This week, I’d like to take a little time to walk through the Coliseum’s rigging system. The old rigging system consisted of 17 line sets, each with 3 manila lines supporting a steel pipe batten. The rope lines were supported by 4 sets of rigging support beams that were suspended from the roof joist with …Continue Reading

“Every so often we’re blessed with the opportunity to participate in the renovation and preservation of a historically relevant jewel of a venue,” said Mark T. Black,   principal at IA Stage. “The St. Petersburg Coliseum is one of those gems.” The Mediterranean Revival-style Coliseum was designed by T.H. Eslick in 1923 and built in 1924 as …Continue Reading

Did you know that May is National Historic Preservation Month? I didn’t. But now that I do, let’s talk about it! We’re enthusiastic members of the League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT), and we’re all about preservation efforts for these old gems. Why? Theatres hold a special place in the hearts of many people. They …Continue Reading

The Rigging Safety Initiatve (RSI) offers free stage rigging inspections and safety training for secondary schools across America. Schools can apply for the service twice a year, in spring and fall. The deadline for the spring cycle was April 25, but don’t let that discourage you from learning how you can participate. The RSI is …Continue Reading

Thanks to everyone who stopped by in Louisville, especially to those who participated in the Passport Game! Twelve companies, including yours truly, pooled together to create a fantastic pile of prizes. The goal was to introduce the new friends we met at the conference to our friends out there on the show floor. Many, many …Continue Reading

Let’s talk about curved SkyDeck™ grid panels. First of all, what comes to mind when you hear the word “grid”? Personally, I think of graph paper with the faint blue lines evenly spaced vertically and horizontally to form little squares across a page. Lots of angles. Comforting predictability. Typical SkyDeck™ grid panels are 4’ x …Continue Reading