Advance registration is required for many classes including those listed below and can be added through your Attendee Service Center if you have already registered for the conference. See your registration confirmation email for instructions on how to access and edit your registration, or go to the Registration drop down tab and select "Registration Edit" while logged in.
Class seating is limited, but observation seating is available. Please be respectful and limit your sign ups to give others an opportunity to share in these free hands-on experiences.
Some lab experiences also have walk up opportunities. All labs can be found in the Americas Center Exhibit Hall 3.
From mold-making and casting to fiber identification, from painting on thermoplastics to learning native regalia beading techniques, to learning to construct based on millinery silouettes. The USITT Costume Lab in St Louis is chock full of a full variety of learning opportunities!
Native Regalia of the Great Lakes Region: History, Examples, and Techniques
Wednesday, March 15 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (CDT)
Wednesday, March 15 - 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM (CDT)
Using Test Fabrics for Fiber Identification
Wednesday, March 15 - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM (CDT)
Thursday, March 16 - 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM (CDT)
Mold Making and Casting Techniques for Costume Crafts
Thursday, March 16 - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (CDT)
Thursday, March 16 - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (CDT)
Thursday, March 16 - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM (CDT)
Introduction to Millinery Patterning
Friday, March 17 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)
Friday, March 17 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (CDT)
Painting Different Types of Thermo Plastics
Saturday, March 18 - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (CDT)
Saturday, March 18 - 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM (CDT)
Saturday, March 18 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (CDT)
The NEW Hair & Makeup Lab for USITT 23 will feature expo favorites like blood recipes and body modification art for stage. Be sure to check out one of the available classes!
Introduction to Ventilating and Building Facial Hair
Wednesday, March 15 - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM (CDT)
Thursday, March 16 - 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM (CDT)
Rendering Techniques
Understanding the Science of Skin Tones and Undertones in Costume Rendering and Illustration
Thursday, March 16 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (CDT)
Friday, March 17 - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (CDT)
Introduction to Transfer Prosthetics
Thursday, March 16 - 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (CDT)
Friday, March 17 - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (CDT)
Tattoos and Body Art for the Stage
Friday, March 17 - 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM (CDT)
Saturday, March 18 - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM (CDT)
Make Your Own Stage Blood Recipe Book
Saturday, March 18 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (CDT)
Saturday, March 18 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)
The Digital Media Lab is a fully hands-on experience space. All levels of experience and walk-ins are welcome!
Digital Media Emerging Technology Lab
Thursday, March 16 - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
Friday, March 17 - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
Saturday, March 18 - 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (CDT)
24-Hour Digital Design Challenge: Introduction
Thursday, March 16 - 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM (CDT)
Designing Theatrical Projection Surfaces
Thursday, March 16 - 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (CDT)
24-Hour Digital Design Challenge: Final Presentation
Friday, March 17 - 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM (CDT)
The Lighting Lab is an educational experience space containing various lighting fixtures and consoles you can explore and learn with, without a sales pitch. A fully hands-on experience. All level of experience and walk-ins are welcome! If you are interested in volunteering for the Lighting Lab at conference, follow this link!: Lighting Lab Volunteers
Lighting Design & Technology Lab
Thursday, March 16 - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
Friday, March 17 - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
Saturday, March 18 - 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (CDT)
The Paint Lab in Baltimore was so fun that we are bringing it back for St Louis, bigger and better than ever! Painters can participate in hands on activities or join the onlookers at the observation deck. It is very satisfying to see these creations take life on our expo floor!
Scenic Artist Paint Lab
Thursday, March 16 - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
Friday, March 17 - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
Saturday, March 18 - 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (CDT)
Paint Challenge
Thursday, March 16 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)
Thursday, March 16 - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (CDT)
Friday, March 17 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)
Friday, March 17 - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (CDT)
Paint Techniques for the Non-Painting Professional
Thursday, March 16 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)
Stained Glass Techniques for the Scenic Artist
Thursday, March 16 - 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM (CDT)
Painting with Cut Rollers
Friday, March 17 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)
Come and paint with Scenic Artists of Local USA 829! That’s right, Local USA 829 PAINTS is an open experience for painters of all levels. Over the course of three days, all are invited to stop by to watch and learn from some of the best Scenic Artists in and around St. Louis who have worked at The Muny, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, Switch/Liberate Your Brand, and Image Technologies Corporation, to mention a few. This interactive lab brings together Local USA 829 Scenic Artists and you to demonstrate and teach both traditional and contemporary tricks in painting breathtaking, large-scale drops. This year, we’re blending precision and the sublime in which sharp and clean architecture meets a soft and elongated landscape. Those interested in picking up a paint brush should make sure to wear clothes that can get paint on them and be prepared to paint for at least one hour. If you're interested, sign up early in Expo Hall 3. Participation will be on a first come, first served basis.
Local USA 829 Paints!
Thursday, March 16 - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
Friday, March 17 - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
Saturday, March 18 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)
This lab provides the best of both the technical and performer world. Learn the basics of performer FLYing effects, what it is like to be in harness, pull rope, and understand the basic physics of how a manually operated FLYing system works. The experts from On The Fly Productions will deliver hands-on, lecture, demonstration, and Q&A opportunities.
Thursday, March 16 - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
Friday, March 17 - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
Saturday, March 18 - 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (CDT)
Scenic Designers know that the magic of design is both in part big dreams, and following through on the realities and details to make it happen!
Gold Leafing
Thursday, March 16 - 9:00 AM - 10:30 PM (CDT)
Worbla Workshop
Thursday, March 16 - 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM (CDT)
Thursday, March 16 - 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM (CDT)
LED Tape Troubleshooting and Repair
Friday, March 17 - 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (CDT)
Friday, March 17 - 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM (CDT)
Life Casting
Saturday, March 18 - 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM (CDT)
Using 3D Printing to Improve Your Day-to-Day Workflow
Saturday, March 18 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CDT)
Saturday, March 18 - 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM (CDT)
This sound studio is an intimate, interactive space that allows for the exploration of industry-leading software and hardware. The studio consists of 4-6 small interactive stations. To encourage exploration by beginners and experienced designers, all stations will be available for guided and individual explorations throughout the conference. Attendees can stop by any time to play. Join us for an exciting practical experience with industry-leading software in a low-pressure and rewarding environment.
Sound Lab
Thursday, March 16 - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
Friday, March 17 - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
Saturday, March 18 - 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (CDT)
Microcontroller Lab
Thursday, March 16 - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
The Microcontroller Lab, running all day on Thursday, provides hands-on experiences for people looking to incorporate low cost, adaptable, and scalable automation control for props, lighting, costume, and small scenic effects that do not have life-safety implications. Learn to solder while making your own light-up weevil. Learn how to wire peripheral devices such as sensors, lights, and motors into your microcontroller device. Read wiring diagrams and create a reversing contactor for a DC motor using two relays. Program an Arduino device using Arduino IDE and the Arduino Library. Explore sensor options that allow for distance and edge sensing, line following, and position control by manipulating the programming of a small sumo bot. See how remote controls can be incorporated into microcontroller devices to trigger affects as well as remotely control the movement of a device. All stations are drop-in. Stop by. Sit down for a while. Make a weevil. Imagine the possibilities with us.
Pnuematics Lab
Friday, March 17 - 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
Hands-on pneumatics experience lab space to complement the Fundamentals of Fluid Power session with more advanced and active learning. All levels of experience and walk-ins are welcome!
Mobile Drafting and Viewing Software Lab
Friday, March 17 - 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM (CDT)
Saturday, March 18 - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM (CDT)
This is an interactive space featuring mobile and cloud-based apps for drafting and viewing software. Learn how to create, view, and build from a digital format. All levels of experience and walk-ins are welcome!
This lab will explore current and emerging technology that could elevate the world of digital production and live production. Participants will experience demos from current tools and technology used in the Metaverse that explore Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed-Realities (XR), as well as view Virtual Reality performances that are touring today. Attendees will get the opportunity to learn what these practices and platforms are and ask questions about developing this technology, and how they could incorporate it into their upcoming productions or digital workflows. All levels of experience and walk-ins are welcome!