September 2016

TLS Productions, Inc. News & Announcements

 

 

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Vote!

      

Calling ALL PLSN subscribers!  Time is running out!  It's your last chance to vote for the 2016 Parnelli Awards!  Help us become Hometown Hero Lighting Company of the Year!  You'll need your PLSN subscriber number!  Vote NOW at the link below! 

Voting Ends On September 30th At 12:00pm (PDT)

http://www.parnelliawards.com/vote.php

And... MANY thanks to ALL OF YOU for nominating and voting to make us the BEST IN THE MIDWEST for this year's Hometown Hero Awards!  Now you can help us become Hometown Hero Lighting Company of The Year!

Thanks from all of us at TLS Productions, Inc. for your support!
 

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TLS Productions, Inc. & Entertainment Design and Technology at Eastern Michigan University
Contributed by John Charles, Technical Director, Eastern Michigan University Theatre

The Entertainment Design & Technology program at EMU is proud to announce that Sera Shearer is this year’s very deserving recipient of the John Briggs Endowed Scholarship in Entertainment Design & Technology.  Sera is an excellent student who maintains high academic standards and has done an amazing job in every production role she has taken on, from set crew to assistant scenic designer.  Her design and execution of the carved panels on the piano for The Piano Lesson last season were an example of her creative excellence.  Congratulations, Sera!  And thank you to TLS Productions, Inc. for establishing this scholarship for the ED&T program at EMU.
 
We also want to thank TLSP for giving us the opportunity to participate in their Third Annual Open House and New Product Showcase.  We had a great time meeting and talking with folks who are interested in our ED&T program, and showing off some of the work our student designers have contributed to recent productions.  We look forward to being a part of next year’s open house as well!
 
Our production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is shaping up to be a visually stunning experience you won’t want to miss.  Projection designer Christine Franzen is developing some images and content that will help put audiences inside the psyches of these complex and intense characters.


 
For tickets and more information on Eastern Michigan University Theatre’s upcoming season, please go to: www.emich.edu/emutix/

John Charles - Eastern Michigan University Theatre
Technical Director


 

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TLS Productions, Inc. has partnered with Eastern Michigan University to create the John Briggs Endowed Scholarship for EMU's Entertainment & Design Technology program.  This scholarship creates a legacy at Eastern Michigan University by honoring John Briggs for his devoted service to the entertainment industry and the field of theatre technology. 

This scholarship honors the passion, dedication, and commitment to the field of theatrical technology by Eastern Michigan University Alumnus - John Briggs.  Over the years, John Briggs and TLS Productions, Inc. have generously given their time and equipment to assure EMU Theatre productions are of the highest quality, while using the most cutting-edge technology.  EMU students appreciate the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art technology that prepares them for their professional careers in technical theatre.  The scholarship is awarded annually to an Eastern Michigan University student majoring in Entertainment Design & Technology.

To donate to this scholarship in John's honor, you may do so by downloading the scholarship brochure, available here - or by calling the Eastern Michigan University Foundation at 734-484-1322 - and of course, you can contact us for further information on the scholarship and learn how to donate.
 

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From The Desk Of Design Services - September 2016

I had the pleasure of spending last week at our corporate headquarters in Ann Arbor as we prepared and executed our annual open house.  During this time, it occurred to me that I spend quite a bit of time writing articles about technology and how to effectively design and deploy it, and what the role of a production services company is; but I do not think I spend near enough time talking about the heart and soul of our business, our people.  It is easy for me (among others) to get caught up in the “big picture” as we try to create a newer, more modern company with both a different business model and a more inclusive, forward-looking company culture.  All of this is vital to our continued growth and success, but the entire time I spent watching our staff prepare for the open house I was reminded of the people that don’t often get the positive press, but that matter the most.

I want to start with a huge thank you to our Accounting and Purchasing folks.  We demand so much from them, day in and day out, yet seldom do we think to let them know how much we appreciate their dedication and hard work.  In the most “real” of ways, without their diligence, experience and expertise, nothing that any of the rest of us do would be possible.  So, to Eric Topliss, Aaron Kashmer and Li Liu – thank you for all you do!

Our shop staff is always hard at work, doing all the dirty jobs that have to be done so that we look good to our clients.  Shop Manager Adam Weakley and Assistant Shop Manager Drew Gansen, keep things moving and keep all of our shop staff on task.  From checking the gear in and out from rentals and events to transforming our warehouse into a finished exhibit space for our open house, they are the pillars that support everything the company is able to do.  Without these guys and gals, we are nothing.  So to all the shop staff, both full and part-time, thank you for making us look so good, so often, and so selflessly.

I am also both proud and humbled to have the opportunity to work closely with our in-house production staff; Production Manager and Lighting Designer Bobby Glowacki along with AV & Lighting Technician and CAD Operator Dustin Miller.  These two gentlemen share the burden of being the resident full-time production personnel at our Ann Arbor headquarters.  They both work tirelessly to make sure that the projects and shows we have on the books have the design, drafting, engineering, and preshow attention to detail that they deserve.  These guys are consistently working on improving their training and skill sets and have proven again and again that they are willing to take on any challenge and not only succeed but excel.  I spoke above about working to shift our company culture; I want these gentlemen to know that they are a huge part of this.  Bobby and Dustin, thank you for bringing your ideas and perspectives to us, along with your skills and training.  Although I am sure it does not always feel like it, your enthusiasm, hard work, and creative abilities are greatly valued and appreciated.

To our unsung sales superhero, Emily Ann Jugowicz-Miller, who handles all the Midwest sales for the company yet also finds time to help others in the sales department with their projects, all the while contributing to organizing things around HQ, as well as taking on many “special projects”– such as playing event planner for our open house; it was a pleasure to watch you in action.  Thank you, Emily, for consistently doing everything that is asked of you and so much more.

Moreover, to the assiduous individual who not only brought you the open house but also brings you this newsletter and all the other marketing blasts you receive from us, thank you so much, Carl Kedzierski.  You have helped to bring our industry name recognition from near non-existence to being part of the national industry conversation in an amazingly short time.  Thank you for your effort, creativity, and perseverance when it comes to building a marketing department from nothing.  You have done an exemplary job, and I thank you.

In closing, I know that many of you who read this are used to dealing with all the folks on your show sites – all of whom are the best of the best and strive to give you the very best service and technical expertise available in our industry.  However, it is the folks mentioned in this email whom few outside of our company ever get to see in action- and who so rarely hear the positive feedback we get on the job site - which makes the difference.  It is this dedicated and talented group of people that allow us to continue to offer our customers the kind of world-class productions they have come to expect.  I thank them all for their tireless efforts and their consistently positive attitudes.   

Doyle Martin - TLS Productions, Inc.
VP of Show Services | Director of Design Services