Period Corsets, a complete source for historical undergarments: corsets, petticoats, chemises from 1660s to 1905s, has upgraded its membership to that of Sustaining member. Rebecca Kaufman, co-owner of the company, is the main USITT contact for Period Corsets.

The company has been a member for almost 10 years. Their increasing level of support is appreciated. To learn more, visit www.periodcorsets.com.

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Schuler Shook has announced that Jim Baney, IALD, LC, LEED AP, is the newest partner in the firm. Mr. Baney joined Schuler Shook as a lighting designer in 1994 and was promoted to principal in 2000. In his new capacity as partner, he is responsible for ensuring the high quality architectural lighting design standards that have become synonymous with Schuler Shook.

Mr. Baney's 18 years of lighting design experience make him a valuable member of the Schuler Shook team. His leadership as principal in charge of lighting design in Schuler Shook's Chicago office has been significant. Mr. Baney's current and recent projects include Loyola University Madonna Della Strada Chapel; Holocaust Memorial Foundation, Skokie, Illinois.; Kirkland & Ellis offices and North Avenue Bridge, both in Chicago.

He is actively involved in the regional and national lighting design communities and works to promote the field among college students and to provide mentoring to designers and interns at Schuler Shook. He is an active member of the International Association of Lighting Designers and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. Mr. Baney has been a guest lecturer at the Illinois Institute of Technology, the University of Illinois Chicago, the Illinois Institute of Art, and Andrews University.

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Blues System's North American debut at the USITT Conference & Stage Expo in Phoenix was a great success. The product range, specifically designed for backstage lighting applications in the working theatre, won the PLASA 2006 Innovations Award at its European launch last year. Blues System has already been installed at various venues in Europe with great success.

TMB has been appointed the exclusive distributor for Blues System in the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East. Blues System is manufactured in the United Kingdom by Global Design Solutions Ltd. Find out more about Blues System and other exciting theatrical and architectural products available from TMB at www.tmb.com.

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Cobalt Studios in White Lake, New York has announced its spring seminar schedule.

Nels Christianson will lead a four-day seminar in Faux Woodgrain - Interior Grade from April 20 to May 3. Mr. Christianson has won Belgium's Gold Medal of Excellence for Decorative Painting, and provides meticulous guidance in "make your own" maple, mahogany, walnut, and oak.

Mary Heilman, USITT's Scene Design Co-Commissioner, will lead the Stage Floors and Scenic Artists seminar May 7 to 9. Ms. Heilman, of Cal Arts, will lead an exploration of the landscape of dealing with stage floor surfaces, along with problem solving those "knarly requests and sampling, poking, and prodding,"

For more information, visit www.cobaltstudios.net or call 845-583-7025.

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Altman Rentals, Inc. announced that Stefan DeWilde has joined the production and rental company as director of production development. He will focus on working with many of Altman's existing clients as well as introducing its services to new clients.

Prior to joining Altman Rentals, Mr. DeWilde worked for eight years as a lighting designer for Disney Event Productions based in Orlando, Florida. He most recently was production designer and account executive with Atmosphere, Inc. and was production/lighting director for the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and White House Lighting for the Pageant of Peace in Washington D.C. for the past two years.

Mr. DeWilde can be reached at 914-476-RENT (7368), extension 167; by cell phone at 914-803-2330, or by e-mail at sdewilde@altmanrentals.com. For more information on Altman Rentals, visit www.altmanrentals.com.

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Architectural acoustics consulting firm Kirkegaard Associates (KA) has had four of its projects selected to represent the United States at the 2007 Prague Quadrennial Exhibition June 14 to 24 at the Exhibition Grounds (Vystavit) in Prague, Czech Republic.

The USA's entry of "Performance Spaces for a New Generation" - Training facilities for the performing arts in the United States 2001 – 2007, focuses on theatres and academic institutions and adds a Theatre Architecture and Technology section to the exhibition.

KA's expertise centered on architectural acoustics, mechanical noise and vibration control, and audio/video systems design. The projects are:

• Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland: Architects, Moore Ruble Yudell, and Ayers Saint Gross; and theatre consultant, Theatre Projects Consultants
• Detroit School of Arts, Detroit, Michigan: Architect, Hamilton Anderson; and Theatre Consultant, Schuler Shook
• The Music Center at Strathmore, Maryland: Architect, William Rawn Associates; and Theatre Consultant, Theatre Projects Consultants
• Ferguson Center for the Arts, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia: Architect, Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas + Company / Pei Cobb Freed; and Theatre Consultant, Theatre Projects Consultants

They are among 17 projects selected as the best of American theatre architecture intended for education and training in the performing arts. Fifteen will be presented in a multi-media display at the exhibition.

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