Dr. Joel E. Rubin has been chosen by USITT's Fellows to present their annual address on Wednesday evening, March 31, 2010 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Photo/Patrick Barrett

Dr. Joel E. Rubin, Co-Founder of USITT and second President, will present the Annual Fellows Address on the first day of USITT’s 50th Annual Conference & Stage Expo in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Rubin was one of the first group of Fellows designated by USITT in 1977.

The Fellows Address will be featured on March 31 at the Kansas City Convention & Entertainment Facilities. In addition to the large audience at the Convention Center, plans are being developed to have Dr. Rubin’s presentation streamed live on the USITT website to make it available to those who are unable to be present for this event.

The working title of Dr. Rubin's presentation is "USITT: How It Began Two Generations Ago and Who Made It."

Dr. Rubin will reminisce about the founding of USITT and, before they get lost to history, will portray a few of the early group of founders who were especially influential in USITT's development. What was the vision then, and how would it translate today?

Dr. Rubin served as USITT’s second President from 1963 to 1965. His distinguished career as an author, theatre planner, theatre consultant, and industry leader has spanned more than six decades.

In addition to his work to establish USITT, Dr. Rubin was instrumental in forming OISTAT, the International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians. He served as President of OISTAT from 1971 to 1978 at a time when the Iron Curtain separated European countries. He produced the United States exhibits at the Prague Quadrennial in both 1987 and 1991.

Dr. Rubin is a Fellow of the Institute, and one of only 10 people who have received the Honorary Lifetime Member award. The Founder’s Award was initiated in 1970 and is given to a member to recognize outstanding and continued service to the Institute. Dr. Rubin was the recipient in 1973, and the award was later renamed. It is now the Joel E. Rubin Founder's Award and is presented annually.

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