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.

Commissions

Sound Design Commission

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.

Education Commission

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.

Other Commissions

USITT also has an Engineering Commission, a Lighting Commission, a Management Commission, a Scene Design Commission, a Costume Commission among others.

Conference sites

2027 Baltimore, Maryland 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 2017 St. Louis, Missouri 2016 Salt Lake City, Utah 2015 Cincinnati, Ohio Duke Energy Convention Center 2014 Fort Worth, Texas 2013 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Frontier Airlines Center 2012 Long Beach, California Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center 2011 Charlotte, North Carolina 2010 Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City Convention Center 2009 Cincinnati, Ohio Duke Energy Center 2008 Houston, Texas George R. Brown Convention Center 2007 Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix Convention Center 2006 Louisville, Kentucky Kentucky International Convention Center 2005 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Metro Toronto Convention Centre 2004 Long Beach, California Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center 2003 Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis Convention Center 2002 New Orleans, Louisiana Louisiana Superdome 2001 Long Beach, California Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center 2000 Denver, Colorado Denver Convention Complex 1999 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Metro Toronto Convention Centre 1998 Long Beach, California Long Beach Convention Center 1997 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania David L. Lawrence Convention Center / Doubletree Hotel 1996 Fort Worth, Texas Tarrant County Convention Center / Radisson Hotel 1995 Las Vegas, Nevada MGM Grand Hotel & Theme Park 1994 Nashville, Tennessee Nashville Convention Center & Stouffers' Hotel 1993 Wichita, Kansas Century II Convention Center / various hotels 1992 Seattle, Washington Washington State Convention & Trade Center / Seattle Sheraton 1991 Boston, Massachusetts Sheraton/Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center 1990 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Hyatt Regency Hotel / MECCA 1989 Calgary, Alberta, Canada Calgary Convention Centre 1988 Anaheim, California Disneyland Hotel 1987 Minneapolis, Minnesota Hyatt Regency Hotel 1986 Oakland, California Hyatt Regency Hotel 1985 New York, New York Sheraton Center Hotel Dedicated to Harold Burris-Meyer and Hans Sondheimer 1984 Orlando, Florida Hyatt Regency Hotel 1983 Corpus Christi, Texas Bayfront Convention Center Dedicated to Walter H. Walters 1982 Denver, Colorado Hilton Hotel Dedicated to Herbert D. Greggs 1981 Cleveland, Ohio Stouffers' Inn Dedicated to Margaret Ezekiel 1980 Kansas City, Kansas Glenwood Manor Convention Center 1979 Seattle, Washington Olympic Hotel 1978 Phoenix, Arizona The Adams Hotel 1977 Washington, DC Loews L'Enfant Hotel 1976 New Orleans, Louisiana Marriott Hotel 1975 Anaheim, California Anaheim Convention Center 1974 New York, New York Waldorf Astoria Hotel 1973 St. Louis, Missouri Bel Air East Hotel 1972 San Francisco, California Mark Hopkins Hotel 1971 Dallas, Texas Marriott Hotel 1970 New York, New York Barbizon Plaza Hotel 1969 Los Angeles, California Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel 1968 Chicago, Illinois Goodman Theatre 1967 New York, New York Barbizon Plaza Hotel 1966 Toronto, Ontario, Canada University of Toronto 1965 Bloomington, Indiana Indiana University 1964 New York, New York Barbizon Plaza Hotel 1963 New York, New York The Juilliard School 1962 New York, New York Time-Life Building 1961 New York, New York The Juilliard School