[Usittne] minutes from the BBQ

Sun Aug 27 22:33:04 EDT 2006

Minutes from the BBQ  August 26, 2006

Attendess:  Crystal Tiala, Clyde Tyndale, Ron Dallas, Janice Dallas, Keith Cornelius, Michael Cottom, Arthur Dirks, Bridgett Sullivan, Collette, Ed Hyatt, Anna Labykina.

Our officers for the upcoming year are:
Crystal Tiala – Chair –tiala at bc.edu                                                  since 1997
Ron Dallas – Secretary/Treasurer – ron at dallas-family.com             since…..forever
Michael Cottom – Vice Chair - mcottom at theater.umass.edu             since 2006
Mike Katz – Director of Communications – mkatz at mit.edu               since 2001       
Jeff Gardiner – Computer Communications – jeffg at erols.com          since 2001

Membership:  Ron Dallas has recently mailed the membership renewal forms.  Please be sure to remain a part of our organization and get others to join as well. J Membership information can be found at www.usittne.org     

Treasurer’s report:  We currently have about $4,500.  Our expenses are low each year and we can help sponsor events if people are willing to put them together.  

Web Site
Send event information to Jeff Gardiner at jeffg at erols.com       website:   www.usittne.org

American College Theater Festival  (www.kcactf1.org)   The design and technical component has grown significantly over the years.  We had approximately 50 student design entries last year and expect even more this year.  There is also a lot of new workshops for students and faculty.  If you haven’t seen KCACTF recently, you haven’t seen KCACTF at all.  The program for this coming year will be posted in early fall so you can see some of the up coming activities.  Students do not have to compete to enter.  For the cost of registration, you have access to see the design expo, participate in all workshops, meet industry reps, interview and audition, and see 5 of the best of the entered regional shows.  
USITT New England annually sponsors 2 events: the Technical Olympics and the Technical Innovation & Craftsmanship awards.  See KCACTF website above for information. 
1.     New events at KCACTF:
a.      New workshops are being added in rigging, costume sketching, creative sound design, production management, more hands-on moving light programming, model building, light design competition in the Lightbox model box to a short piece of music.  All of this is in addition to many activities already in place. 
b.     Tech Olympics moved to Friday afternoon
c.      Saturday will be an interviewing/audition day for grad schools, summer jobs and internships
d.     Rafael Jean will have book signing and talk about portfolios.
e.      Lots of hands on opportunities with theatrical equipment and toys. 
2.     Inviting design and tech faculty to display their projects at the Design Expo.  January 31st to February 3rd at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Leominster, MA.  To reserve a spot email tiala at bc.edu
3.     Get your students to come. They do not have to compete to participate.  
4.     If you want your show and its designers to compete nationally, sign up now. Rates go up September 25th.  Sign up for national entries through the national website at www.kcactf.org (click on:  register your production)
a.      When a show is entered the designers and the stage manager (students only) are automatically nominated to compete.  Respondents who come to the show only choose the actors.  
b.     You can enter a show after it is over if you only are entering designers and stage managers.  No respondents need to attend the performance for that. 
c.      Students must also register to attend the conference.  Rates are cheaper in advance.    http://www.kcactf1.org/Registration_Form_07.doc
5.     If students want to enter designs from a show or class on a regional level, there is a form to fill out to let us know you are entering.  http://www.kcactf1.org/design_tech_reg_entry_form.asp  (no fee for this but students must register for the festival to participate.) http://www.kcactf1.org/Registration_Form_07.doc
6.     There is also a Faculty Fellowship for the summer intensive.  See www.kcactf.org for information. You must be nominated through your regional Chair of Design and Technology. 

Tour the new Facility at Williams College:
Hold the date! On October 15th, 2006, Cosmo Catalano will lead a tour of the new theater complex at Williams College. We will start at 1pm.  The theater designed by William Rawn is a Merit winner of the USITT architecture awards.  Cosmo was involved full time in the design and construction of the building so we will have unique insights on the process from one of our own members. It should also be prime leaf peeping season, so hold the date & plan on converging in Williamstown in the fall for an exploration of the theater and a chance to get together and have a great time with friends & colleagues.
http://www.williams.edu/go/62center/project.php   for more info on the space.
Mike Katz    mkatz at mit.edu

REPA ‘07:  Reginal Entertainment, Production and Administration Job Expo ‘07
In progress. Probably February 24th.   Need volunteers for set up and strike.  
Last year was held the third week of February with 38 employers attending and close to 300 applicants. 
Faculty:  please encourage your students to attend.  It is free for applicants.  Detailed information can be found through StageSource at www.stagesource.org

New Business

Props Database:  
Keith mentioned that Alan Symonds was to be in charge of establishing the framework for a New England props database. In his absence we need a new head of the project.  Mike Katz was logically nominated and voted into the position.  He will establish the criteria and some means of creating accessible, searchable databases of area props storage for rental and borrowing.  (Mike, talk to Keith if you have questions.)

In remembrance of Alan Symonds
            Memorial service on Wednesday, November 1st at 3pm in the Agassiz Theater.  For more information call the Office of Fine Arts at 617-495-8676 or email ofa at fas.harvard.edu

 Thanks to all who attended.  It was  a lot of fun to talk to all of you.  

Toast to Alan Symonds.  

Crystal Tiala
tiala at mindspring.com
EarthLink Revolves Around You.
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