Congratulations to our incoming Fellows of the Institute: Verda Beth Martell, Michael Hooker, and Karen Maness!

Fellows achieve this recognition through many years of exceptional participation in various aspects of USITT and the live entertainment industry. To USITT, the Fellows are Members who are leaders in their craft or field and are an indispensable resource in continuing the work of the Institute. Fellows work together as peers to support the Institute in its advancement, fundraising, and outreach efforts.

“I am grateful to the Fellows of the Institute for selecting these three individuals who have made such stellar contributions to our industry and our Institute,” said Executive Director Laura Lee Everett. “I am looking forward to welcoming them with this new distinction.”

Our new Fellows will be honored on Thursday, March 6, at our Awards Awards Awards ceremony in Columbus as part of our 65th Annual Conference & Stage Expo. Join us for the ceremony, and afterward be one of the first on the Expo floor as our winners drop the rope and open it for attendees!

Verda Beth Martell

Beth spent the first couple of decades of her career in theatrical production as a special effects technician and technical director. Over the last decade, Beth has transitioned from building scenery to designing theatres, first as a theatre planner and technical designer for DLR Group before moving to the Theatre Consultants Collaborative as a Principal Consultant in 2024. Over those three decades, Beth has also been a tireless educator, formally and informally. She taught undergraduate and graduate classes and for a time chaired the Scenic Technology curriculum at The University of Illinois. Beth finds that the best way to keep in touch with current practice is to embed herself in conversations with current practitioners. Early on, she joined the Pit Lift Group which exponentially increased her understanding of standards and codes. More recently, she keeps up with the industry by creating professional training opportunities. She leads a team of ETCP Recognized Trainers on the Midwest Rigging Intensive which cycles through rigging topics. Beth spearheaded the programming for the 2024 North American Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference with ESTA to learn more about what we need to do to improve access to the arts. She has regular conversations with the Purdue Fusion Studio on their Symposium on Education in Entertainment and Engineering which keep her informed about education in these realms as well as foster a better understanding of the needs of manufacturers. Beth Is the co-founder of the Physics of Theatre Project with her research partner (and husband) Dr. Eric Martell and co-author of The Physics of Theatre – Mechanics textbook. Since rolling off the board of directors in 2021, Beth has been looking for another opportunity within USITT to discuss the state of the field with our industry veterans. She is overjoyed to join the Fellows in those conversations.

“I have been climbing up on the shoulders of giants my whole career. I will forever be grateful to the culture at USITT that encourages captains of our industry to make themselves available for conversations over beer, wine, and kazoo. There are really too many people to name, but there are four who cannot be left out. I definitely would not be where I am without Dr. Eric Martell. Before he was my partner in all things, he was answering random questions about Pascal's Law and kinematics. That was the foundation of a shared understanding of theatrical machines that drove much of the work I have done with USITT since. The other three are our boys - Ethan, Will, and Quintin, from whom I learn how to be a better human every day.

I’d like to thank Dennis Dorn, who was the VP-Commissions while I was his student at Wisconsin. He showed me and so many Badgers the benefits of service to our profession. Finally, my thanks to Paul Brunner, a contemporary of mine at Wisconsin, who is a shining example of that service every day. Cheers gents and On Wisconsin!

Becoming a Fellow is a decades long process. I don't think I really know what it means yet. I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to find out.”

Michael Hooker

Michael K. Hooker has proudly been involved with USITT since attending his first conference in 1995. He has served as Sound Commissioner, chaired dozens and helped program hundreds of sound sessions. He was also part of the development and steering committees for the inaugural 2012 USITT Sound Lab along with the subsequent 2014, 2016, and 2018 Sound Labs, and the 2023 Sound-X. He is also honored to have received the USITT 2022 Distinguished Achievement Award in Sound Design and Technology.

Michael’s educational service spans 32 years. He is currently Professor of Sound Design and Composition for Theatre at the University of California, Irvine where he heads their sound design MFA program. Prior to UCI, he created the sound design program at the University of Cincinnati – College Conservatory of Music and headed the program at CalArts.

Michael has designed sound and/or composed music for more than 125 productions. He designed Looped on Broadway and the national tour. His regional designs have been heard at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Kirk Douglas Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, South Coast Repertory, Arena Stage, Pasadena Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

As a commercial sound designer and composer, Michael has worked all over the world. He spent 5 years as Senior Media Designer for Walt Disney Imagineering where he produced sound and music for Disney theme parks worldwide - including Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea and Walt Disney Studios - Paris. He has also designed/composed themed attractions in Qatar, Shanghai, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles.

Michael received his BFA from the University of Arizona and MFA from the CalArts School of Theatre. 

“I would like to thank the giant family of former students who have enriched my life in so many incredible ways and given me solid hope for the future of sound design – your trust means everything.  And special thanks to USITT for not revoking my membership after any of the Sound Labs!

USITT has been a pivotal part of both my professional and academic careers - and the Sound Commission is extended family. I'm incredibly honored to be trusted and able to continue serving and giving back to this wonderful organization. The entertainment world needs USITT now more than ever –  I’m here to help any way that I can –  and somehow I will find room for another ribbon on my conference badge! “

Karen Maness

Karen L. Maness is an Assistant Professor of Practice at The University of Texas at Austin, Associate Director of the Fabrication Studios at Texas Performing Arts, and Director of the Texas Performing Arts Hollywood Backdrop Collection. Her research centers on Hollywood motion picture scenic artists and their studio art practices. She is the co-author of The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop, 2016 (ReganArts) and co-curator of the 2022 world premiere Boca Raton Museum of Art exhibition Art of the Hollywood Backdrop: Cinema's Creative Legacy and contributing author for the PSTLA publication Fabricating Wilderness: The Habitat Diorama of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 2024. 

Dedicated to preserving painting as a language, Maness teaches painting and visual communication to digital and analog artists through observational painting and Hollywood motion picture scenic art history, and is a practicing studio artist in Austin, Texas. Maness has served as Commissioner of Scenic Design and Technology, Director for the United States Institute of Theatre Technology, and as a USA Delegate to OISTAT. In addition, she has served as a vendor for Universal Creative and an exhibition consultant to The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Museum, USC's One Archives, and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles.

“I owe a significant part of my journey to the invaluable guidance and support of my mentors within USITT and throughout my life. Their belief in me and the opportunities they provided have scaffolded my development, enabling me to do the same now for others.

I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Performing Arts, The Art Directors Guild, and the following individuals who have played a significant role in my journey: Rick Stephens, Charles Leslie, Mary Heilman, Dan Guyette, Kimb Williamson, Carolyn Satter, Michael Mehler, Michelle Harvey, Rachel Keebler, Susan Crabtree, Casey Kearns, Kim Scott, Raphael Jaen, Kevin Rigdon, David Grindle, Jack Feivou, Rachel Durkin-Drga, J.E. Johnson, Richard Isackes, Alex McDowell, John Iaccovelli, Tom Walsh, and many others. Their support, guidance, and collaboration have been instrumental in my professional growth. I also thank my family, teachers, and colleagues for their unwavering support and encouragement.

Being inducted as a USITT Fellow is a profound honor. USITT has provided a community and a platform that allowed me to explore leadership and take risks. Through USITT, I have connected with inspiring leaders in various fields, including the arts, industry, and academia. This experience has opened doors to incredible opportunities, joy, and adventures I never thought possible. I extend my heartfelt thanks to those who supported my ideas, collaborated creatively, and challenged me to expand beyond my self-limitations.

Thank you, USITT, for the opportunity to be part of and continue serving our industry and this distinguished organization. I am committed to contributing to our industry's growth and development, and upholding USITT's values and mission.”