The Field Template half-inch striplight placemat

SAN PEDRO, CA—Field Template has released their updated ½” Striplight Placemat, including templates for the latest fixtures. Along with the latest ETC Source 4 MultiPARs, it’s got all the latest LED’s: Selador, Color Kinetics, and the Altman Spectra-Cyc. The ½” Placemat also has the latest standards; the Aurora, Econo-Cyc, and Sky-Cyc, as well as PAR-56, PAR-38, R40, and MR-16. There are section cutouts for every fixture type, as well as three sets of circuitry symbols, two-fer dots, and a scenery bumper. This potent parcel of plastic will be available for the USITT convention in Kansas City.

For more info, visit www.fieldtemplate.com .

The cast of Memphis.

Studer puts their new software to the test on Memphis' Broadway run. 

Audio consoles were not designed to handle the cue-based structure of running a live Broadway-style show. They were built around reinforcing audio for a fairly static rock band with uniform, and not generally large, orchestrations. Sound designers and audio engineers have had to shoe-horn their needs into this model, inventing their own methods of working around the organization of a console and the extra work it entailed. Last year, though, console-maker Studer decided it was time for a change.

TheatreFace.com denizens discuss growing a lawn. 

I would like to cover my stage with fake/artificial/synthetic turf/lawn/grass for an upcoming production.  It’s a thrust stage with audience very close, looking down on the stage floor.  I’ll need about 600 square feet, so even $1/square foot seems too expensive.  Any suggestions for cheaper alternatives than AstroTurf or other commercially available turf?

The Audio-Technica BP892 mic with the new AT8464 Dual-Ear mount

STOW, OH—Audio-Technica is enhancing its BP892 MicroSet Subminiature Omnidirectional Condenser Headworn Microphone with the AT8464 Dual-Ear Microphone Mount. The high-SPL successor to Audio-Technica’s popular AT892, the BP892 offers increased dynamic range with maximum audio quality and minimum visibility. The Dual-Ear Mount allows users to convert their single-ear-worn BP892 MicroSet to a dual-ear-worn unit for maximum stability and comfort. This device will now come standard with all BP892 MicroSet units, and is also sold as a stand-alone item to retrofit BP892 and AT892 units already in the hands of end users.

Joseph Oshry in front of his design for Godspell at the Performing Arts Center in Tampa

A conversation with lighting designer Joseph Oshry

"Study the classical painters. Take art history classes” is the advice that lighting designer Joseph Oshry gives to young designers learning the craft. The rich textured looks he achieves owe a lot to painters Goya, Hopper and Seurat. In a telephone interview from his office in Bradenton, Fla., he explains, “I ask directors in design meetings which painter’s work best describes their vision for the project—their answer gives me a good starting point.”

Colin Chauce, lighting and scenic designer for ELEKTRA at SUNY-Fredonia during focus. Chris Swinn, one of the master electricians on the show is on the ladder.

In the world of live events, it takes countless man-hours to produce the show well before the curtain rises on opening night. Teams of designers, technicians, directors, managers, producers and event staff are all required to turn out that two- to three-hour production. Because production staff can be working from different offices or locations around town and sometimes around the world, tracking and communicating with the entire production team, let alone your department, can be tricky.

Before the personal computer revolution, almost all paperwork was either hand-written or typed, duplicated on carbon copies, and distributed to the necessary persons. Most times, after a meeting or run-throughs, paperwork had to be updated: re-written or re-typed, and re-carbon copied—a time-consuming and ungreen way to do things.

EWING, NJ—Gerriets, the theatrical equipment specialist, has expanded its Formtex product line by the new Formtex Basic. Formtex is a scenic product that combines the appearance of textile with the formable characteristics of aluminum sheeting. Normally Formtex, made of a 100-micron aluminum sheeting, has single- or double-sided lamination in five standard designs: canvas, granite, slate, moss and terracotta. The aluminum sheeting of Formtex Basic has a single sided or double-sided adhesive layer for customized lamination, allowing even more possibilities to model stage props of any shape or color. Formtex can be modeled, cut or sewn. The material can be printed or painted. Formtex is waterproof and flame retardant.

LEXINGTON, AL—SnowMasters Special Effects Studios’ Zig Oscillator is a low-cost solution to greater special effects coverage, designed to increase coverage of snow, bubbles, smoke, scent and more by up to 70%. The machine allows for easy attachment of special effects equipment to be mounted and oscillated up to 90 degrees, such as the SnowMasters T-1500 Mini Snow Zone machine (capable of sending snow in the air up to 50 feet). The Zig Oscillator incorporates a motorized rotating mount which is easy to attach to any SnowMasters standard hanging bracket. Three various degrees of show positions are available (15, 45 or 90), with a maximum rotation of 90 degrees.  The 4-Channel DMX control has variable standalone features. Available in 110V and for 220V countries use.

The Barco FQ-100

AUSTIN, TX—The Barco FQ-100 is a full-featured professional fog generator designed to meet the rigorous demands of the nightclub, theatrical and touring industries. The FQ-100 continues the tradition and benchmark set by High End Systems’ original F-100 fog generator. With the ability to produce any atmosphere from dense fog to fine mist, the new FQ-100 uses the Atmospheres Fog Generating fluid. This scientifically formulated fluid is specially designed to provide a dense, safe, water-based fog comprised of fine particulates. Users can select between two fluid types, allowing for either quick dissipation or lingering haze.

The rear of the Yamaha M7CL-48ES, showing off the integrated EtherSound interface, freeing up the card slots for other purposes.

BUENA PARK, CA—Yamaha Commercial Audio Systems, Inc. has announced a new addition to the M7CL digital console product line, the M7CL-48ES, available in the spring of 2010. The M7CL-48ES will use the SB168-ES remote stage box its main I/O interface, connecting via a single Cat5 cable. The new console includes a built-in EtherSound interface with a third port for PC control and monitoring, eight Omni Ins (Mic/Line), eight Omni Outs, and three MY card slots. The M7CL-48ES supports up to three SB168-ES stage boxes and, like the M7CL-48, can mix up to 48 mono plus 4 stereo inputs to 16 Mix Buses, 8 Matrix Outs, Stereo and Mono Outputs.  The new Stage Box Quick Set up feature provides plug-and-play connection of up to three SB168-ES units.