The American Society of Theatre Consultants (ASTC) is pleased to announce that at the “Online” Annual Business Meeting, Jack Hagler, Todd Hensley, and R. Duane Wilson were recognized and awarded the title of Fellow of American Society of Theatre Consultants (FASTC.)
Jack Hagler, a theatre consultant for over 25 years, is a Partner at Schuler Shook where he manages the Dallas office. An ASTC member since 1994, he has served on the Board of Directors as Vice-President and has been the ASTC Liaison to the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) since 2005. He has given educational presentations to many industry conferences across the United States.  Awards for his projects have been numerous from such associations as IAVM, USITT, IAAM, IES, and AIA. Kimberly Corbett Oates, ASTC notes, “Jack’s resume of theatre projects is extensive, touching many project types and scales. He has led feasibility and planning studies, made renovation recommendations, acted as Owner’s representative, and designed projects including high schools, college and universities, civic centers, casinos, amphitheaters, government facilities, and houses of worship…He builds trust with our clients, owners, and users, and he listens to the individual needs of each project.”

Todd Hensley has been a theatre consultant for over 32 years and an ASTC member since 1998, during which he has served on the Board of Directors and President and is currently active on several committees.  Mr. Hensley has consulted on over 400 projects with Schuler Shook where he serves as Partner in their Chicago office. He has earned awards from USITT, IESNA, and AIA Chicago. An accomplished lighting designer, he is also an adjunct faculty member teaching lighting at DePaul University. Heather McAvoy, ASTC says about Mr. Hensley, “…he has shown exceptional leadership in promoting excellence in our field, encouraging socially conscious design thinking and forwarding the mission of the ASTC.” McAvoy continues, “Todd has served as a thought leader for our industry in chairing and participating in dozens of presentations and panel discussions across North America on far-reaching topics such as gender identity accommodation, measuring the value of flexible theatres, creative rehearsal rooms, collaboration with acousticians, career building and other timely professional subjects.“

R. Duane Wilson has been an ASTC member for 32 years and has served as the Secretary-Treasurer since 2013 providing an invaluable service to the Society. Mr. Wilson is a graduate of Yale School of Drama in Theater Engineering, and joined theatre consultant pioneer, George C. Izenour in his practice in the mid-eighties and he remains part of the firm.  Grace Gavin Rhodes, ASTC says about Mr. Wilson, “He is a theatre professional with a vast knowledge of our industry and is always willing to share his thoughts and wisdom. He is a stalwart on the board. He provides us with the institutional knowledge that forms our foundation and he is active, engaged and works to support the evolving nature of the business and our Society.” Jim Read, FASTC adds, “…Duane has been astonishingly capable, diligent, reliable, honest, and able to pull off the impossible with severely limited budgets. His early work in GCI’s lab helped further electronic control for the theater. Duane…has demonstrated the highest level of theater consulting expertise on projects from the smallest to the largest theater complexes, size made no difference.”

With only a maximum of three Fellowships awarded every two years; only a small percentage of members attain this honor. ASTC was founded in 1983 and currently has 79 full members representing 31 consulting companies in the US and Canada. Now in its 36th year, ASTC has awarded the honor of Fellow to thirteen members since the program was established in 2011. More information about ASTC Fellows can be found, here.

Admitted into membership was Clemeth L. Abercrombie, Chicago Studio Principal of Charcoalblue, having successfully fulfilled the ASTC requirements of capabilities and experience. Two new Associates were also accepted, Jerad Schomer and Jon Sivell, both of Charcoalblue. A complete list of members and their contact information is available on the ASTC website.