Shakespeare & Company's outdoor production of King Lear at The New Spruce Theatre, directed by Nicole Ricciardi and starring Christopher Lloyd at 82 in the title role, is available to stream through August 28, 2021. The creative team includes set designer Jim Youngerman, costume designer Govane Lohbauer, and sound designer Amy Altadonna (if there is a lighting designer please step out of the shadows and reveal thyself.) Tickets are $25 to watch online. Buy Here.
TechTalk:
• August 18 @ 2pm Eastern: ACT Entertainment Tech Talk: MA3 software version 1.5 brought so many new features and improvements that one Tech Talk simply wasn't going to cut it. Register Here for the second dive into version 1.5.
Looking Ahead, Register In Advance:
• August 19 @ 1pm Eastern: Ahead Of The Curve @ frame:work: Multimedia environments have changed drastically recently introducing a much higher demand on how we connect and interact with media. Design has become much more challenging and experiences are expected to be completely immersive. Join Geoffrey Platt from Ahead of the Curve and Gil Castro from INTUS as they dive into an interactive discussion about the design process and changes we are seeing in interactive multimedia design and immersive experiences. Watch Here.
• August 24 @ 9am or 2pm Eastern: Unreal Engine: The Next Step In Virtual Production: Pick one of two time slots for Unreal Engine's role in the rapidly evolving field of virtual production and in-camera VFX (ICVFX) that continues to change nearly every aspect of the media production process. With the upcoming release of Unreal Engine 4.27, a raft of new features to improve ease-of-use, efficiency, and quality make these game-changing filmmaking techniques more accessible and practical than ever. Register Here.
• August 24 @ 1pm Eastern: USITT: Up Rigging: Beams and MEWPs: This course offers virtual on-the-job training for riggers of all experience levels. We will focus on the functional aspects of up rigging, including (but not limited to): Harness, lanyard, and rope management, working on a beam, how to wrap a steel basket, secure and strike it, truss climbing, timber hitches, equipment inspection, basic bridle theory, and fall protection fundamentals. Most of what you will need to know to perform up rigging duties in an arena setting, and whatever else you have questions about. This course is worth 1.5 ETCP renewal credits and will be limited to 25 participants. This webinar is being brought to you in part by Bigger Hammer Production Services. $35 USITT members/$50 non-members. Register Here.
Things To Buy:
• Behind The Scenes Holiday Cards: Each design comes in a package of 10; Printed on 5 x 7 white card stock; Blank white envelopes included; Card packs are shipped in late November. Buy Here.
Exhibits:
• Showstoppers! Spectacular Costumes from Stage & Screen: Over 100 garments from Broadway, TV, film, and dance on display thru September 26, 2021. A great way to see costumes close up, and check out the detail and the craftsmanship. The venue is at Times Square, near 42nd & Broadway and the maze-like exhibit has been created by Thinc Design. Presented by the Costume Industry Coalition. All proceeds from the exhibition will raise money for the Costume Industry Coalition Recovery Fund, which continues to support one of the hardest hit sectors of the entertainment industry.
Webcasts & Podcasts:
• Light Talk: Episode 228: The Lumen Brothers, Weird Science: In this episode of Light Talk The Lumen Brothers discuss everything from Cyberlights to Spiced Schwag! Join Steve, Stan, and David as they pontificate about: Proper medications for Light Talk; New social diseases; Our take on the Closing Ceremonies at The Summer Olympics (OY!); Blue Hawaii; Is a 1000W fresnel really more economical to run than an LED?; Tips on lighting interiors; Cyberlights in the foyer; Are students covered for injury in the school theaters and shops?; Cheeky Rigger Asia presents Professor Henry's Muscle Cream and Relaxer; When to walk away from a show or a client; and Working on faith. Listen Here.
• Inwood ArtWorks On Air: A Podcast With Libby Stadstad: Scenic designer Libby Stadstad discusses her work on an upcoming stop-motion animated film + much more: Listen Here. Read more about her in Live Design: Designing Couples: Libby Stadstad and Brandon Stirling Baker.
• USITT: TECHnically Speaking: 2021 YDMT Award Winner Casey Duke, winner of the 2021 Barbizon Lighting Company Jonathan Resnick Lighting Design Award: Casey Duke is a theatrical lighting designer and MFA candidate in the Virginia Tech School of Performing Arts (anticipated 2022), and received her B.A. in Theatre from the Mississippi University for Women in 2014. For the past seven years, Casey has worked in theatres and theme park entertainment such as the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Goodspeed Musicals, and Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Listen Here.
• Making Theatre: James Farncombe and Bruno Poet: Lighting designers James Farncombe and Bruno Poet host conversations about the complex and sometimes messy business of making a show for theatre. We aim to draw in guests from all aspects of production; from directors and designers to actors, stage managers, technicians, makers, builders and producers, to start a broader conversation about all things involved in bringing a show to the stage. Listen Here.
• Artistic Finance: Diversify: A discussion of diversification within a financial portfolio with lighting designer David Martin Jacques. He explains how his portfolio allocation has changed over time as he’s gone from freelancing to becoming a theatre professor. David has been designing lighting, sets, and projections for the past 40 years. His work spans across Europe, Asia, South America, Scandinavia, and North America. David has designed at venues such as The Royal Opera House, Teatro alla Scala, The English National Opera, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, and The National Theatre of Tokyo. David served as lighting consultant for Disney Creative Entertainment where he helped design many attractions for Disney Orlando, Euro-Disney, Epcot, and MGM.In 2017, David, along with fellow lighting educators Steve Woods (SMU) and Stan Kaye (University of Florida) created the popular weekly podcast "LIGHT TALK with The Lumen Brothers." Listen Here.
Archives:
• 4Wall Sunday Roundtable Episode 48: Pat MacKay Diversity Scholarships: Join judges and former recipients of the Pat MacKay Diversity In Design Scholarships. Founded in 2019, and funded by LDI and Live Design, the goal of these unique Diversity In Design scholarships is to support underrepresented and unique voices in the field of entertainment design. The scholarships are named for Pat MacKay, formerly publisher of Theatre Crafts and Lighting Dimensions magazines and founder of the LDI Trade Show and Conference. Guests: Sydney Dye - Projection Designer (Past Recipient); Nina Field - Lighting & Sound Designer (Past Recipient/Judge); Roma Flowers - Lighting & Projection Designer (Judge); Ellen Lampert-Greaux - Live Design/LDI Creative Director; Yuko Taniguchi - Lighting Designer (Past Recipient). Watch Here.