Thank you for the recent changes to Entertainment Design. I appreciate the addition of the Re:Sources and Problem/Solution columns in the magazine. I believe that many magazines, ED included, have strayed too far towards the hype of major spectacle and have left behind the realities of the remaining 98% of their subscription community. Yes, it is fascinating to hear about all of the amazing effects and toys in the latest Cirque show or the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. But it is equally important to keep the scope of a magazine within the realm of the bulk of its readers. How many of us still have a dog-eared copy of the Theatre Crafts “How-To, volume one” on our shelves?
Last year, I stopped giving out past copies of your magazine to my lighting students. They became more obsessed with the need for banks of VL3000s in their first light plot project than the need to understand how color can affect the emotions of an audience. If it is the job of the mentors to teach the next generation, I believe that it is up to us to do it responsibly. Thank you for addressing that issue. I'm looking forward to handing out your magazine once again this year.
— Steve Mannshardt,
production manager/resident lighting designer,
TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, CA