We thank Musson Theatrical, Inc. for their increased level of support to that of a Contributing member.

Musson Theatrical, based in Santa Clara, California, has been a USITT member for almost 30 years. The company provides rentals, sales, and production services for the entertainment industry. Customers can “count on Musson for all your lighting, audio, rigging, drapery, scenic, and special effects needs.”

To learn more, visit www.musson.com.

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We appreciated the added support of USITT from Electronics Diversified, LLC. which is now a Contributing member of USITT. Electronics Diversified joined USITT in May of 1968, and is celebrating its 40th year of membership in 2008.

EDI is a manufacturer of performance and architectural lighting control systems including providing controls for incandescent, fluorescent, HID, cold cathode, neon, and inductive loads via dimmers, relays, and non-dims. Systems are available for permanent or portable applications in theatre, television, theme parks, touring shows, hotels, churches, and museums.

EDI will again exhibit at Stage Expo in 2009. To learn more about the organization, visit www.edionline.com.

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Vortek, a division of Daktronics, hired two new employees who bring over 35 years of experience to the company. Robin Allen and Gerry Fryzowski plan to focus their energy towards reducing Vortek’s costs and production lead time while continuing to ensure quality theatre rigging products.

Mr. Allen, hired as a buyer/scheduler, brings seven years of work experience from Gorbel, Inc. – a world class lifting device manufacturer. His duties at Vortek include sourcing products from different suppliers for the best price and delivery, creating purchase orders, qualifying new suppliers, and scheduling product delivery to the factory. He intends to decrease the cost of Vortek’s products without compromising quality.

Mr. Fryzowski boasts over 30 years of experience from a variety of companies. He has worked as a line supervisor, manufacturing manager and engineer, and product line manager.  Mr. Fryzowski’s skills encompass a broad technical and management background with a proven track record for improving on-time delivery, cost control, and factory operation improvement.

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Creative Stage Lighting now is represented in Canada by Fushion, Inc of St. Lazare, Quebec, Canada. Fushion now offers the CSL product line to Quebec, Ontario, and the Canadian Maritime markets.

CSL is a leading manufacturer, wholesale supplier, and distributor of a broad range of products for the stage and theatrical lighting professional. It also provides rental and production services to the entertainment industry.

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Thanks in part to ETC lighting products, the Palazzo Las Vegas is not only the newest, tallest and most luxurious hotel and resort complex on the Strip in Nevada, it is the greenest.

The $1.9 billion, 50-story Palazzo Las Vegas complex opened in December 2007 and now holds a Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the United States Green Building Council. ETC lighting products were one element that enabled it to meet the LEED compliance standard. An ETC Unison lighting control system and ETC Sensor+ dimming were part of the installed lighting package and included  more than 100 ETC Source Four luminaires, which are an energy-frugal standard of the industry.

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Susan Byron and John Nicastro recently joined Rose Brand.

Ms. Byron, a costume and fabric expert, has joined the creative sewing division in the Los Angeles, California facility. She will develop existing inventory and work with the stretch shape team. Rose Brand is the premier supplier of custom sewn creations and production supplies in the theatrical, live entertainment and design markets.

Ms. Byron is a native Californian and has lived and worked in the greater Los Angeles area all her life. Graduating from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles with a focus on costume construction, her career has been a creative journey. Her most recent projects included working with designer Mia Gyzander producing costumes.

Mr. Nicastro, a sales professional, has joined Rose Brand as outside sales for events and visual merchandisers in the retail and fashion industries.

After graduating from Fordham University with a BS in marketing and finance, his first sales job was with Lorillard Tobacco Co. selling cigarettes in Manhattan. He quickly moved into consumer research, demographic profiling, and sales in the publishing industry. His background includes working in the technology sector, retail fashion, home furnishings, and décor/textiles markets.  Mr. Nicastro can be reached at Rose Brand at e-mail john.nicastro@rosebrand.com or call 201-809-1730 extension 140.

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In 2003, Rosco introduced a new color to its Supergel range to raise funds for the United Kingdom charity Light Relief. Gratifyingly, #313 Light Relief Yellow has proved a popular color, and at PLASA 2008 Light Relief Trustee and PLASA Managing Director Matthew Griffiths accepted a check for almost $3,700.

Making the presentation, Mark Engel, president of Rosco, said: “This is the fourth year we’ve been able to support Light Relief with a check at PLASA. Our contribution to date now exceeds $15,000 and has been funded by purchases of  #313 Supergel.”

Developed with the help of Rick Fisher, co-founder (along with the late Tony Gottelier) of the industry charity which supports lighting designers in difficult times, Light Relief Yellow is the vibrant, sunshine color of the charity’s logo.

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J.R. Clancy, Inc., a design, manufacturing and installation company for theatrical rigging equipment, was accepted for membership in the Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA). Clancy also hired Charles B. Shatzkin as international sales manager, Shannon Sullivan as a technical designer, and Micah Ascano as mechanical designer.

PLASA has more than 500 members, including the leading specialists in professional audio, lighting, staging, rigging, AV, communications, and related disciplines. J.R. Clancy chose to apply for membership as the company expands its sales and marketing operations beyond North America.

Mr. Shatzkin brings more than 25 years’ experience in marketing, sales, and public relations to Clancy, as well as his vast expertise in all facets of technical theatre. A working lighting designer with credits including Syracuse Civic Theater and Syracuse Children’s Theater, Mr. Shatzkin served as team leader on the renovation of the J.H. Mulroy Civic Center in Syracuse, New York.

Ms. Sullivan’s responsibilities at  J.R. Clancy include manual and motorized rigging projects. She formerly worked at Syracuse Stage, where she served as a scenic carpentry apprentice. She attended the State University of New York at Albany majoring in theatre, with a focus in technical direction.

Mr. Ascano received his education at South Dakota State University in Brookings. He will work on standard production lines at Clancy with the goal of making products and parts more efficient and easier to use. He has a degree in industrial management and a second degree in manufacturing, engineering, and technology with a minor in communications studies and theatre.

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