We welcome Fisher Theatrical, LLC as a new Sustaining member of USITT. Kacey Fisher, President, is also the new chair of the Chesapeake Regional Section. The company is a full-service stage theater contractor, providing technical arts, superior equipment, and dedicated services needed to develop quality theatrical experiences. Fisher works with clients and production teams to conceive innovative, creative, and affordable solutions. To learn more, visit www.fishertheatrical.com.

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For the 14th year in a row, Sapsis Rigging provided rigging design, equipment, labor, and supervision for Fashion Week in New York City. The venues involved this season included the tents in Bryant Park, The 26th Street Armory, Chelsea Piers, Lux Studios on West 18th Street, and Bumble & Bumble Studios on West 13th Street.

The equipment provided by Sapsis included over 100 chain hoists, lighting truss, a self climbing rig, and staging.

Sapsis Rigging also provided the rigging equipment to hang the video screens at the U.S. Open in Flushing, New York. There were a total of five screens weighing, on average, over 8,000 pounds apiece.

Sapsis Rigging provided the safety equipment for the recent Naomi Watts photo shoot on the Chrysler Building. The photo shoot, which resulted in the cover photo for the Condé Nast magazine Traveler, placed Ms. Watts on one of the famous eagle gargoyles at the 61st floor of the Chrysler Building.

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When pop sensation Shakira needed some custom equipment for her "Oral Fixation" tour, TOMCAT USA and Production Resource Group were all too happy to help with the project.

In all, TOMCAT fabricated 30 custom light frames with each individual frame designed to hold six Par 64 short fixtures.

The "Oral Fixation" tour's first United States stop was in El Paso, Texas at the beginning of August 2006. That leg of the tour continued for six weeks to sold out dates throughout the U.S. and wrapped up in Hildago, Texas. The tour continued with stops in Mexico, Columbia, Chile and Argentina in September and October. The Columbian singer/songwriter is supporting her latest album, Oral Fixation Vol. 2, released in November 2005.

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Lancelot made its International debut at Plasa and was widely acclaimed as the star of the show. It was the center of attraction in Robert Juliat's booth at LDI 2006. The brightest and most spectacular fixture ever released by Robert Juliat, Lancelot is both a long throw effects projector and a followspot, perfect for stadiums and other large venues. Designed around a 360,000 lumen 4KW HTI lamp, it retains the Robert Juliat trademarks of flat field, smooth dimming control, fully closing iris, color changer, and DMX control, but introduces a new and revolutionary modular design. Cartridges are available now for progressive color effects, frost, color correction and color mixing. Future features will include up to two five-position rotating gobo modules, motorized zoom, variable strobe and a moving mirror head.

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The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) held at Chicago's McCormick Center in September wasn't your typical nuts-and-bolts trade show this year, thanks to a creative new booth concept from Swedish manufacturer, Sandvik Coromant AB. The 5,000 square foot booth more closely resembled a mystical ice palace bathing in the Northern Lights than a regular tool display.

Sandvik had 22 tons of ice flown in from Sweden's famed Ice Hotel for the booth, the first time the special ice has ever been brought into the United States. The ice required special lighting to curb melting and spotlight the ice bar and sculptures on display. Wybron Nexera CDM fixtures -- 18 Profile and 12 Wash -- were used to deliver "Northern Light" color without the heat of traditional tungsten source lighting fixtures. To reach the desired 4200 color temperature, Wybron suggested using Phillips CDM 942 lamps for the fixtures.

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DesignLab has added Michael Voss and Julian Pike to its Chicago operation.

Mr. Voss has taken on the responsibility of sales management. He taught lighting design on the university level and freelanced as a lighting designer for a decade. He was the sales and operation manager for Victor Duncan and Panavision Chicago for over 15 years. Mr. Voss has a BA from the University of Wisconsin and an MFA in lighting design from Ohio University. He moves to DesignLab from Planned Lighting, an electrical contractor that specialized in lighting maintenance, where he was the director of sales.

Mr. Pike has assumed the position of rental coordinator. He will be the front line customer contact for all equipment rentals at the Chicago office. Mr. Pike has most recently worked as a freelance lighting designer and has a BA from Alma College and an MFA from the University of Missouri.

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