Sherry Wagner-Henry, USITT Director at Large, has accepted a new position at the University of Minnesota as director of graduate programs for the College of Continuing Education beginning November 2. She is resigning from the managing director position in the theatre arts and dance department but will keep a part-time contract with the Showboat program for a few months while the department finds a replacement. Her new position will focus immediately on launching a new graduate program in arts and cultural leadership which she helped develop. Another major responsibility is to work with colleges, other units on campus, and community organizations in creating and launching new professional graduate degree programs.

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William J. Byrnes, USITT Past President, has been named interim associate provost and dean of graduate studies at Southern Utah University. Mr. Byrnes has been Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at the university, located in Cedar City, Utah.

He also co-chairs the Strategic Planning Steering Committee this year while continuing to teach a graduate seminar each semester in the arts administration program.

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The First Night Riders, is an annual fundraising, international, industry-based motorcycle tour of British theatres. It is a group of bikers connected to entertainment who take part on a long fun-ride raising money for good causes. The idea for The First Night Riders (motto Out of the Wings and into the Wind) came out of the tire tracks of America’s Long Reach Long Riders.

The inaugural event for the First Night Riders in 2010 will raise money for the Theatrical Guild, one of the United Kingdom’s longest serving theatrical charities which offers support to those working backstage and front of house.

Launched at PLASA ’09 by Brian Conley and Liz Robertson, both currently starring in Hairspray; Issy van Randwyck of Fascinating Aida, and actress Fiona Mollison, the event has already enlisted Richard Bullimore, Steve Colley, Neil Collins, David Edelstein, George Ellerington, Ric Green, Darrell Hewitt, Simon Le Bon, Simon Nichols, Michael Powell, and Bill Sapsis from the United States. The latest recruit, John Barnes, was signed up at the press launch.

Starting on Friday, June 5, the round Britain ride will take in new, interesting, and historically significant theatres around the UK, visiting one or two each day.

To keep up to date with riders and sponsors, and find out more about the event, visit the site. Anyone wishing to take part or pledge support (or both) may contact the organizers at info@firstnightride.com.

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J.R. Clancy, Inc., based in Syracuse, New York is entering its 125th year of manufacturing theatre rigging equipment. Remarkably, they have a good collection of old Clancy catalogs but not a complete one.

Are there USITT members who could help the company give itself a birthday present and complete its collection? The goal is to create electronic copies of the collection which could then be used as a research source for technical theatre.

We know that some members keep materials for a really long time, and others have inherited collections in their facilities. Have you seen one of the following Clancy catalogs?

• Catalog #3 dated 1887 or 1888
• Catalog #4 dated 1887 or 1888
• Catalog #13 dated 1896 to 1898
• Catalog #27 dated 1916 to 1918
• Catalog #29 dated 1918 to 1921

Rodney Kaiser of Clancy says “We do not have great expectations but do have hope and are happy to pay $200 for each of the missing editions.” Contact him at rodkaiser@jrclancy.com.

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