Equity reports an 'enormous' rise in complaints of racism

Theatre | The Guardian: Equity, the UK trade union for creative practitioners, has seen a massive upsurge in cases of racism reported across the stage and screen industries. Paul Fleming, the union’s incoming general secretary, said the complaints raised by members include “dignity issues” and racist language used in dressing rooms and auditions.

National Negro Opera Co. Birthplace on Endangered List

Pittsburgh Magazine: A condemned house at 7101 Apple St. in Homewood that is the birthplace of the National Negro Opera Company was named today by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to its annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The designation could bring renewed efforts and funds to save the long-vacant and boarded-up Queen Anne house, built in 1894.

San Diego Opera plans drive-in 'La bohème' next month

The San Diego Union-Tribune: Determined to open its season with Puccini’s “La bohème” despite the pandemic, San Diego Opera will move out of the concert hall and into the parking lot next month to become one of the first professional opera companies in America to present a “drive-in” production.

People of color in Bay Area theater demand bold steps toward racial justice in online documents

Datebook: “We See You, White American Theatre.”

That’s the title of a document that appeared online following the death of George Floyd — and after theaters across the country started posting statements on social media in solidarity with Black Lives Matter.

Meet the Choreographic Interface Designer Who Brings Her Dance Knowledge to Google

Dance Magazine: Designer and choreographer Lauren Bedal has one of the most futuristic dance jobs out there. An Ohio State-trained dancer and dance-maker, she is a human-computer interaction designer. Bedal uses her dancerly expertise to help companies like Google think through how people move their bodies, and designs the choreography that we use to navigate our phones, computers, and other, still-emerging technologies.

Milwaukee Packout Racking Kit and Shelf

Pro Tool Reviews: Add one more to the pile of Packout announcements this month. The Milwaukee Packout Racking Kit and shelves add mounting points for attaching your Packout accessories to a wide variety of surfaces. With these in place, you can secure your tool storage while keeping your work vans, trucks, trailers, garages, and shops free from clutter.

A critic responds to criticism: on being mentioned in the 'Living Document'

Datebook: In June, when I first clicked on a link to “The Living Document of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) Experiences in Bay Area Theater”, I didn’t know what it was, just that a lot of theater artists I cared about were sharing it on social media, along with attestations to its importance.

Then, when I saw my name near the top, I started shaking uncontrollably.

2020 Fall Guide: Theater | Fall Guide

Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper: Enter the world of Stanley Onion, an ornery 115-year-old man with dementia, and Willy James, a rabbit-eared performance artist, in Dave English’s The Dragon of Polish Hill, the final production of New Hazlett Theater's 2020 Community Supported Art series. The theatrical virtual performance features English, president of the Puppetry Guild of Pittsburgh, known most recently for his outstanding performances as a conservative pig in "Clown vs Puppet" mock election debates, and Austin-based artist, songwriter, and puppeteer Will Schutze.

Klein Tools 93LCLG Self-Leveling Green Cross Line Laser with Plumb Spot

www.protoolreviews.com: Klein Tools has offered cross-line laser levels for several years, but the Klein Tools Self-Leveling Green Cross Line Laser Level with Red Plumb Spot is the company’s first with a green diode. Green lasers are nearly four times brighter than their red counterpart. Unfortunately, this also made them, until now at least, much more expensive. Klein’s done a remarkable job of including all the bells and whistles in a green laser level for under $200. We used it on a variety of layout projects and managed to hit most of the key features of this tool in the process!

'The bathroom conversations are now open': Bay Area artists react to call for change in theater

Datebook: If any white people were surprised by the depth and length of “The Living Document of BIPOC Experiences in Bay Area Theater,” local artists of color weren’t.

When actor, activist and teaching artist Lauren Spencer read the document, she thought, “I guess all the bathroom conversations are now open. So many incidents in that document I knew about.” It reminded her of the candid conversations she’s had often with fellow artists of color about racism in the industry, only now, not behind closed doors.

Why 'Six' plans to reopen in London this fall

Broadway News: As he looks to reopen “Six” in London this November, producer Kenny Wax has the advantage of having a small cast, an 80-minute show and relatively low running costs.

Still, working amid rising coronavirus infections and restrictions in the United Kingdom, Wax acknowledges there’s a possibility the production will be shut down. He’s choosing to move forward for one main reason.

Travels of a Scenic Artist and Scholar. Day 2 at The Tabor Opera House. September 22, 2020.

Drypigment.net: There is a variety of historic scenery tucked away in the attic at the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, Colorado. When the building was renovated, the stage was enlarged, and all of the original wings and shutters were carefully tucked away above the auditorium ceiling. This attic space was also once home to a few hotel rooms, divided by a central sky hall that allowed natural light for each room.

Coping With Covid

Sound & Video Contractor: The pandemic has hit the AV industry hard and we're writing the rulebook on how to deal with it as we go. At Monte Brothers in New York, they're designing and installing sound systems in a trying time. Steve Minozzi talks about using remote system maintenance and solutions to AV supply line issues to give his clients—especially churches.

Reginald Douglas and David Muse on how Studio Theatre is "doing the work"

DC Metro Theater Arts: The ground feels as if American theater might actually be shifting in the direction of change for Blacks, Indigenous people, and People of Color. Here in the DMV, Studio Theatre is grappling with what real change might actually look like—along with many other theaters locally and nationally.

Immersive Technologies: Digital Transformation of Theatre

Protocol: I'M SITTING AT MY LIGHTING DESK with my headphones on, listening to the Deputy Stage Manager stand-me-by for the first cue. The audience is waiting in the lobby, the house announcement has been made and they proceed into the first scene—a church. I'm an experienced board op with many years behind a lighting desk (although it has been a while), yet I still get the same first-night nerves I always do.

Effects of Recoil Forces From Large Scale Pyrotechnics on Entertainment Structures

Protocol: IN THE SPRING OF 2018, I was working on a pyrotechnics design for a large stadium tour and the usual questions were being asked: Where will the pyrotechnics devices be located? How high will the product go? What are the safety distances required? These are all standard questions for every pyrotechnic design. This project however posed some additional questions since the pyrotechnics were to be mounted high in the structure on horizontal spans, such as: How much does the gear weigh? How much recoil is generated by the functioning devices? The first question was easy to answer, but the question about recoil forces was not as easy, and required some experimentation to understand.

What Are Theatremakers Doing to Present Safe Productions?

Playbill: Six months into the COVID era, there are already multiple approaches to putting on a show without endangering performers, crew, or audiences.

A production of Godspell in New England adhered to strict Equity guidelines by submitting detailed health and safety plans. Elsewhere, Broadway artists—led by Tony-nominated director Michael Arden—went upstate to experiment with a variety of production techniques. And in the Bronx, teens at a JCC presented Rent: School Edition.

Here’s how theatre is evolving in this pandemic, proving that the show can—and will—go on.

The future of experiences, according to a theme park designer

www.fastcompany.com: Fri (pronounced “Free”) Forjindam is co-owner and chief development officer for Mycotoo, a global entertainment development and production agency that creates award-winning destinations, from theme parks and live events to museums and immersive brand experiences worldwide. She spoke to Doreen Lorenzo for Designing Women, a series of interviews with brilliant women in the design industry.

Dip Your Toe, But Probably Not The Time To Take The Plunge

Butts In the Seats: As I was driving into work today, I heard an NPR story about the 92nd St Y, an event/education space in NYC, and how they have gone virtual during Covid-19. According to NPR, in a typical year 92 Street Y has about 300,000 people participate in their events. In the last 6 months they have had over 3.4 million people engage with their virtual programming.

North Carolina Reopens Film, TV Production for Five Projects

Variety: North Carolina officials have approved a quintet of film and television projects to being filmed in the state as a part of its 25% rebate on production expenses, with shooting starting by the end of October.