Nemetschek North America
Launch: The new VectorWork’s Spotlight software, which allows the creation of a light plot, complete with paperwork, Magic Sheets, a rendered 3D presentation including gobo projections, and animated scene changes, as well as exchange data with Lightwright ™.
www.diehlgraphsoft.com
Norcostco Inc.
In addition to supplying theatrical products, including rigging/draping, dimming, fixtures, paint, and gels, Norcostco rents costumes for stage and masquerade.
www.norcostco.com
Palladia Passementerie
On display were high-quality trimmings from Europe and Asia; the company will work with its European designers to create custom trims for clients as well. Some clients include The Patriot (silver military braid), Severance Hall Theatre in Cleveland, OH, and the Peruvian Air Force.
www.palladiapassementerie.com
Period Corsets by Kaufman-Davis Studio, LLC
New to USITT: the Patricia corset, c. 1825, with a removable center front wooden busk that lifts and separates the bust and shoulder straps attached with adjustable front lacing; the Mae, c. 1905, which enhances the "S" curve of the period. The company now offers new XL-sized corsets.
www.periodcorsets.com
Premier Lighting and Production
Premier is now showing the VSFX transparency holder, the Source Four PAR MCM adapter, and Source Four lens adapter, all from the English firm White Light.
www.premier-lighting.com
Production Intercom, Inc.
Production Intercom featured the HS-1T/L combination headset station and xenon strobe light from the company’s Blazon series, the HS-1R/L rackmount combination headset station and xenon alert; and the 900 Series communication headsets.
www.beltpack.com
Protech
Upcoming: the installation of LinkLift at the Disney Concert Hall in the fall of 2002. With 13 platforms and RF wireless control, this will be the biggest LinkLift project to date.
www.protechlv.com
Quinette France
On display were the company's European-standard theatre seats used widely in France as well as in the UK at the RSC Stratford and in Russia at the Bolshoi Ballet.
www.quinette.com
RAT (Music Stands)
Some of the music stands on display included: the Opera Stand, available with or without lamp; the acoustic shield stand, for string players playing in close quarters with brass instruments; and the Radio DMX Opera Stand, powered with a rechargeable battery pack and featuring precision digital control.
www.ratstands.com
Rosco
New to USITT: The I-Cue moving mirror accessory with onboard DMX for the ETC Source Four, Altman Shakespeare, Strand SL, and Selecon Pacific.
Launch: Capio 24—rack.
www.rosco.com
Rose Brand
Rose Brand showed many drapery, scrim, and theatrical fabrics, including 100% rayon crushed velvet (USITT launch), available in nine colors, including gunpowder, silver, and honor gold; Fusion, a 54"—wide poly/metallic/cotton fabric that changes color under light; and various flame-retardant, fiber-optic, and custom-made fabrics.
www.rosebrand.com
Sapsis Rigging
Sapsis amused showgoers with a booth full of games, including Candyland, chess, checkers, Monopoly, and that old standby, Twister.
www.sapsis-rigging.com
Sculptural Arts Coating, Inc.
New to USITT: badger-hair flats and white bristle scenic brushes; also featured were Artist's Choice non-toxic, water-based saturated paints and Sculpt or Coat®, used for foam coating, sealing, and texturing paint finishes.
www.sculpturalarts.com
SECOA
On display in the SECOA booth were its rigging, portable staging, and stage equipment products.
www.secoa.com
Selecon
New to USITT: Selecon’s Pacific has a new universal reflector to increase light output. This can be used with any of its optical systems and the same lamp house and new 575W MSR source. The company also showed the Acclaim Axial Profile, the newest in the 500/650W range of luminaires, and Angstrom’s Finelite Scrolling Image Projector.
www.seleconlight.com
shoptick.com
New company to USITT this year, and reported major interest in its software, which is offered free to all .edu accounts for project management in college theatres. A new feature includes automatic notification of a change in rehearsal or production schedules.
www.shoptick.com
Show-Bids.Com
New to USITT: A .com that brings together rental shops and promoters to match gear and events. The promoter fills out a form on the web and vendors can send quotes online. The object is to save valuable time by not having to make a lot of phone calls to get quotes.
www.show-bids.com
Smartstage
Featured products: stages, barricades, truss, choral risers, dance floors, and drapery.
www.smartstage.com
Smooth-On, Inc.
Smooth-On displayed a spray machine for liquid rubber, liquid plastic, or spray-on foam applications; duoMatrix-C™, a new polymer additive for concrete; and materials for large-scale effects and theming,. The company also sponsors moldmaking and casting seminars at its Easton, PA location.
www.smooth-on.com
Society of Properties Artisan Managers
SPAM, an organization of properties managers of LORT member theatres, serves as an educational vehicle and resource for its members. SPAM boasts an email network, where prop managers can share information, an annual conference hosted by a member theatre, and an education committee; a website and resource guide are "in the works."
StageRight Corp.
StageRight debuted its LR 2000 riser, which features retractable seating.
www.stageright-corp.com
Staging Concepts
USITT launch: The SC 1000 Rolling Support, rolling risers designed for studio theatres.
www.stagingconcepts.com
Steeldeck
Steeldeck has provided staging and seating equipment to various venues of late, including the company’s Mirage seats for the new Vanbrugh Theatre at London’s RADA; and staging for the Royal National Theatre’s in-the-round production of Blue/Orange (which is set to transfer to the West End).
www.steeldeck.com
Strand Lighting
New at USITT: The SLD96 digital dimmers, which launched at LDI2000. Keep an eye on Strand, as they will soon be moving to a new location in Southern California.
www.strandlight.com
Studio Foam Shop
Southern California distributor of expanded polystyrene foam blocks, urethane blocks for carving and sculptural applications, and Versi-Foam®, which is dispensed from portable kits that come from the factory ready to use.
www.studiofoamshop.com
Syracuse Scenery and Stage Lighting
Stage curtain manufacturer SSSL displayed draperies, the Sak-O-Sand sandbags, as well as "SWAG" bags and mousepads made from drapery fabric.
Telex Communications
The parent company for a wide range of audio products, including Telex, EV, RTS, Dynacord, Midas, Klark-Teknik, and others. This was its debut at USITT and the company reported a good response to such products as the Midas Heritage 1000 console for large tours and high-end applications.
Textile Fabric Consultants
The company showed its fabric swatch kits, used as educational tools by universities, high schools, and professionals in the textile, theatre, and interior decorating fields.
www.textilefabric.com
Theatre Arts Video Library
Theatre Arts showed two new-to-USITT items: Conducting Light on a Shoestring, with David Cuthbert, follows the designer through his process, from initial ideas to final production at San Diego’s Sledgehammer Theatre. Make Your Own Instructional Videos designed for teachers at every level who want to make videos without fancy editing equipment.
www.theatreartsvideo.com
James Thomas Engineering
Trussing manufacturer James Thomas Engineering showed Super Lite and Super Truss ground supports systems, roof systems, and PAR cans.
www.JThomasEng.com
TMB Associates
TMB presented to USITT the Data Lynx™, billed as the critical link between your consoles and your fixtures and dimmers; it automatically or manually switches between two consoles with up to four DMX universes each. Also shown were the Pro-Pin® stagepin connectors, the ProPin® 19—pin professional six—circuit connectors, the ProPlex™ CAT5 cables.
www.tmb.com
Tools for Stagecraft
This booth was almost always crowded with techies and educators inspecting the many gadgets and tools, including a laser plumb bob, very lightweight titanium-head hammers, LED flashlights, and the new, improved Uni-Tester stagepin and twistlock continuity tester.
www.toolsforstagecraft.com
Total Structures
Total Structures showcased the Arena Deck staging system, which is constructed of a series of welded aluminum assemblies connected by high-strength drop-in pins. The assembled structure consists of one level of aluminum beam and truss components supported by aluminum tube posts. The deck material is 3/4 " plywood screwed to the aluminum supporting materials. The aluminum deck, gate beam, and link beam components are designed to support a uniform live load of 150psf.
www.totalstructures.com
Union Connector
Pin-type connector and distro box manufacturer Union Connector showed control panels, connectors, and distro boxes. Recent projects featuring Union Connector equipment include the Moscone Convention Center, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Universal Studios Islands of Adventure.
USA (United Scenic Artists Local 829 IATSE)
United Scenic Artists was present to showcase its new membership drive in the Southern California area; efforts include the addition of special lower membership fees for new members from the area.
Varia International Textiles
Varia, which debuted at LDI 2000, showed various textiles, including Choucroute, a PVC-based strawlike matting, and Tarlatane, a fabric now available in printed and lamé versions, and a jute matting available in 20 colors and different lengths.
www.vitcreate.com
Walt Disney World
This booth was busy with students discovering the many career options available at Disney (rather ironic, as just after the show Disney downsized its workforce dramatically).
They do, however, run an ambitious one-semester-long Entertainment Intern Program in technical services, show production, and creative costuming.
www.disney.com
Warner Bros. Studio Facilities
One part of the WB Studio Facilities booth featured a scenic painter working on a canvas backdrop. Also highlighted at the booth were the digital backdrop printing, consulting, and costume shop services.
www.wbsf.com
Wenger Corp.
New to USITT: the Upper Deck, an easy-to-set-up, easy-to-store additional seating system, and the Orchestra Pit Filler, which has a column-beam system that requires few parts, a small crew, and only one tool--a hex key (included)--to set up.
www.wengercorp.com
Wybron
Wybron presented the Autopilot II for the first time at USITT. Autopilot II is an automated tracking system that is geared for facilities without spotlights. The system works with most automated fixtures and uses an ultrasonic transmitter to match light movement with the performer in real time.
www.wybron.com
Click here for booths A-M.