Nominate a 'Rising Star' for Theatrical Design Award

USITT is seeking nominations for the 2018 Rising Star Award sponsored by LDI/Live Design. The award honors early-career professional designers in lighting, sound, scenic, or projection for outstanding work in one or more of these fields.

The winner receives a $1,000 cash prize, recognition at USITT 2018 in Fort Lauderdale, FL, free registration to the event, and a free one-year membership to USITT.

Nominees must be in the first four years of professional, non-academic work following completion of their highest degree. The deadline to nominate is November 30. Nominate here.

The designer selected as the 2018 Rising Star will receive the award at USITTs 2018 Annual Conference & Stage Expo March 14-17 in Fort Lauderdale. LDI/Live Design sponsors the $1,000 prize and USITT provides Conference registration and membership.

Past Rising Star winners include: scenic, projection, and lighting designer Bryce Cutler (2016); sound designer, Janie Bullard (2014), who assisted on Broadway's Hand to God; projection designer Daniel Brodie (2011), whose Broadway credits include Motown The Musical, and Justin Townsend (2006), who received two 2016 Tony Award nominations: in lighting design for the musical American Psycho and for the play The Humans; and the 2015 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Lighting Design.

"Rising Star singles out a designer who is demonstrating excellence early in their career," said USITT Executive Director David Grindle. "We feel this award is a predictor of future success, as it spotlights young professionals whose work is gaining notice in the area where they practice."

"We really want to encourage professors and mentors to nominate young designers who are a few years out of school, and who have gotten a good start to their professional careers," states David Johnson, Managing Director for LDI/Live Design.

"The list of past winners is very impressive and we are very proud of them all, as they have all met with success in their various disciplines. For us, the Rising Star Award is a great way to encourage the next generation of designers to excel."

USITT, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, is a national non-profit association for the live entertainment production industry. It provides hands-on learning, mentorship, and networking opportunities for emerging and working professionals in the backstage arts. Its Annual Conference and Stage Expo is the only complete production event in North America, featuring over 250 training sessions and 280 exhibitors of the latest tools and resources for creating live entertainment. More information is available at usitt.org.

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