Nominations are open through October 17 for USITT's 2009 Rising Star Award, sponsored and created by LDI2008/Live Design. Online nominations may be made here. The Rising Star Award recognizes young professionals in the first four years of their careers for artistic excellence in the areas of lighting, sound, scenic, and projection design or the convergence of design disciplines. A recipient must be in the first four years of professional (non-academic) work following the completion of his or her highest degree.

USITT members should nominate young professionals for this award. Nominees will be contacted by USITT and asked to electronically supply a professional resume, two letters of support, an application, and no more than eight representative examples of their work. Complete nomination information, including past winners, is available here.

The 2009 Rising Star Award winner will receive $1,000, a one-year individual membership to USITT, and a complimentary registration and banquet ticket to the 2009 Annual Conference & Stage Expo.

Contact the USITT Office at 800-938-7488 ext. 101 or info@office.usitt.org for assistance.

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November 7 is the deadline to submit an entry for the USITT Architecutre Awards for 2009. Submission information, requirements, and entry forms are available here, from www.usitt.org or by contacting the USITT office at 800-938-7488, ext. 101 or info@office.usitt.org.

The Architecture Awards program is celebrating its 16th year in bringing public and professional recognition to architecture design of theatre projects. The program is open to any new construction or renovation completed since January 1, 1998. Architects practicing anywhere within the seven continents may enter one or more submissions. The USITT Architecture Awards jury will evaluate projects on creativity, contextual resonance, functional operation, exploration of new technologies, and community contribution.

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For those who will be in Las Vegas, Nevada for LDI, please stop at the USITT booth for a chance to win a free registration to the 2009 USITT Annual Conference & Stage Expo. USITT staff and members can gather at booth 428 from October 24 to 28.

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ESTA (Entertainment Services and Technology Association) has announced the finalists in the first Rock Our World Awards to be presented at the ESTA Annual Dinner & Ceremony at LDI 2008.

The awards were created to honor groundbreaking achievements by ESTA members and to acknowledge the genius of both the creator of technology and the designer or integrator who applies the technology in a real world environment. With more than 30 nominations, a screening panel narrowed the field to nine.

The finalists are:

• Aqua Visual FX Water Screen, Pyrotek Special Effects, Inc.
• AIR Roof System, Total Structures, Inc.
• STC Alloy Chain, SECOA
• Jands Vista PC as used in the Foxwoods MGM Resort Casino, A.C. Lighting Inc.
• Versa RAY Screen at the 15th Asian Games, Element Labs Inc.
• Pharos LPC X on the Heathrow "Cloud" Carallon Limited
• Die Soldaten, Alcone Company, Barbizon Electric, IATSE Local One, J&M Special Effects, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Mountain Productions Inc., Production Resource Group, Rose Brand, Sapsis Rigging, Inc., and Steeldeck, Inc.
• Tacoma Dome Lighting Grid System, Athletic & Performance Rigging (a division of Tiffin Scenic Studios, Inc.), Atlanta Rigging Systems, Entertainment Structures Group (a division of Steven Schaefer Associates, Inc.), and Xtreme Structures & Fabrication
• Harrah's Atlantic City Waterfront Tower, Philips Solid-State Lighting Solutions, Production Resource Group, Tim Hunter Design

The winners are selected by a panel of industry judges and will be announced at the ESTA Annual Dinner & Awards Ceremony October 24 at Harrah's Las Vegas during LDI 2008. To make a reservation click here.

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