Bios
JC Bittence
has been working for one of the country’s largest Manufactures Representative, Techrep Marketing for the past 10 years. Before that he worked at one of the country’s oldest Manufactures Representative firms, McFadden Sales for 5 years. In that time has worked for the largest microphone, speaker, mixer, DSP, and speaker manufactures one the face of the planet. They have all extensively trained him on the use and applications of their products. JC has worked on 100's of integrations with Contractors, Live Sound Production companies, Architect firms, and was employed by Westlake Reed Leskosky. Having been a musician for his entire life he has been able to work on both sides of a microphone and bring both of those worlds together.
Stacey Galloway
is Assistant Professor of Costume Technology/Design at the University of Florida. She has worked as a freelance costume designer, assistant and technician on such shows as Avenue Q, Hot Feet, Brooklyn Boy, and Julius Caesar, as well as shows for the Big Apple Circus and Hershey Park. She has worked at theatres such as Manhattan Theatre Club, New York Theatre Workshop, Papermill Playhouse, Playwright’s Horizons, Long Wharf Theatre, McCarter Theatre, Goodspeed Opera, Yale Repertory, La Jolla Playhouse and many others. Stacey received her MFA in Costume Design from West Virginia University.
Elynmarie Kazle
is a production stage manager, fundraiser, and educator who recently completed Hairspray at the Akron Civic Theatre. She’s worked with the Cleveland Play House for the past three years on their New Ground Theatre Festival. Elsewhere she’s managed productions at Brooklyn Academy of Music, LA Classical Ballet, Opera Columbus, Stockholm’s Stadsteater, San Diego Opera, Sacramento Theatre Company and toured internationally. She served nine years on the West Coast Equity Stage Managers Committee and has been a play responder for Ohio Community Theatre Association since 2010. A Fellow of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, she served four terms on the Board of Directors. She created USITT’s internationally known Stage Management Mentoring Project as well as a stage manager mentoring program for APS Visual / Performing Arts Program which continues 10 yrs. later with 24 students stage managing various events each year.
Raymond Kent
is an award winning theater consultant and is the Managing Principal of Sustainable Technologies Group which specializes in planning and specifying in technology for the performing and cultural arts. Raymond has served USITT Ohio Valley as a Director at Large and nationally as the Vice Commissioner for Programming and for Special Projects for the Architecture Commission. Raymond is the associate editor for architecture for Theater Design and Technology Magazine and a frequent contributor to many trade journals including Pro AV, IT/AV Report, Yale Tech Briefs, and many others. He presents frequently at USITT Nationally and for the Ohio Valley Regional sections.
Eric Rouse
teaches graduate and undergraduate course in Scenic Technology, Rigging, Automation, and CAD Drafting for entertainment at Penn State University where he is the head of the BFA and MFA in Scenic Technology. His main area of expertise is in performer flying effects and rigging for live entertainment. Prior to PSU Eric lived in Las Vegas where he worked for the legendary flying company Flying by Foy, and for Cirque du Soleil’s “O” show at the Bellagio Resort. Eric teaches rigging as part of Columbus McKinnon’s Mega Schools across the country. He also just finished a project with Disneyland where he helped put the finishing touches on their in-house rigging program. He is a Level One CM Hoist Technician, a SPRAT Level One Rope Access Technician, an ETCP Certified Rigger-Theatre and Recognized Trainer and a member of USITT. MFA Penn State 1997.
Jakyung Seo
is an Assistant Professor of Lighting Design at Kent State University. Prior to join the faculty at Kent State, she had been taught at University of Cincinnati and California State University at Fresno. Jakyung has worked as a professional lighting designer and assistant lighting designer in regional theatre including Steppenwolf and Congo Square Theatre (Chicago), Eye to Soul (NYC), and Lodestone Theatre ( LA). Her international credits include: Face with Eye to Soul at Edinburgh, UK and What We want is is Thrust Dance Company at Japan where she was awarded the best prize at The International Dance Festival in Saitama. And, she has designed more than 30 shows including Peterman, Man of La Mancha, and many dance performances.
Raynette Halvorsen Smith
is an Associate Professor in Kent State University’s School of Theatre and Dance Raynette received her MFA in Scene Design at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh and is a member of the United Scenic Artists Association 829 which she first joined while working professionally in Chicago. She has been teaching various specialized computer software (AutoCAD, Photoshop, Painter, etc.) in her design related courses for over 20 years.
Paul Vincent
is the owner and President of Vincent Lighting Systems Company, which sells and services theatre, television and architectural lighting control systems and equipment. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a B.A. in Communication and an M.A. in Theatre. Mr. Vincent served for five years as President of the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA), a professional industry trade association. Mr. Vincent has been a member of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) since 1974 and became a member of the Ohio Valley Section in 1978. He served as Section Chair from 1980 to 1982 and currently serves as chair of the membership committee. Mr. Vincent was recognized as a Fellow of the Institute in 2004 for his contributions to theatre and service to USITT. In 2009 he received USITT’s Thomas DeGaetani Award for his leadership in the entertainment industry. Mr. Vincent can be reached via email, pvincent@vls.com, or by calling 800-922-5356.
Kevin Wolfgang
is the Outreach Manager for the TechStyle LAB at Kent State University. Kevin has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Georgia in Costume Design. Kevin has taught design at Youngstown State University, Spelman College, Ithaca College, SUNY Cortland, and the Las Vegas Performing Arts High School. Kevin has a history of designing costumes and lighting for opera, theatre and dance. His entrepreneurial spirit has led him to manage retail operations selling fine art, wine, and custom made suiting.
Stephen Zapytowski
is a Professor Kent State University, Sound/Media Design and Technical Direction
Mark A. Zimmerman
(Director / Lighting Designer) is a director and lighting designer with over 70 plays and musicals to his credit. Shows include: Urinetown, Sideshow, Legally Blonde, the Musical, Hairspray, Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods to name a few. His directing credits include productions at the Stow Players (Greetings!), the Western Reserve Playhouse (The Andrews Brothers, Rumors, Once Upon a Mattress), Weathervane Playhouse (The Crucible, The Philadelphia Story, Oliver!, among others), Coach House Theatre (Collected Stories), Cleveland Public Theatre (Eve Ensler’s Lemonade), the University of Akron (Into the Woods, Talk Radio), among many others. This summer he directed the first Akron Civic Theatre All City musical production of Hairspray.
~Aaron Bollinger