Engineering for Theatre

In the winter of 2020, I presented at the Students in Themed Entertainment (SITE) conference on the unique engineering challenges and solutions in the field of theatrical scenery. In addition to presenting images and text, I brought equipment to provide hands-on demonstrations of a number of engineering solutions including casters on pneumatic-actuated cylinders and under-deck tracking cables with scenery dogs. I also demonstrated and discussed automation control software.

Students from around the country attended as well as professionals from the themed entertainment industry. This session also kindled a broader conversation about the ways that theatre is a common training ground for designers and engineers in all live events and provides a shared language and experience for practitioners.