Nominations are now open for the 2021 Rising Star Award. Established in 2005 and sponsored by LiveDesign/LDI, this annual award recognizes a young professional working in the disciplines of scenic, lighting, sound, projection/media design, or the convergence of these design disciplines. Nominate here.
Recipients must be in the first four years of professional (non-academic) work following the completion of their highest degree. The 2021 Rising Star Award winner will receive $2,000, plus a one-year USITT individual membership, and a complimentary Conference registration to the 2021 Digital Conference & Stage Expo.
“It is very exciting to be able to award a talented young designer as our Rising Star, and we are very keen to recognize the need for more women and more diversity in the entertainment design fields through this award, especially going forward,” says Ellen Lampert-Gréaux, creative director for Live Design/LDI.
David Grindle, USITT executive director, is also excited about this award: “It’s always a thrill for me to be able to recognize a promising young designer,” he says. “One of the signal characteristics of the Institute is our enthusiasm for celebrating new and better ways of enhancing the design and tech process and I can’t think of a better way to do that than to showcase emerging talent. USITT appreciates Live Design/LDI’s ongoing sponsorship of this award and its commitment to our industry’s rising stars!”
Rising Star Award Winners 2005-2020
- 2020: Joe Klug, scenic designer
- 2019: Maranda DeBusk, lighting designer
- 2018: Paige Hathaway, scenic designer
- 2017: Bryce Cutler, scenic & media designer
- 2016: Stephen Moss, lighting designer
- 2015: Chris Wood, lighting & sound designer
- 2014: Janie Bullard, sound designer
- 2013: Aaron Porter, lighting designer
- 2012: Jason Simms, scene designer
- 2011: Daniel Brodie, projection designer
- 2010: Ben Pilat, lighting designer
- 2009: Sean Savoie, lighting designer
- 2008: Elisheba Ittoop, sound designer
- 2007: John Horan, lighting designer
- 2006: Justin Townsend, lighting & scenic designer
- 2005: Kelly Hanson, scenic designer