Innovation Gallery & Stage to Showcase Cutting-Edge Entertainment Technology at USITT's 2014 Conference, 3/26-29

Eleven cutting-edge entertainment technology companies will present their latest breakthroughs - from tiny gobos to compact audio monitors, to 3-D design software to LED tape - at USITT's Innovation Gallery & Stage, part of USITT's 2014 Annual Conference & Stage Expo March 26-29 in Fort Worth.

The Innovation Gallery & Stage is among this year's featured offerings, including:

- an International Pavilion where live entertainment associations from other countries share space and interact;
- Watch Them Work, a drawing/drafting/rendering station where attendees can see the likes of set designer Eugene Lee and artist Jim Bakkom stop by to sketch;
- Sound Lab, an interactive design experience that will feature live sound mixing with state-of-the art audio products for on-site bands in Fort Worth, and
Scenic Artist Showcase, a giant display of stage backdrops created by scene-painters around the world.

Innovation Gallery & Stage debuted at USITT 2013 to showcase the newest technology at Stage Expo. It's an exhibit where attendees can examine and learn about the latest products, and an adjacent stage where manufacturers give 20-minute presentations demonstrating their innovations.

The Innovation Stage events will be held at times that don't conflict with the Conference's 200-plus educational sessions, events, and activities. A schedule of all events can be found at www.usitt.org and the USITT 2014 mobile app.

USITT, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, is the national association for training, networking, information, and product resourcing for the performing arts and entertainment industry.

Over 5,000 people are expected to attend its four-day Conference & Stage Expo, to take career-building workshops and continuing education sessions, attend award ceremonies and design and tech competitions, network with peers and rub shoulders with backstage stars like SNL and Wicked set designer Eugene Lee, Hollywood costume designer Ann Roth, and SIM Sound Designer Bob McCarthy.

The advances being unveiled at Innovation Stage include Darklight's Gantam series of brilliant gobos that fit in the palm of a hand; German Lighting Products' Impression Spot One, the world's first high-powered RGB LED automated spot fixture; Nemetschek Vectorworks' Spotlight 2014 Software, the gold standard for CAD software in entertainment design, and Elipsis Audio's Bebè, a small monitor that's no "baby" when it comes to power.

Enttec Americas, RC4 Wireless, Mega Systems Inc., Alcons Audio, Creative Conners, Eilon Engineering, and City Theatrical also will be introducing new creations.

For more on USITT Innovation Gallery & Stage, go to www.usitt.org/innovation_2014. For more on the USITT 2014 Conference & Stage Expo, visit www.usitt.org/2014.

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