BUS STOP Photo Album

I took over 60 photos during the final dress rehearsal on Wednesday, September 10. A total of 54 images were selected and posted to Facebook. Click the image below to access the Bus Stop photo album (account/login not required to view photos):

William Inge's BUS STOP is Still Relevant at Montgomery Theater

Naila Francis of the Burlington County Times writes that "Inge’s ‘Bus Stop’ still speaks to our times." The writeup, which appears on PhillyBurbs.com, makes no mention of my sound design in the show, but it does use one of my photos. Click for the full story:

Inge’s ‘Bus Stop’ still speaks to our times

Montgomery Theater's production of "Bus Stop" opened on Friday, September 11, and continues through Saturday, October 3. For ticket information, visit the theater's website.

Robots Take the Stage!

I'm a little behind on this news, but plasticpals.com clued me in regarding a few instances of robots on stage. No, this is not about robotic actors -- and we all know a few of those. This is about actual robots, taking the stage and interacting with humans.

Check out the full article: Robots Break A Leg On Stage.

Wakamaru, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ household robot, in a
20 minute play at Osaka University (November 2008)

Long Time, No Posts

Looks like I took a nearly three month break from posting here. My apologies to anyone who stopped by looking for new content or links, and a promise to do better. Starting now.

Sustainable Design: Styro Light

This is one of the coolest bits of recycling in the theater I have ever seen. Check out Jim On Light for Styro Light - Apple’s Packaging Put to A Second Use.

Lighting Fixture Made from Styrofoam Packaging Corners (Photo: Jim On Light)

What is Lighting Design in the 21st Century?

Rob Sayer has a new post over at On Stage Lighting: Lighting Designer for the 21st Century.

In this insightful piece, Rob lays out the differences between traditional (theater) lighting design -- you know, the kind you were trained to do -- and everything else (as represented by weekend rock festivals, industry expos, and award ceremonies such as the “UK Sausage Growers Quarterly Awards 2009”). It's not just the scenarios that are different; this bold new area of lighting, ahem, design requires a completely different mindset.

Web Savvy Theater: The diy web hub Interview with Nick Keenan

To paraphrase diy's words: Nick is someone who is really working on something other than the web (i.e., theater) but finds himself learning more and more about web work in order to get things done.

For more on how he balances that, and what he has learned, read the full interview here.

Nick is right on the mark when he indicates how critical it is to maintain a web presence as an alternate way of convincing audiences to come see our work.

Farewell Captain Chaos

Dom DeLuise is gone at age 75
http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE5444X920090505

Article: Theaters' worst acts take place in the seats

John Moore, Denver Post theater critic, writes about people who have "lost that synapse that once might have reminded them, 'Psst: You're in public! . . . Put on some pants!'"

Read the sadly humorous gripe yourself: Theaters' worst acts take place in the seats

Five-Armed Turntable

This is a prepared turntable, designed by Yuri Suzuki (2008), that is used to actively compose and play music. The LP, though round, plays music in a linear fashion -- it starts at one point and plays through to another. With five individually controlled arms, you have the possibility for looping and accompaniment within the same set of music. Very interesting! Analog FTW!

Hat tip to Everyday Listening (via twitter).