USITT 2015 Offers 275 Sessions Including Fun, Frantic, 'Top Artist' Challenges

Entertainment artists who like designing on the fly - or watching a Chopped-style real-life challenge - will get their chance at USITT 2015 in Cincinnati. Among the 275 sessions, events, and activities at the Duke Energy Convention Center March 18-21 are several "game show" competitions asking designers to create on deadline.

The Hands-On Design & Technology Mystery Game Show Challenge is one of the biggest game-show-style costume design and technology challenges in the world! Open a mystery box and use what's inside to try and reach the finish line. Teams of designers and technicians of all levels collaborate and show off their skills for awards, displays, and lots of fun. Friday, March 20, 1-4 p.m.

The Rose Brand Student Action Design Competition assembles college students who sign up by Feb. 23 into teams composed of scenic designer, costume designer, lighting designer, and technical director, gives them a theme and 3.5 hours to design a scene in a 100-square-foot show floor space. Hear from a past participant and register by 2/23!

The USITT Guerilla Sound Challenge gives participants a short "stimulus" and four to five hours to create original audio for it. The sound designers can't use instruments or pre-recorded sounds, just portable recorders and laptops with editing programs. To participate, show up at Duke Center Room 263 at 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 20. The artists present their results at the Sound Design & Technology Reception 7-8:30 p.m. Friday.

Paint Lab & the Scenic Art Challenge debuted at USITT 2014 in Fort Worth and expands this year in Cincy. Paint Lab, on the Stage Expo floor, hosts several workshops leading up to the Scenic Art Challenge at 1 p.m. Friday, March 20. Students get a rendering, supplies, and four hours to create a painting. Observers are welcome. A panel of professionals will review the works Saturday, March 21. Students can sign up on-site starting Wednesday, March 18.

Tech Olympics brings teams of technical theatre students and their coaches from schools across the country to compete in a timed series of events designed to test their technical skills. Events include Costume Change, Knot Tying, Lighting Focus, Sound System Setup, Stage Manager Ground Plan, and more. Sign up on-site for the big event Friday, March 20, 7 to 10:15 p.m.

These lively competitions are just part of the excitement to be found at USITT 2015. Enjoy training sessions and expert discussions of every theatre tech discipline, the Tech Expo exhibit of creative solutions to stagecraft problems, and Light Lab, sponsored by Elation Lighting, offering hands-on experimentation with the latest lighting equipment in the main stage venue.

To search and view ALL 275 sessions, click here.

USITT, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, is the national non-profit serving the backstage community with year-round training, networking, and support. Its Annual Conference & Stage Expo attracts 5,000 people and over 260 exhibitors from the performing arts and live entertainment industry. For more info, visit www.usittshow.org.

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