It is with deep sadness that Production Advantage announces the unexpected passing of its founder and President, John Camm, on April 1. His widow, Penny Camm, will immediately assume the role of President and Chairman as confirmed by the company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Camm’s family and co-workers are grateful for the wonderful support and kind wishes of friends during this difficult time.

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Users have been asking for an ETC lighting control console designed expressly for modest rigs and maximum hands-on fader control. In response, ETC introduced Element consoles at the Cinncinnati 2009 Conference & Stage Expo. The company also supplied its Eos system for the Golden Globes and Academy Awards shows.

Element comes in two hardware versions based on fader count – the Element 40 or the Element 60. Each supports either 250 or 500 channels and two full universes of DMX output. It is directed at smaller venues like schools and houses of worship which depend on single console operators or volunteer staffers. It is designed to handle rigs outfitted predominantly with conventional fixtures while accommodating some LED fixtures and/or a small number of simple moving lights. ETC plans to begin shipping Element this summer. For more on Element, see product page: www. etcconnect.com/element

For the 2009 Golden Globes, an Eos console – along with a 2x20 ETC Universal Fader Wing – controlled all of the conventional and practical lights. An Eos console also controlled 700 channels of conventional dimming and hazers, as well as house, architectural and on-stage conventional lights for the Academy Awards on February 22. Backing up the Eos on this high-stakes, most-watched entertainment program in two years, was an Eos Remote Processor Unit and two 2x20 Universal Fader Wings with added additional playback options.

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Texas theatre goers will soon experience one of the most versatile facilities capable of transforming itself from one event to the next. Hoists manufactured by Vortek, a Division of Daktronics Inc. are center stage in the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts. The custom hoists manipulate seating sections along with Vortek Pro Series hoists in an advanced fly system.

Scheduled for completion in October, this 74,915 square foot facility has 12 stories and seats approximately 600 people. The vertically stacked floors are unique compared to the traditional form of theatres. It places support spaces above and below the auditorium, providing maximum flexibility of performance space.

To follow the development of the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, visit their web site at www.dallasperformingarts.org and to learn more about Vortek, visit www.vortekrigging.com.

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InterAmerica Stage, Inc. announced the acquisition of New York- based Independent Theatrical Installations, Inc. ITI, one of the country’s leading stage and orchestra lift contractors, has provided stage, orchestra, and organ lifts since the early 1980s.

James Cherniss managing director of ITI has been retained as special consultant to IAstage. A new line of lift products, LiftDeck, debuted at the USITT 2009 Conference & Stage Expo in Cincinnati. To learn more, visit www.iastage.com.

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Creative Stage Lighting has been named the exclusive distributor for German lighting manufacturer JB Lighting in the United States and Mexico. It has also hired Michael Nevitt as product manager.

Creative Stage Lighting will offer the JB-lighting product line to North America, including the JB LED line of LED fixtures, Varycolor Wash fixtures, VaryScan Moving Heads, and Licon lighting consoles. The firm displayed the JBLED A7 at its booth at USITT’s Stage Expo in Cincinnati.

Mr. Nevitt's responsibilities at Creative Stage Lighting include full-time support of new product offerings, including Compulite and JB-lighting products. He is a veteran of the lighting industry. His design and automated lighting programming experience includes work on feature films such as The Grinch, Batman & Robin, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, and Miss Congeniality. In addition, he has worked on top sporting events like the Salt Lake Olympics, Super Bowl Half-time show. and the Ryder Cup Opening Ceremonies. Mr. Nevitt also brings product management experience from Martin where he worked on the development of Martin's Maxxyz Console and Maxedia Media Server.

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In an unprecedented move for the theatrical rigging industry, J. R. Clancy, Inc, now includes a three-year warranty, provided that the owner completes a maintenance and safety inspection of rigging each year by an authorized J. R. Clancy dealer.  

Generally, motorized rigging manufacturers offer a one-year warranty on new systems. This three-year warranty from J. R. Clancy rewards theatre managers and technical directors for performing inspections and maintenance on an annual basis helping customers protect their investment in automated rigging. Clancy has offered a three-year warranty on manual (counterweight) rigging since 2001, with considerable success.

To find an authorized rigging inspector in their area, customers can contact J. R. Clancy at 800-836-1885 or e-mail Eric McAfee at ericmcafee@jrclancy.com, or Marilyn Larsen at marilynlarsen@jrclancy.com.

More information about J. R. Clancy is available at www.jrclancy.com.

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