown Louisville will be used. The PDW on Indoor Pyrotechnics will be presented in the Bomhard Theatre. This intensive workshop on the safe operation of pyrotechnics will be presented by professionals from Le Maitre. There are five sessions set up in the Light Lab in the Whitney Theatre at the Kentucky Center. Tom Schraeder will present a session on the realities and limitations of lighting visualization software verses realized lighting with several top visualization programmers.

Leading manufacturers James Thomas Engineering, Sellador, and Color Kinetics will discuss design solutions in the Lab using LED technology. They will demonstrate what is in store for the future of lighting design. Vickie Scott will discuss and demonstrate the art of cueing and timing in another session in the Light Lab. This session will use dance choreography and lighting to demonstrate some of the different approaches to cueing a piece.

The professionals from Le Maitre come back for a discussion about using indoor pyrotechnics in the theatre. Finally, world-renowned dance lighting designer Mark Stanley conducts a master class on color and gobos.

There are many other sessions outside of the Light Lab. For those considering graduate school, there is a session on choosing a grad school and choosing a mentor. For those teaching lighting design, there is a great roundtable discussion planned about lighting design projects for the classroom. Steve Shelley will present a session on lighting design economics for the freelance designer. Those interested in the meaning of color and how to make good color choices can stop by the Storytelling with Color session. This session is not just for lighting designers but for every designer. These are just a few of the sessions planned.

This year's Distinguished Achievement in Lighting recipient is James Moody. Mr. Moody has been active in theatre, film, video, and concert lighting for many years. Over the years, he has worked with such music acts as The Eagles, John Denver, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, and David Bowie. His television work includes: Wheel of Fortune, Hard Copy, and Jeopardy!. He has stayed active in theatre lighting throughout the years, lighting over 150 productions. Mr. Moody has written two books; The Business of Theatrical Design and Concert Lighting; Techniques, Art, and Business.

Attend the Lighting Commission meetings where the direction of the Lighting Commission is shaped and programming for future conferences discussed. If you have an idea for a session for the conference in Phoenix, bring it to the meeting and get involved.

The Lighting, Scene Design, Management, and Health & Safety commissions will host a reception on Friday night, March 31. This is an excellent opportunity to meet people who are leaders of these commissions and are session panelists.

The revised Recommended Practice for Theatrical Lighting Graphics, is available for public review until 5 p.m. Eastern time on March 20 on the USITT website. This document is intended to establish a standardized language among lighting designers and anyone else who needs to understand or execute a lighting design. To receive information via e-mail, you can be added to the Lighting Commission mailing list, just send an e-mail to USITT-Lighting@nuttybar.drama.uga.edu.

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