ASTC and USITT announce the fourth Annual collaborative project between university students and ASTC member theatre consultants. Projects will be presented at the USITT 2017 Annual Conference in Saint Louis, Missouri March 8-11. By working together with a professional theatre consultant as a mentor, students will learn more about how venues are designed or renovated. Additionally students will see performance spaces differently and be exposed to other available career paths within the entertainment industry. Teams may consist of undergraduate or graduate theatre students and should be under the supervision of a faculty advisor.

Working together, the teams will select a theoretical project on or near the team’s campus. They will survey and study the current conditions and develop a plan to renovate the subject space to meet the team’s stated goals. Potential projects include:

• Substantial improvements to an existing theatre
• Conversion of non-performance space into a new performance space
• Changing the form and function of an existing theatre.

Presentations may be via electronic display, graphic boards or 3D model and will be due in advance of the USITT Conference. At least one student member of the team is required to present the team’s challenge and solution at a conference session in person. The ASTC member judges will make their final selection based on both the submitted design and the live presentation. One team will be presented the Edgar L. Lustig Honor Award of $1,000 and at least one Merit Award will be presented and announced nationally by ASTC.

Save the date to make sure students and advisors plan this project for the 2016-17 academic year. Teams should consider including this project into their curriculum for independent study credit. A $250 travel stipend will be provided and conference registration fees will be waived for the first four students from separate teams who request financial assistance. Applications and concept statements are to be sent to the email addresses below. Find your nearest ASTC member on our membership roster.

Contacts: Michael McMackin ASTC – or Christine Troscher, USITT – .

Applications Due: October 31, 2016 5:00 PM EST
Download: “Instructions to Participants”
Download: “Application Form”
Download: “ASTC USITT Renovation Challenge 2017 Announcement”

Submissions Due: February 10, 2017 5:00PM EST; USITT Conference Presentation Date & Time TBD.