Fredonia, N.Y. — September 17, 2008 — Nearly 100 theatre faculty, students and industry professionals were on hand Sat., Sept. 13 at the Rockefeller Arts Center on the SUNY Fredonia campus for the annual “Fall Fling,” a conference of the Upstate New York Section of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT). The event, a co-production of Fredonia’s Department of Theatre and Dance and its Office of Environmental Health and Safety, was the result of nearly six months of planning by Stephen E. Rees, Chair of the Dept. of Theatre and Dance, and Anne Podolak, Director of Fredonia’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety.
Highlighting the morning’s activities were a series of informative sessions on a variety of technical production topics presented by Theatre and Dance faculty. Included were demonstrations of computer lighting control for automated stage fixtures by resident lighting designer Todd Proffitt; the use of Apple’s iPod as a research tool for costuming, as well as a session on costume silhouettes by costume designer Dixon Reynolds; development of computerized 3-D “walk-through” models for scenic designs by Gregory Kaye; and the use of video for projected theatrical scenery by Scene Shop Supervisor, Sean Culligan. Additionally, approximately 25 Theatrical Production and Design majors from the Department of Theatre and Dance provided hospitality and tours to visiting participants.
The afternoon session was a workshop on safe working practices in the theatre industry, presented by Bill Sapsis, president of Sapsis Rigging, Inc. of Lansdowne, Pa. Sapsis, a professional stage rigger for theatre and concert venues, as well as a trainer for the Entertainment Technician Certification Program, is recognized internationally as one of the leading experts in stage rigging safety and training. He is known as well for numerous specialty rigging installations including many New York City fashion design events during Fashion Week. He has also been responsible for the installation of White House Christmas wreathes for several administrations.
His four-hour session concentrated on such crucial aspects of theatrical safety as fall protection, interpersonal communication, hardware selection and equipment maintenance, as well as compliance with the variety of codes and mandates that regulate the entertainment industry. His presence was the result of a coordinated effort in obtaining a grant and other funding by Ms. Podolak, whose efforts also brought a number of Environmental Health and Safety professionals from other western New York colleges to share in the information not commonly known by that sector.
The majority of Sapsis’ audience was college students from a number of Upstate New York public and private colleges and universities who are training for careers in the entertainment industry. Most will eventually encounter the variety of risk situations Mr. Sapsis discussed. Noted for his wit, he pressed home important safety information for all in attendance.
At a brief meeting of the Upstate Section membership, Section Chair Trish Ralph, Scene and Lighting designer at SUNY Brockport, announced upcoming events at SUNY Oswego in January and at the University of Buffalo in mid-April. She was joined by Vice-Chair, Johan Godwaldt and Secretary Kitty Macie, both of SUNY-Oswego, and Treasurer Don Guido of SUNY Binghamton. A drawing for a variety of USITT “swag” was held with the main prize being a pre-paid $200 student registration for the annual USITT conference to be held in Cincinnati, Ohio in March 2009. This prize, presented by Michael Mehler, Vice President for Programming and Conferences of USITT and Scene Designer for Allegany College in Meadville, Pa., was claimed by Ms. Laura High of Nazareth College, who promptly gifted the award to a fellow student, Becca Pickett.
