Professional Lighting & Production - Winter 2019 | Page 11

60 th USITT Conference & Stage Expo Heading to Houston
The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) is heading to Houston, TX for its
annual Conference & Stage Expo, now in its 60 th year, from April 1-4, 2020. USITT 2020 will bring
four days of education and networking for technical theatre and live entertainment profession-
als and students to the George R. Brown Convention Center.
More than 250 educational sessions, hands-on demos, and learning opportunities will be
available throughout the week. The 350 exhibitors will cover 52,000 sq. ft. of expo floor space
with their latest products and are available to answer questions from professionals roaming
the show. USITT is also bringing back the Dark Zone, where the lights are dimmed to allow
exhibitors to effectively show off their lighting, projections, and special effects. The Dark Zone
will host the Technology Stage while other areas of the expo will feature the Innovation Stage,
Collaboration Stage, and Design Stage.
For more information, go to www.usittshow.com.
Registration Open for 2020
New World Rigging
Symposium
Registration is now open for the 2020 New
World Rigging Symposium, which is taking
place March 31 st and April 1 st in Houston, TX
in conjunction with the USITT Conference &
Stage Expo. The event provides an opportunity
for riggers and those interested in the enter-
tainment rigging industry to network, discuss
current issues and new technologies, and help
shape the future of the industry.
Over the two days, participants will be
given a range of opportunities to further their
technical knowledge in sessions covering vid-
eo wall rigging, automation and motorization,
and tension grids. They’ll keep up-to-date with
codes and standards, get questions answered
by structural engineers, and learn about rig-
ging for cinema and performer flying.
Jeanette Farmer will deliver the keynote
address to open the symposium. Her career
spans more than three decades of professional
theatre technical support, show production,
concert/theatre lighting design, theatre design
consulting, and themed entertainment project
management.
For more information, go to
www.esta.org/nwrs.
Winter 2019 | 11