The American Society of Theatre Consultants (ASTC) accepted five new members and two new Associates during the Spring Business Meeting, held in conjunction with the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) Conference in St. Louis.

New Members:

Kevin Greene, Theatre Consultant, has worked with Schuler Shook in the Chicago office since 2012. He obtained his MFA from The University of Texas at Austin. Prior to consulting he has served as assistant lighting designer, programmer, crew chief, Technical Coordinator, and commercial lighting representative. Greene has worked in Dallas, Austin, on the International High Seas, New York, and Chicago. He has been the main consultant for the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, Verona High School, and West Bloomfield High School Renovations.

Andrew Hagan is an Associate with Theatre Projects Consultants and is celebrating his 15th year there. He received an MFA from Florida State University. He has worked as a master carpenter, technical director, and been a guest lecturer at the Yale School of Drama. At Theatre Projects Consultants, Hagan has served as Project Manager, Theatre Equipment Designer, Departmental Leader, Team Leader, and BIM Manager. Notable projects are Fisher Center at Belmont University, Northern Stage – Barrette Center for the Arts, and Crosstown Concourse Theatre.

Raymond Kent, Assoc. AIA, LEED BD+C, is a Principal with DLR Group and has worked professionally in theatre for over 38 years in commercial, educational, and non-profit theatres across the US. He completed his MFA at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University. He joined the firm Westlake Reed Leskosky in 2005. As a founder of the Innovative Technology Design Group, Kent continues to lead performing arts projects as the principal theatre planner and technology designer, audiovisual designer, and lighting designer.

Jerad Schomer is a Director with Charcoalblue in their New York Studio. He holds an MFA from the University of Connecticut, Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology. He has worked at the Metropolitan Opera as a Technical Project Manager and as Technical Director at the Park Avenue Armory. Schomer has been the lead team member for projects at The Perelman Center for the Performing Arts at the World Trade Center, St. Ann’s Warehouse, and the Obama Presidential Center and Library.

Jon Sivell is a Director at Charcoalblue’s New York Studio. He obtained his MA in Performing Arts Administration from New York University. He worked as an Associate Consultant, head of the lighting department, and project manager with Fisher Dachs Associates until 2018. Sivell has worked on the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Royal Caribbean Icon Class, and The Perelman Center for the Performing Arts at the World Trade Center.

The following consultants have been accepted as Associates of ASTC: Chris Holland of Theatre Projects Consultants and Collin Huse from Nextstage Design.

The ASTC would like to extend our utmost gratitude to the following members who have requested and been awarded Emeritus status: Harold “Chip” Ulich, Charles I. Swift, Lawrence L. Graham, and Stephen Placido. Congratulations gentlemen on long and distinguished careers in theatre consulting.

Harold “Chip” Ulich, ASTC Emeritus

Charles Swift, ASTC Emeritus

Lawrence L. Graham, ASTC Emeritus

Stephen Placido, ASTC Emeritus

ASTC has renamed the newly redeveloped intern program as the “James Read FASTC Memorial Internship” program in honor of our recently deceased colleague Jim Read [Article:  https://theatreconsultants.org/astc-remembers-jim-read-fastc/].  Jim was a staunch supporter of ASTC and would surely be proud to know the program is named for him.  The program pairs an ASTC consultant with a pre-college student [ASTC Internship article: https://theatreconsultants.org/astc-mentorship/] where they will learn about the profession and the possibilities within the industry as they chart their career path.  Look for a future report on the 2023 James Read FASTC Memorial Intern.

By Alex Robertson, ASTC