Altoona Community Theatre and Blair County Arts Foundation are partnering to bring in Bill Sapsis for a full-day of training on Friday, October 31 for anyone who is interested in learning more about the stagecraft, particularly of the Mishler Theatre’s unique hemp fly system.
Expected class time is 9 am – 4 pm.
Only $20/person for ACT members and $30/person for non-ACT members.
Participation is limited. Minimum age is 18. There will be a lunch break, but food is not provided.
Register today! To register for the training, click here
Sapsis Rigging does the required periodic inspection on the Mishler’s fly system.
“For over 40 years Sapsis Rigging has led the effort to promote training and safety in the entertainment industry. Our programs are designed to address the rapidly changing technology in rigging and stay current with new standards and regulations. They feature a flexible curriculum, tailoring the sessions specifically to the needs and requirements of the attendees.”
Topics covered could include:
- Hardware – How to choose and use the right materials.
- Rope, Cable, & Slings – Matching gear to the application.
- Rope Splicing – Traditional splicing for contemporary rope construction
- Fittings – Keeping equipment connected safely.
- Rigging Math – Basic skills for calculating forces
Facilitator:
Bill Sapsis: Bill Sapsis, President of Sapsis Rigging, Inc., began his career in 1972. His work on Broadway includes the original productions of A Chorus Line and The Runner Stumbles. Bill opened Sapsis Rigging in 1981 and has grown the company into a multi-faceted installation/production/service company with clients on six continents.
Bill’s articles and lectures on rigging and safety can be found in numerous publications worldwide. He has authored two books; Heads and Tales and Entertainment Rigging for the 21st Century. Bill is the chair of the ETCP Arena Subject Matter Experts and a member of the ETCP Council. He serves on ESTA’s Technical Standards Committee and is co-Chair of the ANSI accredited Rigging Working Group. Bill sits on the Board of Directors for the Behind the Scenes Charity.
Bill is a USITT Fellow and a member of ABTT. He is a founding member (retired) of the Long Reach Long Riders, an industry-based charity motorcycle group. He is the Executive Producer of BackStage Pass, a video interview series on YouTube and was one of the organizers of the New World Rigging Symposium. Bill is also the Executive Director, Emeritus, of the North American Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference (NATEAC).