8:10 a.m., May 26, 2010----A recent workshop hosted by the University of Delaware Department of Theatre turned out to have more fireworks than the usual academic program. In fact, the 65 participants had quite a blast at the two-day event.

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The May 11-12 workshop focused on the use of pyrotechnics in stage productions and attracted theatre graduate students and professionals from UD, other area colleges and regional theatres, in addition to some Delaware state fire and safety officials.

Eileen Smitheimer, associate professor of theatre who teaches courses in technical production, said the workshop grew out of a request from graduate students enrolled in a “Special Topics Seminar” class, who were asked to suggest subjects they were interested in covering. Offering a session on pyrotechnics was more complicated and required more preparation than most previous seminars, Smitheimer said.

“Since pyro is governed by the state fire marshal laws, it is not something you just do,” she said. “I started looking for folks who would be willing to teach it, realizing that they needed to be licensed in the state and have years of knowledge.”

Assisted by UD fire protection engineer Kevin McSweeney, who also shared his expertise as part of a panel discussion, three pyrotechnics specialists gave presentations at the workshop. They were:

• Denis O'Regan, owner of Firework Concepts, Delaware's only pyrotechnics firm, has done creative and technical pyrotechnic work for special events across the United States, including national political conventions and inaugural balls, and in London, Canada, the Caribbean and China.

• Keith Kolasinski, who works as a professional pyrotechnician for a large theme park in Florida, has been a fireworks supervisor and pyrotechnics designer for various parks, shows and indoor and outdoor events. He also is a professional stage combat instructor and performer and a professional street entertainer.

• David Glenn, an illusionist and pyrotechnician, is a former technical director at Arena Stage and is now a special effects consultant for Arena, Shakespeare Theater and other companies.

Smitheimer called the UD workshop a success, noting that it was not intended to turn theatre students or professionals into pyrotechnical specialists but to give them a basic overview of what is involved.

“The whole point was to teach the importance of safety,” she said. “We were not teaching anyone to become pyrotechnics technicians but instead to learn about things they would need to know to oversee such an event in their facilities.”

Article by Ann Manser
Photos by Ambre Alexander