Yale's 'Golden Hammer' Theatre Technology Award Winner Announced

Technical designer Daniel A. Perez, who will graduate from Yale University School of Drama in May, is the winner of the 2013 Frederick A. Buerki Golden Hammer Scenic Technology Award from USITT, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology. Perez helped engineer the flying pink cotton candy cloud that Katy Perry sailed over the audience in her 2011 California Dreams tour, and designed the stage rigging system for Chaplin the Musical on Broadway this past September, among other work.

He is among nine winners of 2013 USITT Awards for Young Designers & Technicians in the Performing Arts, which include the scenic design award. The 2013 YD&T awards will be presented in a special ceremony at USITT's Annual Conference & Stage Expo in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 20?23, which draws 5,000 people from the world of theatrical design. Perez, a native of Miami, Florida, receives his Master of Fine Arts degree from Yale School of Drama in May. He received his bachelor's degree in civil engineering and theatre arts from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2010.

Perez was nominated for the Golden Hammer Award by Ben Sammler, Chair of Yale School of Drama's Technical Design and Production program. The awards are held annually by USITT, the national association for performing arts design and technology professionals. Nine awards sponsored by industry leaders honor young designers and technicians in the areas of production, sound, lighting, costumes, makeup, stage management, set design and theatre technology. Winners are nominated by USITT members and chosen by a panel of experts in each field. Perez submitted a resume, essay, letters of recommendation and a portfolio of his work to the scenic technology panel.

Perez will receive a $1,000 cash prize and free registration to the USITT Conference in March.