Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 2007 - 5

from the

editor

This issue really demonstrates the mix of articles that the associate editors and I like to have in TD&T.
First, we have some highlights of the events that took
place during the USITT Conference & Stage Expo. We realize
many members can't attend every conference and while we
can't possibly cover even a tiny fraction of the workshops,
seminars, speeches, awards ceremonies, exhibitions, and
displays of new products each conference offers, some things
are important to have for the record. In this issue are the
Keynote Address by David Ira Goldstein, artistic director of
Arizona Theatre Company, and the six exhibits in Tech Expo 2007 singled-out for the outstanding
ways they demonstrated the process of problem solving.
Next we regularly have in-depth profiles of working designers. In this issue Janet Rose looks at
the amazing career of Robert Peterson, the lighting designer at Oregon Shakespeare Festival. After
over thirty years as its lighting director, having designed all but two of the Shakespeare canon, Peterson still finds time to regularly design plays, dances, and concerts outside the Festival, and to run a
rental company that supplies equipment to theatres all over the West Coast.
TD&T is unique in the way we pay close attention to the history of design and technology. In this
issue are two wonderful examples of this attention. Jarka Burian, who died in August of 2005, left us
an unpublished article about the interesting scenographic similarities among three historic productions of Hamlet. Also, Frank Mohler returns to his particular expertise, theatrical spectacle during
the Baroque and Renaissance, to update us on the latest archival and archeological research being
done in the court theatre at Cˇ esk y´ Krumlov.
While we don't cover workplace issues as much as some other topics, TD&T is proud to have
published some landmark studies over the years. In this issue, the topic of overwork, and the danger
of succumbing to a disorder known as workaholism, is thoroughly looked into by Luis Ramirez and
Shari Watterston Ellsworth.
Our final article combines two interests that overlap to include just about the whole membership: the activities of fellow theatre practitioners in countries other than the U.S. and educational
techniques and methods. John Hofland and Sam Schroeder visited one of the finest theatre training
schools in the former Soviet Union and in this issue report back on their interesting findings. -dr

THEATRE
DESIGN &
TECHNOLOGY
T he peer-review jour nal
for design, production and
technolog y professionals
in the perfor ming arts and
entertainment industr y.

EDITORIAL OFFICE
DAVID RODGER
Editor

DEBORAH HAZLETT
Art Director
*
3001 Springcrest Dr.
Louisville, KY 40241-2755
502-426-1211 fax: 502-423-7467
e-mail: TDT@broadwaypress.com

ASSOCIATE EDITORS
RAYMOND KENT
Architecture

PEGGY ROSEFELDT
Costume Design & Technology

PATRICK M. FINELLI
Computers & Software

WILLIAM KENYON
Education

JERRY GORRELL
Engineering

DAVID C. GLOWACKI
Health & Safety

RICHARD DEVIN
Lighting Design

RICHARD PETERSON
Management

ROBERT L. SMITH & HEIDI HOFFER
Scenic Design

DAVE TOSTI-LANE
Sound Design

BILL BROWNING
Technical Production

ARNOLD WENGROW
Book Reviews

WILLIAM J. BYRNES
Inside USITT

U S I T T M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T
United States Institute for Theatre Technology is the association of design, production and technology professionals in the
performing arts and entertainment industry. Founded in 1960, the Institute's unique mission is to actively promote the
advancement of the knowledge and skills of its members.
USITT's volunteer members and staff work together to fulfill the mission by: promoting research, innovation and
creativity by sponsoring projects, programs and symposia; disseminating information about aesthetic and technological
developments; providing opportunities for professional contacts and networking; producing the USITT Annual Conference
& Stage Expo; participating in the development of industry standards; promoting and sponsoring international alliances
and activities; advocating safe, efficient and ethical practices; sponsoring exhibits of scenery, costumes, lighting, sound,
stage technology and architectural designs; recognizing excellence and significant contributions in the performing arts
and entertainment industry.
Statements and opinions expressed in articles or editorials in TD&T are the expressions of the individual contributors and do
not necessarily represent the policies or opinions of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc. Advertisements
appearing in this publication are the sole responsibility of the advertiser.
TD&T (ISSN 1052-6765) is published five times a year-Winter, Spring, Summer, Special Issue, and Fall-by United States
Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc., 6443 Ridings Road, Syracuse, NY 13206-1111. Subscription to TD&T, also known as
Theatre Design & Technology, is a benefit of USITT membership. Fourteen dollars is deducted from membership dues to
cover cost of publication. Periodicals postage paid at Syracuse, NY and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to TD&T, c/o USITT, 6443 Ridings Road, Syracuse, NY 13206-1111. COPYRIGHT © 2007 by United States Institute
for Theatre Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without
permission.

THEATRE

DESIGN

TECHNOLOGY
SPRING

2007

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
ARNOLD ARONSON * ERIC FIELDING *
SARAH NASH GATES * JOEL E. RUBIN *
BEEB SALZER * DELBERT UNRUH * TOM
WATSON * ARNOLD WENGROW

ADVERTISING
MICHELLE L. SMITH
Membership & Ad Sales Manager
*
6443 Ridings Road
Syracuse, NY 13206-1111
800-93USITT / 315-463-6463
fax: 866-FXUSITT / 315-463-6525
e-mail: michelle@office.usitt.org

INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATION
USITT is the United States Center of OISTAT: The
International Organization of Scenographers,
Theatre Architects and Technicians.

http://ce.usitt.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 2007