TECHnically Speaking

On this week’s episode we’re chatting with 2023 USITT Scene Design Award Sponsored by Rose Brand winner, Mia Irwin. We talked with Mia about her award win, her paint work on over 50 productions, her creative process, and more. Click here to learn more about Mia and the USITT Scene Design Award Sponsored by Rose Brand . All episodes of our USITT23 series were recorded over the span of four days at...

On this week’s episode of TECHnically Speaking: USITT23 Series, we are joined by 2023 Rising Star Award winner and video designer Adam J. Thompson! We chatted about digital design, his passion for interactive and responsive design environments, and his work with The Deconstructive Theatre Project. Adam J. Thompson is a video and graphic designer working in in film, television, theatre, and digital...

On this week’s episode we chatted with 2023 Barbara Matera Award for Costume Making winner, Emma Dickerson. We talked about her award win, her work for television, fil, and Broadway, what she loves about the build and design process, and more. Click here to learn more about Emma and the Barbara Matera Award for Costume Making . All episodes of our USITT23 series were recorded over the span of four...

This week we’re getting an inside look at what it takes to create a book for the live entertainment industry. Stage manager, USITT Board member, and co-author of The Production Manager’s Toolkit Cary Gillett discusses how the book idea came to life, the thoughtful changes that came with the second edition, and why this book’s existence is important for the industry. Cary Gillett has worked as a pr...

On this week’s episode we chatted with 2023 YDMT KM Fabrics, Inc. Technical Production Award winner, Mia Sara Haiman! We discussed her work both regionally and abroad, industry challenges she’s faced, her biggest win, and more. Click here to learn more about Mia Sara Haiman and the YDMT KM Fabrics, Inc. Technical Production Award . All episodes of our USITT23 series were recorded over the span of...

Join us this week as we chat with our 2023 Joel E. Rubin Founder’s Award winner, Elynmarie Kazle. On this episode we discuss Elynmarie’s long history with USITT, her favorite programs she’s been a part of, and why winning this particular award is so special to her. Click here to learn more about Elynmarie and the Joel E. Rubin Founder's Award . All episodes of our USITT23 series were recorded over...

*Please note that the audio from 00:36 to 1:10 is lower in volume. This is remedied at 1:10 and does not last for the entirety of the episode.* Join us this week for our exhibitor “minisode” featuring Ramzi Shakra of Epson and Jim Hinz of Show Sage — two of our USITT23 exhibitors! We discussed their perspectives on what makes USITT a great show for exhibitors, what keeps them coming back to USITT,...

This week we're joined by costume designer, director, Distinguished Professor of Theatre and Dance at UC San Diego, and our 2023 Distinguished Achievement Award (DAA) for education winner, Judith Dolan. We chatted about her award win, where her passion and style of teaching stems from, what her hopes for the industry are, and what's up next for the designer. All episodes of our USITT23 series were...

On this episode of our USITT23 series, we’re featuring 2023 exhibitor Tyler DeLong of DeLong Rigging Solutions. Click below to hear us chat about upcoming updates to their successful and free One Shot Training and get the lowdown on some of their current projects Click here to experience One Shot Training . Click here to learn more about DeLong Rigging Solutions . All episodes of our USITT23 serie...

Join us this week as Jay Sheehan talks about The Production Manager’s Toolkit’s second edition, co-written with production and stage manager, Cary Gillett. We chatted about its industry importance, what to expect from this new edition, and how USITT played a role in its creation. Click here to purchase The Production Manager's Toolkit ! Click here to listen to our USITT22 series episode with Jay ....

TECHnically Speaking is back and we're kicking off our return with the first episode of our USITT23 series featuring our new Executive Director, Laura Lee Everett! Join us as Laura Lee talks about her vision for the Institute, ideas for membership, and how her relationship with USITT has grown over the last 10 years. To learn even more about Laura Lee, click here . All episodes of our USITT23 seri...

Stay Tuned! Our TECHnically Speaking podcast returns NEXT FRIDAY with our USITT23 series. These new episodes feature USITT Executive Director Laura Lee Everett, 2023 award winners, members, exhibitors, and more!

Join us for this week’s episode with Rachel Stiles of Stage Creatives Network as we talk all things industry networking. Want to improve your resume? Need to perfect your pitch? Interested in more than one facet of the industry? We chatted about it all! Rachel Stiles is a union member, makeup/wig artist, dresser, and industry/career coach residing between Milwaukee and Chicago. She is passionate a...

We’re back! Join us for this week’s podcast episode where we’re joined by Opera in the Ozarks’ costume designer, Kim Welborn. We chatted with Kim about her work on Opera in the Ozarks' recent re-envisioned production of The Magic Flute. What makes it re-envisioned? Its eco-conscious spin to the storyline and costumes constructed one hundred percent using trash and recycled materials! Go to https:/...

This podcast was recorded on the show floor of USITT22 at Studio USITT in partnership with AKG by Harman. On this week’s episode we sat down with Distinguished Achievement Award for Education winner, Dick Block. Dick Block began his career as an educator over four decades ago after receiving his degree at Northwestern University and has been privileged to have had amazing students over the years....

This podcast was recorded on the show floor of USITT22 at Studio USITT in partnership with AKG by Harman. On this week’s episode we sat down with sound designer and 2022 Distinguished Achievement Award for Sound winner, Michael Hooker. We chatted with Michael about his long legacy and involvement with USITT, themed entertainment work, his experience as an educator, and much more. Michael K. Hooker...

This podcast was recorded on the show floor of USITT22 at Studio USITT in partnership with AKG by Harman. On this week’s episode, we sat down with 2022 YDMT winner of the Zelma H. Weisfeld Costume Design & Technology Award, Zhang Yu. Zhang Yu is a costume designer with professional experience in theater, opera, musical, dance and Chinese traditional opera. Deeply rooted in his diverse background a...

This podcast was recorded on the show floor of USITT22 at Studio USITT in partnership with AKG by Harman. On this week’s episode, we sat down with 2022 YDMT winner of the USITT Scene Design Award Sponsored by Rose Brand, Kevin Lee McBee. We chatted about his work on and off the traditional stage, both in theme parks and museums, as well as his design inspirations and industry passions More about K...

This week’s episode features USITT’s own Jody Harris! Jody joined the USITT team three years ago as our meeting planner and has most recently become our Director of Sales and Events. We chatted about her new role, future goals for the Institute, and what her growth within USITT means for our membership and Conference TECHnically Speaking is a public service of USITT, which seeks to have a broad co...

This podcast was recorded on the show floor of USITT22 at Studio USITT in partnership with AKG by Harman. On this week’s episode, we sat down with 2022 YDMT winner of the KM Fabrics Technical production Award, Cam Camden. At the time of recording, Cam was a fourth-year MFA Candidate in the Technical Design & Production Program at the newly renamed David Geffen School of Drama at Yale. Cam graduate...

This podcast was recorded on the show floor of USITT22 at Studio USITT in partnership with AKG by Harman. On this week’s episode, we sat down with 2022 YDMT winner of the 2022 Barbizon Lighting Company Jonathan Resnick Lighting Design Award, Denisse Chavez. Denisse received her B.A. in Theatre Arts from The University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. She has had the opportunity to work...

This podcast was recorded on the show floor of USITT22 at Studio USITT in partnership with AKG by Harman. On this week’s episode, we sat down with 2022 with creator of the upcoming USITT curated conversations web series, "Success Stories," Caitlyn Garrity. USITT is launching the curated conversation web series “Success Stories”, to begin in July. By focusing on theatre operation success stories, t...

This podcast was recorded on the show floor of USITT22 at Studio USITT in partnership with AKG by Harman. On this week’s episode, we sat down with 2022 YDMT winner of the USITT Stage Management Award Sarah Bauch. Sarah fell in love with stage management at fourteen-years-old when she stumbled on to the job at her high school and has never looked back since. She continued her stage management educa...

This podcast was recorded on the show floor of USITT22 at Studio USITT in partnership with AKG by Harman. On this week’s episode, we sat down with 2022 YDMT winner of the Bernhard R. Works Master Crafts Award, Riley Lathrom. Riley is a graduating undergrad senior BFA Design Technology and Stage Management with an emphasis is Scenic Design at Missouri State University. Her credits include being the...

This podcast was recorded on the show floor of USITT22 at Studio USITT in partnership with AKG by Harman. On this week’s episode, we sat down with 2022 YDMT winner of the Richard Hay Undergraduate Scene Design Award, Maggie Nelson. Maggie has been scenic designing professionally for three years, and scenic painting for six. Her most recent work has been at Hope Summer Repertory Theatre’s 2021 outd...