Carl H. Lefko of Christianburg, Virginia took office as president of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, Inc. (USITT) on July 1. Lefko, who has served the organization as vice president for Programming since 2002, had been president-elect. He is professor and chair of the Department of Theatre and Cinema at Radford University. A theatrical designer and educator, he has over two decades of experience, including designing for both film and stage. For USITT, Lefko served as president of the Southeast Regional Section, on the USITT Conference Committee, and on the USITT 21st Century Task Force which is working to reshape the organization at the same time it celebrates its 50-year history. He will lead the 3,800-member organization of designers, managers, and technologists in performing arts and entertainment for the next two years.
Other officers who were elected and took office July 1 include Travis DeCastro of Penn State University, treasurer; and Michael Mehler of William & Mary College, vice president for Programming. Re-elected officers are Bobbi Owen of University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, vice president for Communications; Holly Monsos of University of Toledo, vice president for Members, Sections & Chapters, and Daniel Denhart, of Ohio University, vice president for Special Operations. All will serve two-year terms.
Directors at Large, who will serve for three years, are Dan Culhane of Secoa, Inc. in Minneapolis, Minn.; Mary Heilman of California Institute of the Arts, David Krajec of Mainstage Theatrical Supply in Wisconsin, Carolyn Satter of San Diego Theatres, Inc., John S. Uthoff of Kansas State University, and Monica Weinzapfel of Radford University. Lefko and USITT’s other new officers and directors at large were formally acknowledged at USITT’s Annual Conference & Stage Expo in Houston, Texas in March.
USITT’s members are drawn from the entire spectrum of behind the scenes professionals including scenery, costume, sound and lighting designers; scenery, costume, sound and lighting technicians; properties, makeup and special effects craftspersons; stagehands, architects; theatrical consultants; acousticians, performing arts educators and staff; and performing arts manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors throughout the United States, Canada, and 40 other countries.