We welcome Morris Architects as a new Contributing member of USITT. The firm, based in Houston, Texas notes that architecture, landscape architecture, planning and interior design are the core disciplines practiced by seven Morris Architects studios. Designated as civic, corporate, education, entertainment, healthcare, hospitality and public assembly, each studio is distinct. To learn more, visit the company's website at www.morrisarchitects.com.

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We appreciate the enhanced level of support shown by d&b audiotechnik which has become a new Contributing member of the Institute. The company takes what it describes as a holistic approach to the quest for excellence in sound reproduction. It has consistently and successfully championed a complete system concept by developing loudspeakers, control electronics, and amplifiers designed to be used together to satisfy the most demanding sound reinforcement applications. d&b audiotechnik is based in Asheville, North Carolina. For complete information, visit www.dbaudio.com.

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H & H Specialties Inc. recently completed the supply of stage equipment for the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa, California. The hall is the latest addition to the Orange County Performing Arts Center (OCPAC). H & H Specialties Inc. provided over 2,500 feet of motorized variable acoustic tracks in the concert hall and 600 feet of manually operated tracks for the rehearsal rooms and music theatre.

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Texas Scenic Company (TSC), for the second year in a row, was named to the Engineering News Record (ENR) Top Specialty Contractors. ENR recognizes the top 600 specialty contractors in the construction industry who have met or exceeded qualifying criteria.

Qualifications are based upon yearly gross sales, scope of work, timely completion, and customer satisfaction. TSC is the only stage equipment contractor/systems integrator to have been named to this prestigious list since its inception.

Texas Scenic Company, established in 1936, is a stage equipment contractor and systems integrator based in San Antonio, Texas.

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Creative Stage Lighting hosted a giveaway at LDI 2007.Three prizes -- a Columbus McKinnon Prostar Hoist, a pair of Wireless Solution W-DMX Micros, and a Leprecon ULD-360 Duplex dimmer unit -- were given away to visitors at the company's booth. The giveaway was possible courtesy of Columbus McKinnon, Wireless Solution AB, and Leprecon.

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Apollo Design Technology, Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of lighting effect products for the entertainment industry, has developed the Apollo Playbook to aid high school or college drama teachers and students, and those involved in community theater.

The Apollo Playbook is an instructional guide to designing visual effects for popular productions by offering color and gobo recommendations for each act of the play. Volume 1 includes The Diary of Anne Frank, Our Town, The Crucible, and The Glass Menagerie. Volume 2 includes Arsenic and Old Lace, Death of a Salesman, The Miracle Worker, and The Odd Couple.

To request a playbook, go to www.internetapollo.com and click on Marketing Materials Request. It also is available as a PDF in the downloads section of the website.

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Electronic Theatre Controls unveiled its Ion lighting console at LDI 2007 in Orlando, Florida. Ion is the follow-up and smaller sibling to ETC's award-winning Eos console which was recently used for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's latest world tour.

Like Eos, Ion is designed for multimedia lighting rigs delivering seamless control over conventionals, moving lights and LEDs. Eos replaced the dance company's older Obsession II console.

For more information about Ion and all ETC lighting products, go to www.etcconnect.com. For more Alvin Ailey info, visit www.alvinailey.org.

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Paul Kleissler recently joined City Theatrical, Inc. in the newly created position of Senior Engineer.

Before joining CTI, Mr. Kleissler spent eight years designing audio/video control systems for retail environments at Creative Realities Inc. Before that, he worked for BASH Theatrical lighting for 13 years, starting out as a bench technician and working his way up to department head in electronics. At the same time, he co-founded Logical Lighting Interface where he co-developed the wireless dimming system that became the de-facto standard for Broadway use. In 2003, Mr. Kleissler and CTI's Head of Engineering Larry Dunn invented the WDS Wireless Data System.

Mr. Kleissler has a BSEET degree from DeVry University and has training in circuit design, network administration, audio and video systems, and AMX control systems.

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Production Resource Group, LLC, (PRG) recently appointed a new product manager, launched a software upgrade for Virtuoso, and refurbished most of its Vari-Lite VL6C inventory.

Tom Celner was named controls and networking product manager. In the newly created position, he will serve as PRG's national resource for two proprietary products -- the Virtuoso lighting control console and the Series 400 Power and Data Distribution System. He will work with PRG's Research and Development and Marketing teams and will be based in Chicago.

Mr. Celner joins PRG after working as a freelance programmer and designer. He worked for many years for Vari-Lite/VLPS. While there, he was closely involved in the development of Virtuoso and its subsequent upgrades. He is a graduate of the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University where he earned a BFA degree in lighting design.

PRG recently launched the version 6.0 software upgrade for the Virtuoso control console. Two major features added in 6.0 that were asked for by users are a wave-based effects engine and multiple cue lists. Controls have been added in the upgrade expressly designed for media servers and allowing for room to expand.

PRG has nearly completed a makeover of its entire 1,200-plus rental inventory of VL6C units. Each unit has been overhauled to improve both cooling and reliability, even receiving a new moniker: the VL6C+. For more information on PRG, visit www.prg.com.

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