In this issue:

Are You Playing with a Full Deck? An Analysis of Platform Decking Panels
A comparison of different platform construction techniques considers which technique is
more cost-effective or efficient for a specific application.
BY RICH DIONNE

Keynote Address: USITT Conference & Stage Expo 2008
The phrase, "Never move forward until you have the beginning right," is a mantra in Mr. Rigdon's educational work and a touchstone in his design work.
BY KEVIN RIGDON

Mua Roi Nuoc: Vietnamese Water Puppets
An ancient folk art celebrates the rice-growing culture of the Red River Delta through puppets that dance on water.
BY TREVA REIMER

Seeing with Three Eyes: Design for Live Performance--Theatre and Themed Entertainment
Designers must first decide how the audience will gather information -- visually or verbally.
BY HOLLY POE DURBIN

Stage Lighting Control Before Computers
Throughout the last century, ingenious (and sometimes obscure) means were developed to approximate what we take for granted today: the convenience of presetting complex lighting cues.
BY THOMAS J. BLALOCK

USITT Architecture Awards 2008
Two honor awards and four merit awards recognize the projects' exceptional abilities to nourish innovation and enrich the public's experience of one of the world's oldest art forms.
BY KIMBERLY CORBETT