USITT’s office in Syracuse, New York always has been extremely vigilant about recycling and reuse, as any of our visitors who have tried to deposit a piece of paper in the “wrong” refuse bin can attest.

Many member companies are making increasing efforts to go “green” as noted in the Contributing and Sustaining member news items this month. USITT is part of that trend as well, since the most recent postcard sent to all members about the availability of online registration for the 2009 Annual Conference was printed with environmentally-friendly ink using wind power-generated electricity.

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The directors of the Theatre Engineering and Architecture (TEA) conference and the North American Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference (NATEAC) announced the dates and locations of future conferences. Continuing the cycle started by Richard Brett, the TEA director, and incorporating NATEAC into the schedule, the next TEA conference will take place in London in 2010 followed by NATEAC in New York City in 2012.

The TEA conferences, which were held in London in 2002 and 2006, showed that not only was there a desire for such an event but all that it is possible to bring divergent interest groups together and hold a meaningful conversation on a myriad of topics.

The conferences will remain under the overall management of their respective directors; a strategic alliance will help facilitate the administration of these events.

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Bobbi Owen, USITT VP for Communications, was named the Michael R. McVaugh Distinguished Professor in Dramatic Art by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In October, she was honored at a reception and ceremony at the Chapel Hill campus. The title recognizes Ms. Owen for her distinguished scholarship and dedication to the University of North Carolina and the Department of Dramatic Art and the College of Arts and Sciences.

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Past President William J. Byrnes recently released the fourth edition of his widely-used text Management and the Arts. Mr. Byrnes has revised the book to reflect the latest thinking and trends in managing organization and people. A new website has been created with resources for instructors, arts managers, and students at www.managementandthearts.com. The site includes a blog link for discussions, updates, additional materials, and current resources.

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Photo/Monica L. Merritt

Many members of USITT’s volunteer leadership spent four days in Las Vegas, Nevada participating in meetings and enjoying LDI. As at all USITT meetings and events, there seemed to be more than enough topics, opinions, and lively discussions to fill the schedule.

A more complete report on the leadership meetings and LDI will be included in the December issue of Sightlines.

One highlight was the introduction of a new booth which gives a new look to USITT’s presence at trade shows.  

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The Left Wing of the Industrial Palace of the Exhibition Grounds Prague, where the Prague Quadrennial traditionally takes place, has burned down. Reports from PQ organizers note the ceiling of the wing has fallen in due to a serous fire on October 16, 2008.

The Right Wing as well as the Central Hall were not on fire, but damage in these two spaces is not yet known. However, the damage may be quite serious because of the steel construction that was connecting all of the three main spaces.

At this point organizers are not sure what this will mean for the Prague Quadrennial 2011 but the call for applications is still planned to be issued in February 2009.

To see photos, visit www.pq.cz or view video on www.ct24.cz.

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