The United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) is a membership organization which aims to advance the skills and knowledge of theatre, entertainment and performing arts professionals involved in the areas of design, production and technology, and to generally promote their interests. To this end, the USITT mounts conferences and exhibitions, promulgates awards and publications (including the official journal Theatre Design & Technology), and supports research. USITT is a non-profit organization which has its headquarters in Syracuse, New York.
USITT heads up a conference held annually since 1961. The conference focuses on various workshops, that help educate attendees on several aspects of theatre. They also have a stage expo, in which companies showcase their products to the individuals attending the conference. There are also many opportunities for students to show their portfolios for review, and to get a look at programs offered by universities and colleges around the country.
The members of the Institute have created a number of projects that have had a lasting impact upon the industry, such as the famed Dingleberries in Color exhibit staged in 2004.
USITT sponsors the annual Young Designers and Technicians Awards recognizing the finest young people in the industry.
The Sound Design Commission is a society which assists and promotes theatrical technical professions in the United States. It is one of the newest Commissions created by the USITT within their working groups. In 1980 it appeared as the "Lighting and Sound Design Commission" and the two groups met and worked together for several years until the Sound Design members dramatically outnumbered the Lighting Design members and the Commission was split into two. The first Sound Design Commissioner was Charlie Richmond who served from 1980 through 1988. It remains one of the most active Commissions within the USITT.
The Education Commission serves students and educators in all areas of theatre design and technology. A diverse group of educators and a student liaison work to develop exciting and innovative programming for each Annual Conference & Stage Expo. The Commission regularly covers such topics as teaching, mentoring, tenure and promotion, curriculum, and student life. In addition, the work of the Education Commission continues throughout the year in the forms of several ongoing projects and archives.[1]
USITT also has an Engineering Commission,[2] a Lighting Commission,[3] a Management Commission,[4] a Scene Design Commission,[5] a Costume Commission among others.
2026 Long Beach, California
2025 Columbus, Ohio
2024 Seattle, Washington
2023 St. Louis, Missouri
2022 Baltimore, Maryland
2021 Virtual
2020 Cancelled
2019 Louisville, Kentucky
2018 Fort Lauderdale, Florida[6]
2015Cincinnati, OhioDuke Energy Convention Center
2013 Milwaukee, WisconsinFrontier Airlines Center
2012Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach Convention and Entertainment Center
2011 Charlotte, North Carolina
2010Kansas City, MissouriKansas City Convention Center
2009Cincinnati, OhioDuke Energy Center
2008Houston, TexasGeorge R. Brown Convention Center
2007Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix Convention Center
2006 Louisville, KentuckyKentucky International Convention Center
2005 Toronto, Ontario, CanadaMetro Toronto Convention Centre
2004Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach Convention and Entertainment Center
2003Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis Convention Center
2002 New Orleans, LouisianaLouisiana Superdome
2001Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach Convention and Entertainment Center
2000 Denver, ColoradoDenver Convention Complex
1999 Toronto, Ontario, CanadaMetro Toronto Convention Centre
1998 Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach Convention Center
1997 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania David L. Lawrence Convention Center / Doubletree Hotel
1996 Fort Worth, TexasTarrant County Convention Center / Radisson Hotel
1995 Las Vegas, NevadaMGM Grand Hotel & Theme Park
1994 Nashville, TennesseeNashville Convention Center & Stouffers' Hotel
1993 Wichita, KansasCentury II Convention Center / various hotels
1992 Seattle, Washington Washington State Convention & Trade Center / Seattle Sheraton
1991 Boston, MassachusettsSheraton/Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center
1990 Milwaukee, WisconsinHyatt Regency Hotel / MECCA
1989 Calgary, Alberta, CanadaCalgary Convention Centre
1988 Anaheim, California Disneyland Hotel
1987 Minneapolis, MinnesotaHyatt Regency Hotel
1986 Oakland, CaliforniaHyatt Regency Hotel
1985 New York, New YorkSheraton Center Hotel Dedicated to Harold Burris-Meyer and Hans Sondheimer
1984 Orlando, FloridaHyatt Regency Hotel
1983 Corpus Christi, TexasBayfront Convention CenterDedicated to Walter H. Walters
1982 Denver, Colorado Hilton HotelDedicated to Herbert D. Greggs
1981 Cleveland, OhioStouffers' Inn Dedicated to Margaret Ezekiel
1980 Kansas City, KansasGlenwood Manor Convention Center
1979 Seattle, Washington Olympic Hotel
1978 Phoenix, Arizona The Adams Hotel
1977 Washington, DCLoews L'Enfant Hotel
1976New Orleans, LouisianaMarriott Hotel
1975 Anaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim Convention Center
1974 New York, New York Waldorf Astoria Hotel
1973 St. Louis, Missouri Bel Air East Hotel
1972 San Francisco, CaliforniaMark Hopkins Hotel
1971 Dallas, TexasMarriott Hotel
1970 New York, New York Barbizon Plaza Hotel
1969Los Angeles, California Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel
1968 Chicago, IllinoisGoodman Theatre
1967 New York, New York Barbizon Plaza Hotel
1966Toronto, Ontario, CanadaUniversity of Toronto
1965 Bloomington, IndianaIndiana University
1964 New York, New YorkBarbizon Plaza Hotel
1963 New York, New York The Juilliard School
1962 New York, New YorkTime-Life Building
1961 New York, New York The Juilliard School