TECHnically Speaking

Today we’re on the line with Sandra Goldmark; a designer, teacher, and entrepreneur whose work focuses on circular economy solutions to overconsumption and climate change. She is an Associate Professor of Professional Practice in Theatre and Director of Sustainability and Climate Action at Barnard College, and the author of Fixation: How to Have Stuff without Breaking the Planet. Let’s welcome Sandra.

Keep up with Sandra's work:
www.sandragoldmark.com
www.fixup.nyc
www.sustainableproductiontoolkit.com
Purchase Fixation: How to Have Stuff without Breaking the Planet at your local bookstore, or here (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fixation-sandra-goldmark/1136939244)

Today we’re on the line with stage managers, educators, and authors, Narda E. Alcorn and Lisa Porter where we’re discussing their new book, Stage Management Theory as a Guide to Practice: Cultivating a Creative Approach, their recent HowlRound essay, "We Commit to Anti-Racist Stage Management Education," and what we as designers, creators, stage managers, and industry professionals can do to make anti-racist theatres and entertainment a reality.

Narda E. Alcorn is a Professor and Stage Manager who has worked on Broadway, Off-Broadway, regionally, and internationally. In 2019, Narda was appointed Chair of the Stage Management Program at Yale School of Drama. She has been Head of Stage Management for New York University, DePaul University, and State University of New York at Purchase. She received DePaul’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 2015 and The Robert Christen Award for Excellence in Technical Collaboration in 2017.

On Broadway, Narda has had collaborations with the Tony-winning directors Kenny Leon, Bartlett Sher, and George C. Wolfe. She premiered four of Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright August Wilson’s Century Cycle plays, and stage managed two Broadway revivals of his work. Her New York and Regional credits include productions with Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Billy Crystal, Kevin Kline, Annette Bening, Phylicia Rashad, David Schwimmer, and Richard Foreman. Narda was a long-time stage manager on the Broadway production of The Lion King, and she has collaborated with the celebrated MacArthur Fellows, composer George E. Lewis and playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney. She has recently co-published, with Lisa Porter, Stage Management Theory as a Guide to Practice: Cultivating a Creative Approach and the essay We Commit to Anti-Racist Stage Management Education on HowlRound.

Lisa Porter is a Professor of Theatre and Dance at the University of California, San Diego, where she has taught since 2005. She is the Head of the MFA in Stage Management, and teaches graduate and undergraduate stage management. She has also developed courses related to creativity, neuroscience, disability, and performance. Lisa has taught in the MFA Stage Management program at Yale School of Drama, and has led international classes in Singapore, Taiwan, and China.

Working in diverse venues on six continents, Lisa’s career has included international projects with Laurie Anderson, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Anne Bogart, Hal Hartley, Yo-Yo Ma, Silkroad Ensemble, White Oak Dance Project, and Robert Wilson. She has collaborated extensively on multiple intercultural productions with Singaporean director Ong Keng Sen and TheatreWorks Singapore. Her New York and Regional credits include productions with Christopher Ashley, Charles Busch, Jonathan Demme, Richard Foreman, Doug Hughes, Tina Landau, Kenny Leon, Suzan-Lori Parks, Darko Tresnjak, and Mark Wing-Davey. She has also produced and stage managed non-profit and corporate events since 1996. She has recently co-published, with Narda E. Alcorn, Stage Management Theory as a Guide to Practice: Cultivating a Creative Approach and the essay We Commit to Anti-Racist Stage Management Education on HowlRound.

Interested in hearing more from Narda and Lisa? Register for their upcoming USITT Webinar, "Stage Management Theory as a Guide to Practice: Cultivating a Creative Approach" taking place Monday, Oct. 19 @ 7 p.m. EDT. This webinar is free for USITT members and $15 for non-members. Advanced registration is required. Register here: https://secure.usitt.org/NC__Event?id=a0l0b00000Djoy0AAB

In the Summer 2020 edition of Theatre Design and Technology or TD&T, we explore racism in the theatre in an important piece by Taylor Leigh Lamb.

In her article, Lamb interviews noted theatre historian, lighting designer, and USITT's 2020 Wally Russell Professional Mentoring Award recipient Kathy A. Perkins, who states emphatically, "There's no shortage of Black designers." Kathy wrote about Black designers in the American theatre in TD&T back in 1995. In the intervening quarter-century, has the awareness of Black designers increased?

For this week's episode of TECHnically Speaking, we sat down with Kathy to discuss her 1995 TD&T article, how the conversation on racism in the industry has shifted, and if Black designers are finally getting the industry recognition they deserve.

Welcome to Technically Speaking, the official podcast of The United States Institute for Theatre Technology where we discuss the stories and work of our members as well as industry topics and happenings. I’m your host, Jenn, USITT’s Content Specialist and today we’re on the line with Bryan Huneycutt.

Bryan Huneycutt has spent over 35 years in the Performing Arts. He is a Co-Founder of the Safety Advisors Forum-Live Entertainment (SAF-LE) and serves on the Board of Directors for the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, where he leads the Safety & Health Commission. Bryan is the President and CEO for HuneyBadger Entertainment Consulting.

Today we’re talking with Bryan about his recent training to become a COVID-19 Compliance Officer, what he predicts the industry will look like upon reopening, and how all parties including cast, crew, and audience will play a role in the industry’s reopening.

https://www.usitt.org/black-lives-matter-resources
https://www.usitt.org/online-industry-resources
https://www.usitt.org/usitt-industry-resources

Today we’re on the line with Clint C. Clarke.

Clint has worn many professional hats so far in his career – from working in arenas, to the wireless team for Barack Obama’s inauguration, Clint now calls the Most Magical Place on Earth his home as he works as the Audio Designer for Disney Parks Live Entertainment.

Clint is responsible for designing, installing and programming audio systems for the Walt Disney Company. Former Technical and Floor Crew Lead for the University of Florida he was responsible for technical operations during live events such as speaking engagements, concerts and sporting events. He also coordinated and installed sporting floors (courts and gymnastic equipment) for the Florida Gators.

Some of Clint’s most notable career highlights include: working on the wireless team during the Inauguration of Barack Obama (2009) Being the production lead at the NABJ Special Event A1 (2013), doing audio system programming for the Disney Store Shanghai Clocktower (2015), Being the Disney Wonder WDI Creative Entertainment Audio Designer for Tiana’s Place (2016), and working on the Nighttime Spectacular Audio System Design and Program at Walt Disney World (2016 -2020).

If you’d like to learn more about USITT, our webinars, resources, and more, visit us at usitt.org. We encourage you to explore our exciting online learning under our education and training tab as well as our new monthly subscription membership options at usitt.org/membership. Have a guest you’d love to hear on the podcast? Let us know! Email Jenn at [email protected]. Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review wherever you listen to your podcasts and we’ll talk to you next time!

Today we’re on the line with Long island NY based lighting designer and programmer, Jess Moody.

Her passion is for concert lighting, however, she also has extensive experience in lighting for dance and theatre.

Jess currently works as the house lighting designer for the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts as well as busking and designing for the Bay Street Theatre, the Till s Center, and Adelphi University.

When we began our forum @ Four webinar series at the beginning of the pandemic, we had no idea just how many people we would reach. The webinars have helped and continue to help many in our industry, they have also had some unique viewers. Jess and her grandmother began to watch our webinars together as bonding experience. This allowed Jess to connect with her grandmother and for her grandmother to learn more about the live entertainment industry and how much work goes into putting on a show. During these dark and uncertain times, we’re excited to share this heartwarming story with our listeners.

If you’d like to keep up with Jess and her work, feel free to explore her website at www.moodylightdesigns.com If you’d like to learn more about USITT, our webinars, resources, and more, visit us at usitt.org. We encourage you to explore our exciting online learning under our education and training tab as well as our new monthly subscription membership options at usitt.org/membership. Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review wherever you listen to your podcasts and we’ll talk to you next time!

Today we’re on the line with William Young, the winner of not one but two 2020 YDMT awards The Barbara Matera Award in Costume Making Sponsored by Judy Adamson and The Master Craftsmanship Award Sponsored by Bernhard R. Works. William Young is a costume technician with skills ranging from millinery to tailoring. He earned his undergraduate degree in Plant Sciences from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in addition to a second major in Theatre. After graduating from UT he began his professional career with the Utah Shakespeare Festival as a crafts artisan and went on to work as a crafter and wardrobe supervisor for a brief period at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. In addition to having worked as crafts artisan on productions for the Clarence Brown Theatre and the Great River Shakespeare Festival, he has interned and worked with Mio Design in New York City. He just graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with his MFA in Costume Technology. He is grateful to his professors, mentors, family, and friends who have encouraged him every step of the way!

If you'd like to keep up with William and his work, feel free to explore his website at www.williamayoung.com. If you'd like to learn more about USITT, please visit our website at usitt.org.

Today we’re on the line with The 2020 KM Fabrics, Inc. Technical Production Award winner Dashiell Menard.

Dashiell is currently a Technical Designer at Showman fabricators in New Jersey where he does Technical design and construction drafting across the spectrum of the entertainment industry. There he works with a team of Technical Designers, Project Managers, and Lead Carpenters to realize theater, film, and TV studio sets, retail displays, and art installations for a variety of clients.

Dashiell believes that Theater is storytelling, and all of us should be working together towards the goal of telling a story. He says the tremendous array of skills necessary to execute a modern theatrical performance means that no one person can do every job required to tell that story, and when it works right is a truly beautiful thing to be a part of.

If you’d like to learn more about USITT, our webinars, resources, and more, visit us at usitt.org. We encourage you to explore our new monthly subscription membership options at usitt.org/membership.

Today we’re on the line with the 2020 Barbizon Lighting Company Jonathan Resnick Lighting Award winner Jasmine Lesane.

Jasmine is a Lighting Designer & Director dedicated to realizing visions through innovative design solutions. A recent grad of Carnegie Mellon's School of Drama, Jasmine's experience extends across of all types visual design.

Recent Lighting Design credits are School Girls; Or African Mean Girls Play (2019) at the Pittsburgh Public Theater, and Adding Machine: A Musical at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. She has also recently assisted on Season 2 of America’s Got Talent: The Champions. With the belief that light transcends genre- Jasmine designs for Theatre, Dance, Installations, Concerts, and Film projects, and continuously sets out to use her artistry to react to the current happenings around us all.

Jasmine was also the recipient the ETC Live Design International Sponsorship for 2018. She was also named an Andrew Carnegie Scholar for the School of Drama. Let’s welcome Jasmine.

If you’d like to learn more about Jasmine and her work, you can visit her website at www.jasminelesane.com.

If you’d like to learn more about USITT visit us at usitt.org. We encourage you to explore our new monthly subscription membership options at usitt.org/membership.

Today we’re on the line with 2020 Zelma H. Weisfeld Costume Design & Technology Award winner and costume designer Brooke Nicole Kesler.

Brooke is so honored to be the 2020 recipient of USITT's Zelma H. Weisfeld award! She is currently the Costume Assistant at The San Diego Opera, and is looking forward to graduating with her MFA in Design and Technology with an emphasis in Costume Design from San Diego State University this spring. Recent designs include: Red Bike (MOXIE), She Loves Me (SDSU), Girlfriend (Diversionary Theatre); and Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach (SDSU). She has also worked as an Assistant Costume Designer at the Santa Fe Opera and Central City Opera. Let’s welcome Brooke.


If you’d like to learn more about Brooke and her designs, you can find Pictures of her work at brookenicolekesler.com

If you’d like to learn more about usitt visit us at usitt.org. Explore our new monthly subscription membership options at usitt.org/membership.