Three JSU students and a faculty member recently attended the annual conference and expo of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT). The students who journeyed to Milwaukee were Brodrick Whittley, senior theatre minor, Marquez Williams, senior theatre minor, and Jenilyn Saul, sophomore theatre major. They were accompanied by Patrick Benton, visiting assistant professor and interim technical director.
The conference featured dozens of meetings for every specialty skill in the industry. Whether in a classroom setting or at an evening social, the JSU delegation along with 5,000 other industry experts, educators, students and vendors found a forum to discuss pressing issues, learn solutions and network for the future. Some of the sessions that JSU representatives attended included: Stage Management Roundtable, People of Color Networking Project, Hands-On Makeup and Hair, Award Winning Sustainability in Scenic Design, and The Reality of Designing in New York.
The stage expo boasted the largest theatre-focused trade show floor in America. More than 200 companies presented the latest innovations in theatre technology and design from all over the world. The JSU students who attended were able to interview with potential employers such as Disney and Cirque du Soleil. They also had the opportunity to meet with representatives of advanced training programs such as the Savannah College of Art and Design, Yale School of Drama and the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas.
The 2013 conference marked the first time JSU was represented at USITT. The expression which was most frequently used to describe the experience was “Wow!” The students also expressed their deep gratitude to Dr. Mark Henderson, interim chair for Speech and Theatre, Dr. Lawrence Potter, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and the entire JSU administration who helped make their trip possible.
The JSU Department of Speech Communication and Theatre hopes to show even more students the myriad options available to them at the next USITT conference and expo which will take place March 26-29, 2014 in Fort Worth, TX.