Board donates $5,000 to Industry History Project

The Wally Russell Award committee has donated $5,000 to "An Oral History of Theatrical Lighting and Its People," a joint project organized by ESTA, USITT, Entertainment Design, and Lighting Dimensions. The monies will go to support an important industry project that will create a history of the theatrical and entertainment lighting industry as seen through the eyes of those who have worked as manufacturers, distributors, designers, consultants, and technicians. The history is being collected via a series of interv iews conducted with industry pioneers, including John Kliegl, Robert Schiller, Don Stern, Bob Cannon, Bill McManus, Stan Miller, and Sonny Sonnenfeld. "All of us on the Wally Russell Award board are very happy to be able to support this crucial project," says Jacqueline Tien, publisher of Lighting Dimensions and Entertainment Design magazines.

Says Lori Rubinstein, executive director of the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA) and Industry History Project committee member, "We hope that others in the industry will join the Wally committee in supporting this unique and important project so that we may continue the work we have started." Tax-deductible donations can be made through the USITT and are used to purchase recording equipment, pay travel expenses for the volunteer interviewers, and for transcription costs.

For additional information contact ESTA, 875 Sixth Avenue, Suite 2302, New York, NY 10001; phone: 212/244-1505, fax: 212/244-1502, e-mail: [email protected], or [email protected].