PCPA Theaterfest Receives USITT Lifetime Achievement Award

At this year's USITT (United States Institute of Technical Theatre) convention, the Thomas DeGaetani Award for the outstanding lifetime achievement and longtime contribution to the performing arts community was bestowed upon PCPA.

PCPA's Artistic Director, Mark Booher, in accepting the award said, "All of us at PCPA Theaterfest are extraordinarily honored by this award and very gratified for the recognition of the impact that the company and conservatory at PCPA has had on the California Central Coast and the field at large." The award was presented by USITT President Joe Aldridge on March 28.

USITT conferences are located at various venues across the country from year to year. The organization selects one regional theatre within the sphere of the conference to be recognized with this award. This year's conference was convened in Long Beach, March 28 - 31.

Past winners of this award - which is named in honor of USITT's first president, Thomas DeGaetani - have included the Denver Center, Old Globe, The Alley Theatre, Lyric Opera of Chicago.

USITT, with nearly 4,000 members nationwide, connects the performing arts design and technology communities. The members represent all segments of the design, management, production, and technology professionals in the performing arts and entertainment industry.  

The annual conference provides technical sessions, workshops, and discussions on topics from Architecture, Costume Design & Technology, Education, Engineering, Health & Safety, Lighting Design & Technology, Management, Scene Design & Technology, Sound Design & Technology, and Technical Production. 

This year's conference featured keynote address from Luis Valdez, the founder of El Teatro Campesino - The Farm workers theatre and founder of modern Chicano theatre and film. Valdez is best known for writing and directing La Bamba 1987 and Zoot Suit in 1981

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