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The Tech Table provides comprehensive information regarding professionals working on Broadway, Off-Broadway, the Road, regional theater, opera, and beyond. Our focus is on the Creative and Production talent including Designers, Associates, Assistants, Stage Managers, and the Shops.
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The Winter’s Tale Tech Table at the Delacorte Theater - Photo courtesy of Linda Cho, Costume Designer
We’re Back…
We hope everyone had a great summer and is now ready to get back to creating live theatre!
You may have noticed that over the summer we started covering Off-Broadway openings on our social media including Instagram. In July and August there were 28 Off-Broadway openings, and in September 35 shows are scheduled to open Off-Broadway!
On Broadway, 21 new shows are scheduled to open between now and the end of April 2027, with several more rumored to be announcing opening night dates soon, including Damn Yankees and Warriors. Last season there were 34 new shows — will 2026–2027 exceed that total?
And the big news of the summer was Hair & Makeup Designers moving from IATSE Local 798 to United Scenic Artist, Local USA 829. More details in the news section below. Now will the Tony Committee finally recognize Hair and Makeup Designers?
Ghost Light News
Hair & Makeup Designers moving to USA 829
As of July 17, 2026, all Hair & Makeup Design jurisdiction in live performance has transferred from IATSE Local 798 to United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829. The move was worked out between the two Locals and approved by IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb, and it puts HMU Designers alongside the roughly 3,500 Scenic, Costume, Lighting, Sound and Projection Designers, Associates and Assistants USA 829 already represents.
Local 798 HMU Design members in good standing can join or transfer to USA 829 with no exam, no portfolio review, and no initiation fee — but only during the transition window, which closes January 31, 2027. Members joining while keeping their 798 card owe just up to two quarters of dues; those transferring outright need to request a transfer card from 798. USA 829's work assessment is 2% of gross earnings under contract, with no cap.
The two Locals frame the switch as stronger representation — USA 829 has bargained for design in live performance since design was first recognized as a craft in the performing arts, and HMU Designers would sit in the same Local as the rest of the design team. The practical incentives are concentrated in the transition window:
Fees waived. Joining now waives both the USA 829 initiation fee and the IA processing fee. After January 31, the same membership costs $3,500 through Professional Membership or $1,500 through an Interview/Portfolio Review.
No break in health coverage. USA 829 participates in the IATSE National Benefit Fund's Health and Welfare Plan "C," the same plan 798 members are already in.
Pension can stay put. Designers with three or more vesting credits in the 798 Pension Plan can elect to remain "legacied" there — contributions earned under USA 829 contracts are paid at 829 rates but directed back to 798. It requires initialing the Benefit Plan Designation on the transition form before the deadline; no one is added to the legacy list afterward.
Access to the Project Agreements. Only USA 829 members may file the union's promulgated agreements, including the Standard Design Agreement and the Project Only Agreement.
Designers who don't join may still work under a USA 829 collectively bargained agreement until January 31, after which the security clause in those agreements will be enforced.
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Broadway Preview(s):
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
First Preview • 09.08.26 • Opening Night 09.28.26
Scenic Design - Teresa L. Williams
Costume Design - Qween Jean
Lighting Design - Stacey Derosier
Sound Design - Cody Spencer
Wig, Hair and Makeup Design - Nikiya Mathis
Production Stage Manager - Sara Gammage
Broadway Opening(s):
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
August Wilson Theatre
Opening Night: August 25, 2026 and September 15, 2026
Scenic & Costume Design — Fly Davis
Illusions Designer — Chris Fisher
Lighting Designer — Anna Watson
Sound Designer — Gareth Fry
Video & Projections Designer — Luke Halls
Associate Scenic Designer — Frank McCullough
Associate Illusions Designer — Daniel Weissglass
Associate Lighting Designer — Abby May
Associate Sound Designer — Will Pickens
Associate Video Designer — Lianne Arnold
Assistant Scenic Designer — Matthew Buttrey
Assistant Lighting Designer — Mack Scales
Assistant Sound Designer — Beth Lake
Production Management — What If We Productions
Production Stage Manager — Melanie J. Lisby
Stage Manager — Hannah Woodward
SHOPS
Scenery Built By — Hudson Scenic Studios
Additional Scenery — Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
Additional Scenery — Illusion DC
Lighting Equipment — Christie Lights
Audio Equipment — Masque Sound
Video Equipment — Sound Associates
Additional Special Effects — J&M Special Effects
Broadway Closing(s):
Titaníque at the St. James Theatre is closing Sunday, September 20, 2026
Off Broadway Opening(s):
Going Bacharach
Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater @ The West Side Y
10 West 64th Street, New York, NY
First Preview 09.09.26 • Opening Night 09.09.26 • Closing Date 11.29.26
Scenic Design — Christopher Swader
Scenic Design — Justin Swader
Costume Design — Frank Cazares
Lighting & Sound Design — Matt Berman
Production Stage Manager — Ian McQueen
Production Supervisor — Peter F. Feuchtwanger
Mrs. Stern Wanders The Prussian State Library
59E59 Theaters - Theater A
59 East 59th Street, New York, NY
First Preview 09.12.26 • Opening Night 09.12.26 • Closing Date 10.25.26
Scenic Design — Lauren Helpern
Costume Design — Deborah Caney
Lighting Design — Zachary Connell
Sound Design — Greg Scalera
Production Manager — Lucas Pinner
Lean-To
59E59 Theaters - Theater B
59 East 59th Street, New York, NY
First Preview 09.10.26 • Opening Night 09.13.26 • Closing Date 10.10.26
Scenic Design — Connor Gallerani
Costume Design — Krista Grevas
Lighting Design — Elaine Wong
Sound Design — Jennie Gorn
Props Design — Peggy Orman
Production Stage Manager — Cat Copeland
Assistant Stage Manager — Eli Bettmann
Big Feelings
The Cell Theatre - Gallery Space
338 West 23rd Street, New York, NY
First Preview 09.13.26 • Opening Night 09.13.26 • Closing Date 10.09.26
Scenic Design — Silin Chen
Lighting Design — Finn Bamber
Sound Design — Joyce Ciesil
Stage Manager — Sarah Jones
Pre-Existing Condition
Greenwich House Theater
27 Barrow Street, New York, NY
First Preview 09.01.26 • Opening Night 09.14.26 • Closing Date 12.19.26
Scenic Design — Cate McCrea
Costume Design — Enver Chakartash
Lighting Design — Isabella Byrd
Sound Design — Palmer Hefferan
Production Stage Manager — Elizabeth Allen
In Honor of Jean-Michel Basquiat
New York Theatre Workshop
79 East 4th Street, New York, NY
First Preview 09.09.26 • Opening Night 09.14.26 • Closing Date 10.04.26
Scenic Design — Raphael Mishler
Lighting Design — Arlo Sanders
Sound Design — Marc Anthony Thompson
Stage Manager — Ariana Michel
The Body of Mary: A Play in Three Acts (of God)
The Gym at Judson
243 Thompson Street, New York, NY
First Preview 09.08.26 • Opening Night 09.15.26 • Closing Date 10.08.26
Scenic Design — Forest Entsminger
Costume Design — Dina El-Aziz
Lighting Design — Lauren Bremen
Sound Design — Florian Staab
Props Design — Jonathan Schatzberg
Assistant Stage Manager — Lola Blackman
The Cherry Orchard
Park Avenue Armory - Wade Thompson Drill Hall
634 Park Avenue, New York, NY
First Preview 09.16.26 • Opening Night 09.16.26 • Closing Date 09.26.26
Set Design — Saul Kim
Costume & Associate Set Design — Mel Page
Lighting Design — James Farncombe
Music & Sound Design — Jang Young Gyu
Hair & Makeup Design — Jiyoung Baek
America, Who Hurt You?
Polonsky Shakespeare Center
262 Ashland Place, Brooklyn, NY
First Preview 09.10.26 • Opening Night 09.17.26 • Closing Date 09.27.26
Scenic & Lighting Design — Jiyoun Chang
Costume Design — Toni-Leslie James
Sound Design — Palmer Hefferan
Projection Design — Stefania Bulbarella
Props Design — Thomas Jenkeleit
The Hope Theory
New York City Center - Stage II
131 West 55th Street, New York, NY
First Preview 09.09.26 • Opening Night 09.17.26 • Closing Date 12.06.26
Scenic Design — François-Pierre Couture
Lighting Design — Martha Carter
Sound Design — James Grabowski
Production Stage Manager — Christine Catti
Truly, Howard Hughes
Theatre at St. Jean's
150 East 76th Street, New York, NY
First Preview 09.09.26 • Opening Night 09.17.26 • Closing Date 10.04.26
Set Design — Anne Mundell
Costume Design — Vanessa Leuck
Lighting Design — Anthony Pearson
Sound Design — Peter Brucker
Projection Design — Adam J. Thompson
Props Design — Thomas Jenkeleit
Wig, Hair & Makeup Design — J.J. Janas
Production Stage Manager — Jeff Davolt
Production Manager — David Callahan
Assistant Set Designer — Noah Glaister
Assistant Costume Design — Collin McElroy
Assistant Stage Manager — Becky Abramowitz
Spandex The Musical
Asylum NYC
123 East 24th Street, New York, NY
First Preview 09.17.26 • Opening Night 09.19.26 • Closing Date 09.27.26
Scenic & Video Design — Jefferson Ridenour
Costume Design — Vanessa Leuck
Lighting Design — Mark London
Sound Design — Kai Harada
Stage Manager — Roe Manzo
Production Manager — Keith Herron
That’s it for this week.
Have news about upcoming productions and their production team? Send your news to [email protected]
Help us make this better! What would you like this weekly newsletter to include so it’s more interesting and useful to you? Please send us an email at [email protected]
Till Next Time,
The Tech Table Team
