High School performers from across the country perform in The Jimmy Awards opening number

NEW YORK and PITTSBURGH—Nederlander Alliances, LLC and Pittsburgh CLO, co-producers and founding partners of The National High School Musical Theater Awards, presented the first annual Jimmy Awards in a ceremony held Monday night at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, New York University.  The awards show was hosted by television and theatre personality Kathie Lee Gifford.  Awards were presented by multiple Tony Award-winner Tommy Tune (The Will Rogers Follies, Grand Hotel); Broadway veterans Neil Haskell (9 to 5 the Musical, “So You Think You Can Dance” ); Norm Lewis (The Little Mermaid, Les Misérables); and Jason Tam (A Chorus Line, “One Life to Live”).

Some of the RJ Cyrano followspots. L-R: Milton Arnold – Head of Lighting, George Panait - Assistant Lighting Technical Manager, Mr Anwar - Esplanade Lighting Staff.

SINGAPORE—Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay in Singapore has added to its stock of Robert Juliat zoom profile lanterns with the recent acquisition of 16 Robert Juliat 711 SX2 2500W tungsten fixtures. The latest consignment was supplied to the Esplanade by Robert Juliat’s distributor, Total Solution Marketing Pte Ltd.

Helene Yorke and Marcie Dodd in the touring production of Wicked

HILLSIDE, NJ—As a staple on Broadway, Wireworks Corporation was cast to provide fiber-optic cabling for the hit show, Wicked, on its second North American tour. Wireworks digital cable assemblies and custom interface panels were instrumental to the road show, making it the first production of Wicked to be equipped with a fiber-optic audio distribution system.

CHICAGO—Schuler Shook Theatre Planners has been appointed the theatre planning consultants for the renovation of Hamer Hall at The Arts Centre in Melbourne, Australia. The AUD$128.5 million redevelopment of Hamer Hall is part of a larger revitalization project for The Arts Centre and the first step in the Southbank Cultural Precinct Redevelopment plan.

PASADENA, CA—The Pasadena Playhouse Board of Directors (Board Chairman Michele Dedeaux Engemann and Vice-Chairman Sheila Grether-Marion) have named Stephen Eich Executive Director of the Pasadena Playhouse.  Eich will assume his new position on July 1, 2009. As Executive Director, Eich, in partnership with Artistic Director Sheldon Epps, will manage all business and administrative functions of the Playhouse.  He will work closely with the Board and staff to continue to increase the theatre’s capital to assure the Playhouse’s growth and ongoing success.

NEW YORK—The Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) will launch practice exams for the Rigger–Arena, Rigger–Theatre and Entertainment Electrician certification exams on July 15, 2009. The web-based practice exams will consist of 50 questions and are available from that date forward for $35 at www.goamp.com. Candidates should go to the “Candidates” and then follow the menu to ETCP where can choose one of the three exams.

NEW YORK—The ESTA Foundation has launched eSET, a web-based source for essential terminology used within the entertainment technology industry. From Lekos to Cheeseburgers, eSET cuts through the jargon and establishes clear terminology that will ensure better communication from region to region and person to person.

The Goboland Black Steel Collection Catalogue iPhone App

ANTWERP, Belgium—Glass and metal gobo specialist, Goboland, has released its full catalogue as a free App for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch. Named “Black Steel Gobo Catalogue 1.0" the App is available with immediate effect and can be downloaded, without charge, through iTunes or the Apple App Store.

SAN FRANCISCO—San Francisco Opera’s Opera at the Ballpark returned to AT&T Park on June 5 for a free simulcast of Tosca, setting a new ballpark attendance record for San Francisco Opera with an estimated 27,000 viewers. For its fourth simulcast, Bay Area rental house Pro Media / UltraSound turned to Meyer Sound products.