Professional Development Program for PLASA Focus: Baltimore Expands

With just over two weeks until the doors open at PLASA Focus: Baltimore 2014, organiser PLASA Events has confirmed new exhibitors and seminar speakers. The event is taking place at the Reitz Arena, Loyola University, Maryland on May 8 - 9, 2014.

The latest exhibitors to sign up include d&b audiotechnik, Ushio, A.C.T Lighting, Nemetschek Vectorworks, Stagemaker, Parlights, Robe Lighting, Neutrik, PixelFlex, Nicolaudie, Navigator Systems, Shadowstone, Look Solutions, Group One, Core Lighting, Applied Electronics, and Absen America, to name a few.

Five new sessions have been added to the Professional Development Program, a two-day program of free-to-attend educational seminars running alongside the event.

In "The National Theatre at 50 - Changing Stages" Richard Pilbrow will examine the changes on the way to today's stages, architecture, and theatre. Pilbrow, founder and chair emeritus of Theatre Project Consultants, is a pioneer of modern stage lighting and was retained by Lord Olivier to be theatre consultant to the National Theatre of Great Britain. A leading figure in the world of lighting design, his work has been seen in over three hundred productions across the globe. Pilbrow will also take part in a book signing, along with Steve Shelley and Richard Cadena, at 11:45am on Friday, May 8 at the PLASA booth.

Lane Elms is resident sound designer for the Signature Theatre in Washington DC, known for its outstanding and award-winning productions. In "Sound System Design for Musical Theatre" Elms will present a general overview of the process involved in designing a sound system for musical theatre.

In "Demystifying Audio" Adair Mallory of d&b audiotechnik will provide a basic look at the acoustic signal path between the loudspeaker and the listener's ear. Fundamentals of audio and acoustics will be reinforced using practical examples, demonstrations, and experiments.

Representatives from the Stagecraft Institute of Las Vegas (SILV) will explore LED options and discuss the methods that can be used to integrate solid-state lighting with existing equipment and infrastructure in "To LED or not LED, That is the Question." Jane Childs of SILV will moderate, and will be joined by several panelists including Scott Church, Bill Groener, Leonard Miller, and George Masek.

"Introduction to Vectorworks for Tech Directors" will provide all of the answers to your Vectorworks questions. Presenter Frank Brault is the author of the Vectorworks Getting Started Guides tutorials, has served as the principal North American trainer and developer on course materials for Nemetschek Vectorworks, and is their user education specialist.

PLASA Events has joined up with the Academy of Production Technology to put together a hands-on training program that is sure to interest all production technicians looking to enhance their credentials. The training is taking place May 5 - 7 at the 4Wall Entertainment offices in Columbia, Maryland. There are four training programs on offer: "Entertainment Electricity," "Power Distribution and Controls," "Live Audio Training," and "Entertainment Rigging." All participants will be eligible to receive ETCP credits. Further information can be found on the PLASA Focus: Baltimore website listed below.

Visitors who register to attend PLASA Focus: Baltimore before Thursday, May 1 will be in with a chance of winning one of two pairs of tickets for Peter and the Star Catcher at the Hippodrome Theatre -- hailed by The New York Times as "the most exhilarating storytelling on Broadway in decades!" The tickets are for the evening of Thursday, May 8 and Friday, May 9, providing the lucky winners first-class entertainment following a busy day at PLASA Focus. There will also be a pair of Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones given away. To enter, visitors must drop the card they receive upon arrival in the bowl on the PLASA booth -- the draw will take place Friday, May 9 May 2:00pm.

Free registration and more information about the seminar program is available now at the URL below.