The American Society of Theatre Consultants (ASTC) is pleased to announce the elevation of Heather McAvoy and Peter Rosenbaum to Fellow as well as the admittance of eight new members and two associate members.  Fellowship is the highest honor awarded to members in recognition of their service to ASTC and contributions to the theatre consulting profession.

At the Annual Business Meeting at USITT in Long Beach, CA, the Board of Directors determined the applicants for membership each met the qualifications and professional experience to be admitted.  This marks the most members admitted in a calendar year since ASTC’s founding year, 1983.  The new members to ASTC are Hazem Al-Saheb, Paul Copenhaver, Chris Holland, Adam T. Huggard, Scott Madaski, Micah Rahn, Niles Ray, and Michael Wyant.  Accepted as associate members are Jean C. Gonzalez-Hill and Collin Huse.

Heather McAvoy has been a theatre consultant for 40 years, now with her own theatre and lighting design practice, and a member of the ASTC since 2005.  She served on the Board of Directors for ten years including terms as President and Vice President.  Ms. McAvoy has a vast portfolio of facilities along the Pacific Coast and Southeast.  Her work has received awards from organizations including AIA and USITT.  Her career has been marked by mentoring early career professionals, serving as a role-model for women in theatre consulting, and advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion.  Jim Hultquist, ASTC says that Ms. McAvoy teaches “how to listen carefully to clients and how to understand a venue as a single, working building rather than a collection of parts…She understands performance, operations, architecture, technical systems, and the human behaviors that sit between them.”

Peter Rosenbaum is a Principal at Fisher Dachs Associates where he has been working as a theatre consultant for over 31 years.  He became a member of ASTC in 2011 and served on the Board of Directors for nine years including six as President.  He has consulted on the designs of over 250 performance venues in the United States and internationally which have garnered awards from institutions such as AIA, AIA New York, and SCUP.  Mr. Rosenbaum’s significant contributions to ASTC include establishing the ASTC Outreach and Education Committee and the ASTC Mentorship Program, leading the organization through COVID, and creating the initiative to open membership in ASTC to theatre systems designers who have been leaders in their discipline.  Paul Sanow, ASTC remarks that “Peter does everything with a pleasant demeanor and good humor…Peter is always willing to share his knowledge, either directly to a colleague, or in [his] writing, or mentoring others.”

Fellowship is bestowed on only a select percentage of membership and is held as a significant honor.  ASTC was founded in 1983 and currently has 90 regular members representing 37 consulting firms across the US and Canada.  Since 2011, ASTC has named 16 members as Fellows.  More information about ASTC Fellows can be found here: https://theatreconsultants.org/members/fellows-of-astc-fastc/

Hazem Al-Saheb’s background in architecture complements his work as a theatre consultant.  He studied architecture at The Hashemite University, Harvard University, and Georgia Institute of Technology.  His work can be seen at Radford University Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity which is comprised of multiple performance spaces.  He has led the design for various projects including The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University in Nashville, and the Lindemann Performing Arts Center at Brown University in Providence, RI.  Hazem is an Associate Principal at Theatre Projects.

 

 

Paul Copenhaver has consulted on numerous high school theatres.  One of his unique qualifications is that early in his career he was a high school teacher which provides him with particular insight to develop creative and practical theatre spaces.  His significant projects include the Gene Tomas High School in Richmond, TX, Waller High School in Waller, TX, and Brazoswood High School in Clute, TX.  Paul is an Associate Principal at Passerelle Design Group.

 

 

Chris Holland has been an associate member and this year steps up to become a regular ASTC Member.  Chris has designed theatrical equipment systems for many challenging renovations requiring unique solutions.  These include Cleveland Institute of Music, University of Utah Meldrum Theater, and the Palace Theatre in New York.  Chris is a Theatre Consultant at Theatre Projects.

 

 

Adam T. Huggard’s resume includes well over 200 performing arts projects across his 25-year career in which he was the principal-in-charge or lead designer.  Other significant projects include the Tobin Center in San Antonio, the Gaillard Center in Charleston, SD and David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in New York.  Recent openings include the Knight Recital Hall at the University of Miami and the Roger Glass Center for the Arts at the University of Dayton.  He is a Principal Consultant at Stages Consultants.

 

 

Besides Scott Madaski’s three decades of professional experience in technical theatre, his recent consulting work focuses on stage automation and rigging.  Significant projects include Norwegian Cruise Lines, David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, and the Royal Academy of Music Susie Sainsbury Theatre in London.  Scott is the Stage Technology & Rigging Systems Design Lead at Fisher Dachs Associates.

 

 

Micah Rahn has 23 years of lighting system and technical theatre experience.  He has wide experience in entertainment and architectural controls systems, theatrical power systems, integration, architectural coordination, and construction.  His recent theatre projects include Capital One Hall in Tysons, VA, renovations of The College Conservatory of Music at University of Cincinnati, and the Peace Center Concert Hall in Greenville, SC.  Micah is a Principal Consultant at Stages Consultants.

 

 

Recent projects for Niles Ray include the Robert W. Wilson Space – MCC Theatre in New York, The Billie Holiday Theatre renovation in New York, Penn 2 – Town Hall (above Penn Station) in New York, multiple theatres of the Hilberry Gateway venue for Wayne State University, and the Academy of Music in Philadelphia.  Niles is an Associate Principal at Aperio Design.

 

 

Michael Wyant’s experience includes working as a production manager and technical director at leading regional theatres.  Recent projects include Gulfshore Playhouse – The Baker Theatre & Education Center in Naples, FL, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washinton, DC, and Southampton Playhouse in Southampton, NY.  Michael is a Project Manager and Associate at Fisher Dachs Associates.

The full roster of members can be found here: https://theatreconsultants.org/members/astcmembership-roster/

Jean C. Gonzalez-Hill, accepted as an Associate Member, has broad experience in theatre planning.  Jean has been the theatre technical lead for Lincoln High School Theatre renovation in Sioux Falls, SD, and Fashion Institute of Technology Haft Auditorium in New York.   Projects under construction include Texas Christian University Ed Landreth Hall in Fort Worth, TX.  Jean is a Senior Theatre Planner at DLR Group.

Collin Huse continues as an Associate Member of ASTC with a number of projects under construction awaiting completion to qualify for regular membership.  He has completed several theatres including the Pomfret School – Hard Auditorium in Pomfret, CT and Williamsville Sherman High School Auditorium in Williamsville, IL.  Collin is a Theatre Consultant at Nextstage Design.

By Kent Conrad, ASTC and Robert Jenista