Explore Your Interests at USITT24!
March 7, 2024
Our Annual Conference offers a treasure trove of sessions on countless topics in live entertainment. Looking to learn more about lighting design? Let us be your guide! Want to dive deeper into technical production? We’ve got the tools for the job! Tailor your learning experience by selecting sessions based on your passions and expand your expertise in all aspects of our industry. Check out the list below for session highlights organized by interest!
ARCHITECTURE SESSIONS
A Beginner’s Guide for Building a Theatre
Thursday, 12:30 PM-1:30 PM
Location: Chelan 2
So you’ve decided that you need to create a performance venue for your program. Now what? You must make a lot of big decisions, and make a plan to make your dream a reality. Luckily, there’s a whole team of design consultants that can help you make that happen. A team of Theatrical Consultants and Architects from the USITT Architectural Commission will give an overview of how the design and construction process works. They will review how a design team is structured, and the various construction delivery methods available. The presenters will introduce strategies for planning the flow of the whole endeavor, and offer advice on how to play your role in the process. The session will address how the process works for public, educational, and private entities. Facility types discussed shall range from one space to a complex; and from new to adaptive use. Presented by the Architecture Commission.
AIA Credit Pending
Making Theater Engaging - How Acoustics, Theater Technology, and Room Design intersect to create a holistic experience.
Friday, 12:30 PM-1:30 PM
Location: Room 605
Theaters are unique spaces that balance the needs of many disciplines. Design directly affects how individuals experience a space, and designing to engage the senses can transform the interaction between performers and audiences. This panel of architects, acousticians, and theater design experts will discuss shared experiences in architectural design coordination, and provide insight into the process that creates great theaters. They will also examine components of design that engage the senses and heighten the experience, diving into the alchemy that connects audience, artist, and performance space.
Presented by the Architecture Commission.
AIA Credit Pending
Pick a Card: Venue Design Edition
Saturday, 11 AM-1 PM
Location: Chelan 2
In many ways, venue design closely aligns with the theatrical design process. In this session, you’ll work in teams to conceptualize a building by “picking” a building’s design requirements from cards at random. This will give the framework for a team to discuss conceptual ideas for a new theatre venue. Teams will then have time to contemplate their design approach, discuss ways to communicate ideas with clients, and sketch concepts for the venue. Facilitators from various Theatre Consulting firms will guide teams through a concept study, focusing on the process throughout. Presented by the Architecture Commission.
AIA Credit Pending.
Explore more Architecture sessions here by selecting “Architecture” in the tracks filter!
COSTUME DESIGN & TECH SESSIONS
Translating Theatre Costuming Experience to Film & TV
Wednesday, 2 PM-3 PM
Location: Room 607
Join panelists from Motion Picture Costumers IATSE Local 705, the union representing costumers in Hollywood for film, TV, and commercials, as they discuss the crossover of skills from theatrical costuming to motion picture costuming. We’ll explore the gaps in knowledge between theatre and film, and how to bridge them. Presented by the Costume Design and Technology Commission.
No Wrong Answers, Just Choices: Draper Conversations
Friday, 3:30 PM-4:30 PM
Location: Room 607
This panel will offer a variety of perspectives on the draping process from initial designer conversation to the final product. Three professional drapers: Triffin Morris of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Alyssa Ridder of Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Lara Berich of Niagara University will discuss and demonstrate their different methods of reasoning and choices when creating an identical costume based on an identical design. This panel emphasizes the idea that “there are no wrong answers, just different choices” when approaching a build. This exploration will offer the audience an opportunity to learn about each draper’s philosophical approach as well as their step-by-step strategies for creating identical works. Presented by the Costume Design and Technology Commission.
Costuming Blackness
Saturday, 11:30 AM-1 PM
Location: Room 607
Many theatre programs produce plays, musicals, dance pieces, and devised works that focus on themes that are in the Black Diaspora throughout history. In this session, we will discuss topics such as race/ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality, and education that would inadvertently affect costume designers' day-to-day and tools that can be used to research culture more delicately for costume designers in both academic and professional settings. Presented by the Costume Design and Technology Commission.
DIGITAL MEDIA SESSIONS
Projections on a Shoestring
Wednesday, 2 PM-3 PM
Location: Tahoma 2
So you don't have a 20k-lumen projector on the balcony rail? This session will explore how to make the most out of low-cost projectors bought on closeout or salvaged from the IT department. How can we maximize the impact of the equipment at our disposal? The session will include a discussion on how to get the most out of lower-lumen projectors and older computers. Presented by the Digital Media Commission.
From Mock-up to Projection Design, a Beginner’s Workflow
Friday, 10 AM-11 AM
Location: Tahoma 2
This session introduces a basic workflow for pitching and creating a projection design for the beginner/ intermediate projection designer. Starting with basic questions about projection surfaces to creating a mock-up for presenting ideas and transitioning into a basic projection design idea inside of a media server. Participants will walk away from this session having created a simple projection design and understanding how to apply this workflow to larger projects on their own. Participants can bring a laptop with a photo editing application such as Adobe Photoshop. The presenter will be working through compositing content using the QLab media server - participants can also work along using the software if they have access. Presented by the Digital Media Commission.
Virtual and Augmented Reality Performance Research
Friday, 12:30 PM-1:30 PM
Location: Tahoma 2
Virtual and augmented reality are tools used today in cutting - or even bleeding-edge performance. They present unique opportunities for interaction and immersion for audience members, and challenges for traditional theatre designers. This session will introduce the work of artists and scholars in this emerging area of practice. Panelists will present projects with which they are currently engaged, ongoing research, or performances in the works. This is not a technology-focused session, but rather asks - what we are DOING with this technology in the name of theatre. Presented by the Digital Media Commission.
Explore more Digital Media sessions here by selecting “Digital Media” in the tracks filter!
EDUCATION SESSIONS
Applying Culturally Responsive Teaching in Education and at Work
Wednesday, 2 PM-3 PM
Location: Tahoma 4
Teaching and mentoring play integral roles in the realm of theatre and live performing arts. In recent years, our industry has made significant strides in embracing inclusion, diversity, equity, access, and social justice (IDEAS) as fundamental values. Our session will delve deeper into actionable strategies that you can readily implement within your classroom and workplace. The focus will be on empowering you with practical tools to create culturally responsive environments for the people you teach and mentor. Participants will discuss ways to recognize, acknowledge, and sustain their students and mentees’ cultural heritages, identities, and experiences to inform their teaching approaches. Our approach is grounded in culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy, which has several principles: engender competence and belonging, Include learners’ perspectives and values, and create a welcoming environment. Through guided discussions, you will leave this session with concrete insights and hands-on approaches to infuse culturally responsive teaching into your teaching and mentoring practices so we can collaboratively pave the way for a more vibrant, diverse, and just performing arts community. Presented by the Education Commission.
To Infinity and Beyond
Friday, 10 AM-11 AM
Location: Tahoma 4
Hear from experienced mid- and late-career faculty about setting goals for productivity & growth after attaining tenure and promotion to full professor. Panelists will discuss strategies to strive for balance, avoid getting “stuck in the middles,” and continue to find fulfillment. This session is brought to you by the Education Commission.
Investigating a Fitting Room Pedagogy Through Art and Discussion
Friday, 12:30 PM-1:30 PM
Location: Room 607
The fitting room is a space where teachers and students collaborate while navigating bodies, materials, and touch in art-making and teaching. This workshop and roundtable seeks to bring together costume educators of all experiences in discussion and art-making to uncover the pedagogy that exists within the fitting room. Participants will work together in exploring their stories through art while considering how fittings are sensed and embodied learning experiences. This research project aims to uncover the best practices of costume educators who not only successfully collaborate with students within the fitting room, but also create critical learning opportunities for the students they collaborate with. Continued engagement in the larger research project on teacher/student collaboration in art-making and teaching in the fitting room will be available but optional. Presented by the Costume Design and Technology Commission.
Explore more Education sessions here by selecting “Education” in the tracks filter!
ENGINEERING SESSIONS
Robotics, AI, and the Future of Theatre
Wednesday, 2 PM-3 PM
Location: Chelan 4
Dive in and take a look at the future of Theatre. Robots and AI are coming, but not for your job. These emerging technologies can be leveraged to produce safer, more intricate, and more immersive shows. However, we need to ask ourselves: does this show need the technology or are we just using it because we can? Presented by the Engineering Commission.
Introduction to Show Control System Design
Thursday, 2 PM-3 PM
Location: Chelan 4
Show control is the practice of connecting and/or synchronizing entertainment control systems like lighting, sound, video, and scenic automation. Based on John Huntington’s 2023 book Introduction to Show Control, this talk details a methodical, step-by-step process for analyzing show control system needs and basic system design for live shows. Huntington's system design principles and show control design process will be introduced, and realistic examples will be discussed. Presented by the Engineering Commission. This is an ETCP Recognized course.
ETCP Renewal Credits: 1.0
A Look at the High Points of ANSI E1.43, the American National Standard for Performer Flying
Saturday, 11:30 AM-1 PM
Location: Tahoma 1
The ANSI Standard for Performer Flying provides operational and safety-related guidance about systems used to suspend or transport human beings in the air in the production of live entertainment events. It covers theatrical effects creating the illusion of flight, as well as acrobatic acts and other styles of performance. The Standard, ANSI E1.43, was first published in 2016. A new, substantially revised, and updated version of the Standard, is currently in the works and has been presented for public review. This session will feature industry-leading performer flying and acrobatic rigging specialists, and members of the Task Group responsible for the current revision. They will discuss and answer questions both on the content of the Standard and on the complex process through which it (and other ANSI standards) are created. Topics will include manual, mechanized, and automated systems, dynamic forces, design factors, equipment selection, risk assessment/risk reduction practices, and other issues covered by the Standard. This session will provide a "backstage" view of the thinking and conversations that led to the Standard’s development. This is an ETCP Recognized Course.
ETCP Renewal Credits: 1.5
Explore more Engineering sessions here by selecting “Engineering” in the tracks filter!
EXHIBITOR SESSIONS
Running Away with Cirque du Soleil
Thursday 1 PM-2 PM
Location: Expo Stage- Hall E
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to run away with the circus? Let our panel of entertainment professionals answer all of your questions during this discussion-based session where we dive into the world of Cirque du Soleil to review where we are as a company, our goals for the future, what employment opportunities are available, and how to get them. This is your chance to connect with representatives from our Technical, Management, and Talent divisions, learn about our show operations, and how you might plan to run away with Cirque du Soleil! Presented by Cirque du Soleil.
Brought to our Expo Hall Stage by
Getting Creative with Special Effects
Friday, 10 AM-11 AM
Location: Skagit 2
Join the experts at Master FX for a seminar on unleashing creativity with special effects in the theatre realm. Discover alternate uses of snow machines, explore the art of crafting the ideal haze and various types of fog, and learn how to seamlessly integrate confetti effects to elevate your productions. Gain valuable insights into maximizing equipment performance and ensuring long-lasting durability through maintenance tips and techniques. Don't miss this opportunity to revolutionize your theatrical FX game! Presented by Master FX.
Blue Sky to Opening Day: An Interactive Introduction to the Disney Live Entertainment Project Lifecycle
Saturday 1:30 PM-3 PM
Location: Yakima 1
So that mood board is great, but what next… Have you ever wondered how new parades, spectaculars, or shows go from an idea to reality? Join us to learn about the process the Disney Live Entertainment team follows to take concepts from an inkling to opening day. You’ll have the chance to see how the process works and then hear about a couple of real-life examples on land and at sea from Disney Live Entertainment professionals in Technical Design, Scenic Fabrication, Costume Design, Production, and Operations. Presented by Disney Live Entertainment.
Explore more Exhibitor sessions here by selecting “Exhibitor” in the tracks filter!
INCLUSION SESSIONS
Starting a Conversation about Accessibility and Accommodations Behind the Scenes
Thursday, 12:30 PM-1:30 PM
Location: Ballroom 6A
Our panel will feature a conversation about personal experiences and strategies regarding accessibility and accommodations backstage in educational and professional spaces, especially in situations that might not be covered by standard ADA requirements or require collaboration and problem-solving to achieve results. Everyone on the panel has their own different experiences with disability and accommodations, including needing accommodations, making them, or designing with them in mind.
A Q&A session and open discussion will follow, and we encourage audience participation. Bring your questions and ideas so we can start a larger conversation about disability and accommodations in our industry and how we can continue to move forward. Presented by the IDEAS Committee.
Lies and Misrepresentation Behind the Curtain
Friday, 10 AM-11 AM
Location: Room 608
There is a history of underrepresented people of color (POC) and women in 19th and early 20th-century American scenic design and art. These talented individuals never made the history books, but their legacy continued. Historic publications suggest that there was a level of intentionality in dismissing their contributions over the decades. We will share the stories of four remarkable individuals. The presentation by Ruben Arana and Wendy Waszut-Barrett will include portraits and images of the artists’ works. This will be an eye-opening session that makes you look at theatre history from a different perspective. Presented by the Scenic Design and Technology Commission.
Building Our Own Space at the LTC Colaboratorio
Friday, 3:30 PM-4:30 PM
Location: Yakima 1
What happens when a production design team comes together as equals, without budget or deadlines, and a lofty goal of building a better process? In this session we'll share the results of a convening for artists built by artists. The Latinx Theatre Commons convened a group of 40 designers, directors, scholars, and organizers at an event called the 2023 LTC Designer and Director Colaboratorio. Holding space to interrogate the hierarchical design process we've inherited, no deliverables or expectations were set other than a team sharing at the end of the time together. Planned with care but without a clear outcome, the event was structured to allow each team find its own path to collaboration. The learnings were rich and can serve as a model for better collaborations without significant changes to design deadlines or typical schedules. Presented by the IDEAS Committee.
Explore more Inclusion sessions here by selecting “Inclusion” in the tracks filter!
INTERNATIONAL SESSIONS
You Are Not Alone, Sustainable Theatre Around the World
Wednesday, 3:30 PM-4:30 PM
Location: Room 614
Artists around the world are innovating, activating, and participating in sustainable theatre. There is a groundswell of action globally, and this session will take a closer look at many of the movements and activities happening worldwide. This will include a look at ecoscenography and advances in commercial and academic theatre. You will leave with an understanding of the international sustainable theatre movement and a clear path for how to join this critical work. Presented by International Activities.
Experiencia Latinoamericana y Migrante de dos Directores Técnicos (Latin American and Migrant Experience of Two Technical Directors)
Thursday, 2 PM-3 PM
Location: Tahoma 1
Aholibama Castañeda (they, them. Mexico) and Martin Montaner (he, him. Chile) talk about their experience as Grad Students after having successful careers in their beloved countries. Together they will walk us through some pictures and anecdotes about what it’s like working at two of the biggest International Festivals for performing arts in the world: Festival International Cervantino (Mexico) and Santiago a Mil (Chile). Afterward, they will talk about their experience coming to the U.S.A. to get involved in Grad School, the cultural challenges that they faced in the country and in the field, and the complexity of translating the training, not just to another language and numerical system, but to another culture as well. Presented by the Technical Production Commission.
Prague Quadrennial Now and Next
Thursday, 3:30 PM-4:30 PM
Location: Room 614
Marketa Fantova was the Artistic Director for the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space in 2019 and 2023. This presentation will illuminate the PQ Festival, the four-year culmination and main event, and the PQ Platform activities between the festivals from 2016 to 2023. She will look back at the different yet complimentary artistic visions of the last three editions and how the PQ teams developed the creative goals and conceptual projects that resonated globally while fostering openness towards diverse cultures, ideas, countries, and regions. The PQ is and hopefully will continue to be a unique international collaboration where teams from over 100 countries come together to create a 10-day festival celebrating contemporary performance design. Presented by International Activities.
Explore more International sessions here by selecting “International” in the tracks filter!
LIGHTING SESSIONS
From Concept to Clarity: Visualizing and Presenting Lighting Design for Effective Collaboration
Wednesday, 3:30 PM-4:30 PM
Location: Tahoma 3
Lighting Design can often be hard to conceptualize and visualize during production meetings. Finding creative ways to present ideas in a visual medium can help your team grow during the early design process. This session will discuss methods, tools, programs, and ideas for sharing a lighting designer’s vision, both in 3D and 2D, with directors and design teams to facilitate stronger collaboration for all. This session is presented by the Lighting Design and Technology Commission.
Designing Lights for All: A Discussion on Inclusive and Accessible Design
Friday, 3:30 PM-4:40 PM
Location: Tahoma 3
Join us for a conversation about designing lights for, and working on productions that consider inclusive settings. Learn what things to consider when working on productions for inclusive audiences while maintaining the integrity of the design. Our panel will showcase lighting designers and consultants who work on sensory-friendly live theatre experiences. We’ll discuss why accessibility and inclusivity are important, learn how to collaborate with designers and theatres to execute consideration of accessibility and learn how to focus on the audience’s experience of the production when accessibility is considered. This session is presented by the Lighting Design and Technology Commission.
Beyond Swatchbooks: Redefining Color References in Lighting for Live Shows
Saturday, 3:30 PM-5 PM
Location: Tahoma 3
The lighting industry is deeply saturated with questions about documenting LED color. With the shift from incandescent fixtures to LEDs, lighting practitioners now must contend with communicating color in ways beyond a simple gel number. How do we define and prepare colors for use in the show? Come and participate in a conversation with practitioners about how they are navigating this journey in the professional world. We’ll discuss changes to color management from traditional sources to LEDs, review how color is processed in consoles, fixtures, and audience perception, and identify best practices for executing a design fluidly. This session is presented by the Lighting Design and Technology Commission.
MANAGEMENT SESSIONS
Prioritizing Mindfulness and Wellness in Technical Theatre
Wednesday, 3:30 PM-4:30 PM
Location: Tahoma 1
In a fast-paced environment, we often overlook mind and body care. This panel will explore wellness micro-practices, meditation, stretching, and even a strengthening program that has been designed for the specific work of technical theatre artists. We will also examine Emotional Hygiene and Sensory needs, and recommend methods for incorporating practices such as check-ins and purposeful breaks into a theatre artist’s busy schedule. Presented by the Technical Production Commission.
Hold Please. Stopping the Show & Emergency Action Planning
Friday, 10 AM-11 PM
Location: Room 615
In the world of live entertainment, anything can happen. Come talk about steps you can take to ensure you and your venue are prepared for the inevitable, including the best ways to stop the show IF the inevitable happens. From fire drills, tornado warnings, and medical emergencies, to shelter-in-place, and technical difficulties we'll discuss how best to handle these situations and prior actions you can take to make sure you, your staff/performers, and patrons are safe. The worst emergency plan is one that doesn't exist, so let's discuss how to create one. Presented by the Management Commission.
DISCLAIMER: Topics discussed may be triggering for some attendees.
Strategies and Benefits for Digitized Prompt Books
Saturday, 11:30 AM-1 PM
Location: Room 615
This session will discuss what digital prompt books are, and how they can be beneficial for upcoming and current managers within the industry. Additionally, the session will explain the challenges we have faced with a non-digital process, how to go digital in your organization or academic environment, different applications to use for digital work as a stage manager, and a few tips and techniques for individuals who are ready to try digitizing their management process. We’ll also explore how digital works can allow for more accessibility regarding varying types of cognitive, emotional, and physical abilities with provided research.
Explore more Management sessions here by selecting “Management” in the tracks filter!
SAFETY AND HEALTH SESSIONS
What Does It Take to Support a High-Performing Team in a Creative Environment?
Wednesday, 3:30 PM-4:30 PM
Location: Yakima 1
Mark Dakin, formally technical director of the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Opera House in the UK and now Managing Director of TAIT Neasden & Haverhill in the UK talks to Anna Glover, Director of Theatre Safety at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale about the importance of safety, inclusion, bravery, and diversity, as well as being the ‘designers Technical Director’.
IATSE Presents: Climate Change and its Impact on Entertainment Worker Safety and Health
Thursday, 12:30 PM-1:30 PM
Location: Room 612
Wildfires, Heat, Natural Disasters. Human-caused climate change impacts everyone, and it is having an increasingly profound effect on the safety and health of workers in the entertainment industry. Join representatives from the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)—the Union Behind Entertainment—and the Broadway Green Alliance (BGA) to discuss our world’s changing climate, its impact on entertainment industry workers, and how we can adapt to better protect ourselves and others moving forward. This presentation will dive into some of the science behind the climate crisis, explore interactive scenarios, and provide attendees with ways to take action. Presented by the Safety & Health Commission.
Care For Your Team: Content Advisories
Saturday, 3:30 PM-5:30 PM
Location: Room 612
In our ever-evolving media landscape today, content advisories are increasingly common. From podcast descriptions to announcements before movie trailers to printouts in theatre programs, our world is adapting. Yet these life-saving measures have stayed limited to the sphere of the viewer and have not become more common in other spaces, such as the workplace or educational settings. Why? How might expanding advisories to these realms allow our community to grow more accessible, considerate, and equitable?
Explore more Safety and Health sessions here by selecting “Safety and Health” in the tracks filter!
SCENIC DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY SESSIONS
Scenic Materials for Theme Parks and Other Permanent Installation
Wednesday 2 PM-3 PM
Location: Tahoma 1
Want to learn about the difference between scenery built for theatre and permanent theme park installations? This is the session for you! Theatre shows run 8 times a week, while theme park dark rides might reset every 8 seconds! You might know how to build a show that runs for a few months, but how do we create installations that need to last 10-20 years? In this session, we’ll present a few of the most common scenic materials used in theme parks: FRP, GFRC, and Concrete. We’ll also discuss how the skills and knowledge theatre practitioners have built in their field apply to theme park and permanent installation design.
Scenic Designers and Prop Managers Working Together
Wednesday 3:30 PM-4:30 PM
Location: Room 608
Have you ever run into communication snags between designers and prop managers? Has a prop appeared onstage during a designer run that looks different than what you envisioned? In this session, we’ll discuss what styles of artwork, drafting, research, and auxiliary information can be helpful to the shop to make sure the final product on stage looks like the vision in your head. This session will be a panel discussion between scenic designers and prop shop managers about communication styles and mediums that help teams work toward achieving the same final product. Presented by the Scenic Design and Technology Commission.
Incorporating XR technology into the Scenic Design Process
Saturday, 1:30 PM-3 PM
Location: Room 608
Wouldn’t it be amazing if a director could walk through a theatre to preview a set design before it was ever constructed? In this session, we will introduce the collaborative capabilities of Vectorworks and Enscape. Together, these two products can create 3D fly/walk-through videos, 360 panoramas, executable stand-alone files, and VR walk-throughs.
Utilizing augmented reality to show early design choices can be a major time-saver. Building physical 3D scaled models to showcase a design is one of the most effective ways of communicating ideas to a director. A properly built model in accurate scale allows the director to see the design from many points of view, but accurate scale models take time and resources to build. Instead of building a physical model to facilitate discussion, augmented reality is an effective method of communication that allows for quick adjustments to be made to a design with limited expense. Presented by the Scenic Design and Technology Commission.
SOUND DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY SESSIONS
Storytelling through Atmospheric Sound Design
Wednesday, 3:30 PM-4:30 PM
Location: Tahoma 5
This session will focus on using atmospheric sound design (ambiance and localized sound effects) to help tell the story of a script. The session will begin with a brief lecture on what atmospheric design is and a demonstration of how it increases immersion for an audience. We will then introduce the Sound Design Challenge for this year's USITT conference. Attendees who wish to participate will be given a scenario for which they will create a short sound design. These designs can be built and edited during the conference and the final versions will be heard at our feedback session on Friday at 3:30 PM. Attendees who do not wish to participate in the design challenge are welcome to stay and are encouraged to ask questions they may have regarding sound design. The speaker will be using Adobe Audition and QLab during their demonstration, but attendees are welcome to use any DAW of their choice. Attendees are also encouraged to have access to QLab's free trial or full license. (A laptop and/or sound-related software is not a requirement for participation in the session). Presented by the Sound Design and Technology Commission.
Using Field Recordings in Your Original Designs
Thursday, 12:30 PM-1:30 PM
Location: Tahoma 5
Learn the creative and logistical benefits of capturing your own audio in the field for your original designs & works of art. Skills are transferable to VR, AR, Theatre, Film, and Game Design. Implement these technologies in different system design schemes from mono & stereo to immersive capture methods. Presented by the Sound Design and Technology Commission.
Create Simple Musical Underscoring with No Prior Training
Friday, 2 PM-3:15 PM
Location: Tahoma 5
This is a mini masterclass designed to guide participants through the steps of creating a piece of underscoring that is completely their own by the end of the session. It will give sound designers the tools to create exactly what they need for any project without having to resort to AI or having to sample professional composers' music. In a masterclass setting, one participant takes the class while others watch and learn. A single participant will be asked to bring in an idea, a mood they want to create, or a simple melody that they would like to expand. We will start by identifying the moods that need to be created for the audience. Using a keyboard, a basic melody line will be built, and the participant will be walked through a process that slowly builds out the piece of music from there. This session provides attendees a safe and encouraging space to let inspiration flow, whether or not they have experience with a keyboard. By the end of the session, the main participant has a basic piece and the tools to expand or change that piece as needed. Questions from other attendees will be welcome throughout the process, and any piece created during the session is the property of the creator. Presented by the Sound Design and Technology Commission.
TECHNICAL PRODUCTION SESSIONS
Prioritizing Mindfulness and Wellness in Technical Theatre
Wednesday, 3:30 PM-4:30 PM
Location: Tahoma 1
In the fast-paced world of live entertainment, we often overlook mind and body care. This panel will explore wellness micro-practices, meditation, stretching, and even a strengthening program that has been designed for the specific work of technical theatre artists. We will also examine Emotional Hygiene and Sensory needs, and recommend methods for incorporating practices such as check-ins and purposeful breaks into a theatre artist’s busy schedule. Presented by the Technical Production Commission.
Early Career Mentorship in Technical Production
Friday, 10 AM-11 AM
Location: Tahoma 1
Calling all students and early career technicians! This session will be an opportunity to make connections and get practical career advice. Starting your career in technical production can be daunting. This session offers attendees a space to ask questions they have been wanting to ask but didn't know how. The first part of the session will be a Q&A with a set of panelists as they share their professional paths. The second part will allow attendees to network with their fellow technical production professionals. Presented by the Technical Production Commission.
Making Sustainable Choices in Production
Saturday, 3:30 PM-5 PM
Location: Tahoma 1
Theatre and entertainment production has a long rich history of passing down techniques to the next generation of practitioners. This is a traditional method of learning, but it can lead to a lack of safety and responsibility in our practices. Globally, the industry is making great strides in sustainability and safety, creating a constant flow of new information for product content and usage. This new information is often not discussed or utilized in the entertainment industry. This session will go over how to investigate common products and processes used in a shop, evaluate them for human and planet sustainability, and then replace them with an equivalent product or process if necessary. We will cover where to find information (i.e., Safety Data Sheets), how to recognize dangerous/false marketing information, and ultimately how to make your shop a safe work environment for people and the planet while not compromising on production quality.