David Hale Hand

Favorite USITT memory?
The Conferences and the many friends I made were my second family. Wonderful times.

Short list of career highlights:

Degree in Theatre and Communications from the University of California at Santa Barbara
Worked in New York in theatre, film and television for five years
Taught technical theatre at Colorado College (13 years)
President and CEO of Stage Engineering International, Ltd. (26 yrs.), providing services domestically and internationally
President and Principal Consultant for Theatre Development Associates
Principal designer and a department supervisor for Walt Disney Imagineering working on Disney’s Parks in California, Florida and Paris.
Active in development of several major international destination resort projects through my companies David Hand Productions & Gateway Central.

Short list of your involvement in the Institute:

Co-organizer of the Rocky Mountain Section (1973) and was its Chair until elected to the USITT BOD shortly thereafter.
Co-Chaired the first National Conference in Denver.
Board of Directors member for a number of years
VP for Conferences for, I believe, 6 years.
USITT President, 1986 - 1988
Fellow, 1988

Memorable USITT characters who have made a difference to you?

There are too many to count. Certainly Joel Rubin, Sarah Nash Gates, Randy Earl, Will Bellman, Lee Watson, Pete Happe, Tim Kelly, Randy (Dr. Doom) Davidson and so many, many more.

Anything you want to say about being a Fellow?
Though I have been inactive for a number of years now, I value the prestige of being a Fellow and keep my membership so I can be a part of that group.

Anything you'd like to add about what the USITT means to you personally?
Being a member has been one of the most important and valuable experiences of my life.