Hello all,

I know, I know, it's been a while since the last issue of Prop News. I
apologize profusely (and hope that all of you actually noticed its
absence.) I've been a bit busy the last few weeks. I have just moved
to NYC and started a new job doing web design. I'm sorry to say
that my weekly writing duties kind of fell by the wayside. But now
that I'm settling in to my new digs in Queens, I hope to get back to
the weekly schedule. This begs the question: are there any New
Yorkers out there reading this newsletter? Drop me a line if you are.
I'd like to make some personal contacts in the NYC prop community.

Next week's issue will continue my series of articles on stage
firearms in regional theatre, but for now, please take note of the
news regarding USITT.

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In this issue:
1. A USITT Update

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>A USITT Update

The following info is courtesy of John Lavarnway, prop master at
Wright State University and the USITT Vice-Chair for Props:

Here is some news about the up-coming USITT convention in Long
Beach, CA, next March 2001. The biggest news is that we have
gotten approval for a Professional Development Workshop for props
called "Molding and Casting with Thurston James." This will be a
two day workshop of three hours each day with Thurston and I
hope to have a field trip to a major casting and molding studio like
Stan Winston's creature shop or similiar. [Editor's note: Woo hoo!]
The PDW will be at the UC Long beach scene shop and will take 10
participants and 15 observers. It will cover casting in alginate and
neoprene as well as casting the hand. I am very excited to have this
opportunity to meet with Thurston and learn from him. I hope he
will go out with the group for a beer afterwards.

The other workshops for props include creating paper products and
graphics on the computer, safely handling open flame and pyro on
stage, and another workshop on using the computer to catalogue
prop inventory and network with other prop masters. So these
workshops plus the PDW (which props hasn't had for years) aren't
bad. I don't know what costumes or tech direction has to offer yet
but they usually have something for the props person to attend.

There is also going to be the Tech Expo display so, "all conference
participants will be able to see creative solutions to production
challenges in the areas of costumes. properties, lighting, painting,
and theater mechanics." Each entrant is responsible for providing
their own display but USITT will assist and include the display in
the popular Tech Expo catalogue. An application form can be
gotten at the USITT web site or in Sitelines.

I am also looking for ideas for sessions for 2002 to be held in New
Orleans. Specifically, sessions that are "crossovers" to other areas
like Tech Direction or costumes. Since props crosses over many
diciplines, we can get more out of USITT if we can encourage other
commisions to do sessions on topics that are of mutual interest,
such as the making of felt armour last year or doing a session on
servos, small motors and solonoids with tech. Until we can get our
own comission for props, I think that this is the best way to
maximize our involvement in USITT. So please everyone give
this some thought.

The last item I want to put forward is that I am just now working on
creating an award for props, like the other awards given out at the
banquet. This is just in the initial planning stages and I have only
talked informally with the scene design commision but instead of a
boring old plaque, I would like to have our prop artisans from
across the country (and Canada) create a statuette to look like an
older guy with a beard and over-alls and call this award "The
Thurston." I have talked to Thurston about it and he has given me
permission to pursue this. This is still preliminary work and I have
not gotten it approved by USITT, but I do want to know what
everyone thinks about this. It would be great to have people make
this statuette as part of a contest that would be posted on this site.
I would like the award to honor individuals that have made a
significant contribution to the prop community. I really want
people's input on what this award should be as I pursue this with
USITT. I can be contacted at Jonel22@aol.com.

John Lavarnway
Prop Master
Wright State University
USITT Vice-Chair for Props

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Till next week!

Sean McArdle
Owner/Webmaster
http://PropPeople.com
propboy@proppeople.com

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Prop News : The PropPeople.com Newsletter Vol. 1, Issue 11 6/5/2000
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