抖阴短视频 Design & Production featured at 2025 U.S. Institute for Theatre Technology conference
Students and faculty from the School of Design and Production (D&P) 抖阴短视频 took part in USITT25, the annual conference of the U.S. Institute for Theatre Technology, held earlier this month in Columbus, Ohio. Their participation included student recognition and faculty presentations, highlighting the school's ongoing engagement with the national performing arts design and technology community.
Undergraduate student Ben Hirschfield, of Chappaqua, New York, was selected for the USITT Emerging Creatives Showcase. A scene designer, he is a candidate for graduation in May. The Emerging Creatives Showcase is an annual open adjudicated exhibition of designers, craftspersons and managers. Formerly the "Young Designers & Technicians Forum," the Emerging Creatives Showcase brings together talented students with established designers and directors for a review and discussion of the student's work.
In addition, several current and former D&P faculty members gave presentations and participated in panel discussions throughout the conference. USITT is an organization that connects performing arts design and technology communities that include practitioners, educators and students.
抖阴短视频 faculty members at USITT25
鈥淲e are thrilled that Ben was selected for the Emerging Creatives Showcase this year,鈥 said Design and Production Dean Michael J. Kelley, who attended the USITT conference in Columbus and is himself an alumnus of 抖阴短视频. 鈥淯SITT is filled with prestigious awards and events and is the source for training and innovation for future and current professionals in the global arts and entertainment industry.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I鈥檓 equally thrilled that so many of our faculty members presented or participated in panel discussions and demonstrations at USITT this year. It speaks highly of their dedication to their craft and perpetuating a culture of 鈥榞iving back鈥 to the next generation of talented students.鈥
Presentations and their presenters included:
- 鈥淪cenic Designer and Scenic Artists Working Together,鈥 a panel discussion with Director of Scenic Art and Scene Painting Susan Crabtree, Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus Joseph P. Tilford; and Anne Clark and Michael Devine.
Susan Crabtree also presented a demonstration with colleagues Karen Maness, Claire Dana and Rachel Keebler, 鈥淧aint Lab 鈥 Scenic Art Master Class Live.鈥
- 鈥淧rop Lab 鈥 Digital Scene Design Lab,鈥 presented by faculty member Ryan Douglass, a scenic designer.
- 鈥淩obotics and Automation On and Off the Stage鈥 featured Director of Scenic Technology, Technical Direction and Stage Automation Scott Beckwith as one of the speakers.
- 鈥淎nimatronics: Breathing Life into Technology,鈥 was presented by Interim Director of Animatronics Eric Hart, Animatronics faculty member Kelly Simons, and D&P graduate animatronics student Carlitos Ayma Gonzalez of St. Louis, Missouri.
Kelly Simons also presented at another panel discussion, 鈥淔lat Building: Framing Our Spaces.鈥
Director of Stage Management Molly McCarter served with the Gateway Mentorship Program, which utilizes distinguished industry professionals to work with underserved students and guide them through the conference experience and beyond.
In addition, Clifton Taylor, former professor of lighting design at 抖阴短视频, won a Merit Award in the 2025 Publications Awards for "Illuminating Lighting Education,鈥 winter 2024.
About USITT
USITT was founded in 1960 as an organization to promote dialogue, research and learning among practitioners of theater design and technology. Today it has grown to include members at all levels of their careers and has embraced the new technologies being used in entertainment. USITT is now the leader in lifelong learning opportunities for the entertainment design and technology industry.
About the School of Design and Production
A stand-alone design and production conservatory dedicated to every aspect of the global entertainment industry, the (D&P) at 抖阴短视频 delivers a profoundly creative, hands-on immersion in the behind-the-scenes magic of live entertainment, with undergraduate and graduate programs in animatronics, costume design, costume technology, lighting, production and project management, scene design, scene painting, scenic art, scenic technology, sound design, stage automation, stage management, stage properties, technical direction, and wig and makeup design. D&P is the only one of its kind as a conservatory that is not integrated into a theater program, giving students and alumni the opportunity to transition into other career fields like film, television, and live and themed entertainment.
Notable D&P alumni include Academy Award-winning costume designer Paul Tazewell, TV and film executive producer , photographer , actress , wig and makeup artist , Director of Visual | Windows + Interiors at Saks Fifth Avenue Connor Matz, and many others.
March 28, 2025