The Grant is valued at $50,000 and consists of a variety of Martin fixtures and control products. Martin also provides technical training and support for the winning college or university, as well as quarterly seminar's on emerging technologies and application discussions.
Professor Franklin commented: "The Department of Dramatic Arts is a top quality program with an impressive list of lighting design alumni including David Lavigna, James F. Ingalls and Tony nominee Michael Baldassari. Our facilities are state-of-the-art but until now we have operated without permanent intelligent lighting, although we have rented automated lighting units on a regular basis. Having the Martin equipment in-house will be of great benefit to our program and will give our students the opportunity to get hands-on experience in both lab and production situations. We also plan to use the equipment for our graduate lighting technology course, allowing us to train students for 21st century theatre lighting design. The lighting design program in the Department of Dramatic Arts is part of a larger design program that includes sound, puppetry, costume and scenic design, we have a unique situation in that we have a professional theatre in residence, the Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT). Students design all the productions and CRT is run as a professional theatre under the terms of an Actor's Equity Association agreement. Our philosophy is to put students side by side with professionals - professional directors, professional technicians, and Equity actors - very high caliber people. We also offer extensive guest artist programs, professional designers who critique students' work and provide Masters Classes."
The Department of Dramatic Arts performs in three separate theatres with a fourth under construction and a fifth in the planning stages. They include the Connecticut Repertory Theatre, the Studio Theatre, the Mobius Theatre, the soon to be completed Nafe Katter Theatre, and a Frank Gehry-designed performing arts centre due for completion in several years.
Martin US CEO Troels Volver commented, "We are pleased to continue to offer the Grant in this its third year. The Grant is an important part of Martin's continuing commitment to education. With double the amount of applications this year, it was a very tough choice for the committee to decide on who could best utilize the Grant. The University of Connecticut Department of Dramatic Arts is a top quality program that has demonstrated a firm commitment to lighting design and lighting design technology."
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
