Acclaimed designer Tony Walton will be a featured presenter and deliver the Keynote for the 2004 USITT Conference & Stage Expo this March. USITT, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc., will kick of its four-day Annual Conference & Stage Expo on March 17, 2004 at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in California.
Walton will add to his long list of achievements when he receives a USITT Distinguished Achievement Award in Scene Design. His innovations in musical theatre design will be discussed as part of a separate conference session.
Walton, who has won an Oscar, Emmy, and three Tonys, is a set and costume designer for theatre and films. USITT president Bruce Brockman said “we are delighted to have someone of Mr. Walton’s international stature to deliver the Keynote.” Walton’s work was featured in the award-winning United States exhibit at the 1995 Prague Quadrennial which was created and supported by USITT.
His sets and costume designs can be seen in Nobody Don’t Like Yogi, starring Ben Gazzara which opened at the Lambs Theatre in New York this week.
Walton’s recent Broadway work includes designs for the recent revivals of Our Town starring Paul Newman, and I'm Not Rappaport starring Judd Hirsch and Ben Vereen. His designs were also featured in Julie Andrew's Bay Street Theatre revival of The Boy Friend.
His 19 films include work with directors Bob Fosse, Sidney Lumet, Paul Newman, and Francois Truffaut. Walton has co-produced six productions--plays and musicals--in London: three in association with Hal Prince. His designs for opera have been seen at London's Theatre Royal Covent Garden, The Sadler's Wells Opera Company, and throughout Europe and America.
Walton is just one of the notable presenters for USITT. William Klages will receive USITT’s Distinguished Achievement Award in Lighting Design, Joe Blasco will be honored for his make-up artistry, and Chris Parry will present a session in USITT’s Light Lab on lighting with color and gobos.
For more information on attending the USITT Annual Conference & Stage Expo, including a complete list of sessions grouped by interest area or time, log onto www.usitt.org.