Congratulations to all our award winner, Reid Neslage! Our Honorary Lifetime Member Award winners will be honored on Thursday, March 19, at our Awards, Awards, Awards ceremony in Long Beach as part of our Annual Conference & Stage Expo. We hope to see you there!

Honorary Lifetime Member Award

The Honorary Lifetime Membership Award is bestowed to a small but very distinguished group of individuals who have been recognized for providing a significant period of years of continuous and extraordinary service to the Institute. Prior to 1992, a USITT Membership category made it possible to pay a fee for a period of time in order to become a "Lifetime Member." Once the designation of Honorary Lifetime Member was approved by the Board of Directors, the lifetime membership category was phased out. The first Honorary Lifetime Membership Award was presented in 1992 to Samuel H. Scripps and in 1996 the Institute began using the Honorary Lifetime Membership Award as a way to recognize "a significant period of years of continuous and extraordinary service to the Institute." This honor has been awarded infrequently.

Reid Neslage

Reid’s first employment in the performing arts began in April 1972, initially part-time, with George Thomas Associates, a Phoenix, AZ theatre consulting firm for 5 years.  His duties included rigging and lighting system design; project specifications, and inspection of installed systems. In May 1976, Reid earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Arizona State University. He is former owner and President of H & H Specialties, Inc., a California stage rigging and curtain track manufacturer. He held various positions  from 1977-2022, including equipment design, sales, project management, new product development, and corporate management. In March 2022, the assets of H & H were sold to Texas Scenic Company.  Reid continued to work for Texas Scenic until March 2023.  

Reid’s first experience with USITT was as an exhibitor in 1978 at the  Phoenix, Arizona Conference. He was Vice Commissioner of Health and Safety during the early to mid-1980’s, involved in various panels on rigging safety for 20 years as presenter and/or organizer. In 1993, Reid was conferred the USITT Health & Safety Award. In 2010, he was honored as a USITT Fellow and in 2021, received the Joel E. Rubin Founders Award. He has been a member of the ESTA Rigging Working Group since 1997. In 2020, Reid  received the Above and Beyond Award from the ESTA Technical Standards Program. Currently, he is also a member of the Stage Machinery Working Group. Reid is an ETCP Certified Rigger - Theatre #104, Retired.

"I would like to first thank George Thomas, a Phoenix based theatre consultant, for whom I worked for four years while in college and one year after. His insights on the design of performing arts facilities and the equipment systems required gave me a true appreciation of what it takes to make the magic happen. Second, John Higgins of H & H Specialties, for his knowledge of the history and manufacture of stage rigging equipment & tracks. His commitment to quality, safety and customer service guided me through 46 years at H & H. Third, George Thomas Howard, for his immense knowledge of the performing arts and his willingness to share his experience with me. My wife, Peggy, for her continual support for the past 46 years.

[Receiving this award] reminds me of how special the community of USITT really is."