M. Eric Rimes

Curriculum Vitae

 

EDUCATION

1992 – 1995                         Yale School of Drama

Graduate Study in Theatrical Technical Direction, Theater Engineering and Production Management

Master of Fine Arts coursework completed May, 1995

           

1987 – 1992                         Florida State University, School of Theater

Undergraduate Study in Theatrical Lighting Design, Theatrical Technical Direction and minor study in Visual Arts: Photography

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatrical Design Awarded May, 1992

 

ACADEMIC WORK EXPERIENCE

2003 – present       

North Carolina School of the Arts, Design and Production:

Head of Lighting Technology - Courses Taught:  Lighting Fundamentals, Basic Stage Electrics, Commercial Stage Electrics, Moving Light Seminar, Pyrotechnics, Advanced Hog Programming

Electrics Shop Supervisor - Supervised students during Production class

2007 - Presenter at USITT-SE - projections in theater

2006 - Guest Lecturer, Arizona State University. Gave lectures on commercial theater touring and commercial stage electrics to 3 classes.

2004, 2005 - Participant in USITT as presenter

2005 - Guest Lecturer, Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. Lectured high school students on networking and the politics of the Entertainment industry.

2001 - Guest Lecturer, Master’s class, U.S.I.T.T., Cleveland, OH

1999 - Guest Lecturer, Theater Department, University of Florida

1999 - Guest Lecturer, School of Theatre, Florida State University

 

INSTITUTIONAL SERVICE

North Carolina School of the Arts, Design and Production

2003 – Present       Served as alternate on Faculty Council

2004                      Developed and taught a new course, Commercial Stage Electrics at NCSA

2004                     Re-worked and re-named “Lighting Design” Curriculum with another faculty member into the current “Lighting” curriculum in order to integrate Lighting Technology into the program.

 

PROFESSIONAL WORK IN THEATER TECHNOLOGY

2004 – present         Wicked, National Tour, Advance Electrician

Production Electrician: Robert Fehribach

Responsible for 8-electrician crew, set-up of electrics on first day of load-in and preparation for second day; including set-up of projection units, moving lights and “front-of-house” conventional units. Also assisting Head Electrician for the second day of load-in and training local crews for show performances.  Production performed at various venues for 3-9 weeks each.

2004 - present              Nutcracker, Carolina Ballet, Production Electrician

Lighting Designer: Ross Kolman

Responsible for 8-electrician crew, load-in, load-out, re-load-in and strike or electrics and lighting equipment including Apollo scrollers, CXI scrollers, Martin moving lights, snow machines and fiber optic star drop.  Production took place in the Memorial Theater in Raleigh, NC..

2004                          Jekyll and Hyde, North Carolina Theater, Pyrotechnician

Technical Director: Curtis Jones

Developed techniques and procedures for pyrotechnic effects of regional theater production in Memorial Theater, Raleigh, NC.

2004                          Wicked, Broadway production, Moving Light Technician

Production Electrician: Robert Fehribach

Responsibilities included deck electrics, fog effects and moving-light repair for 58-unit plot in Gershwin Theater, New York, NY

2004                          Beehive, SGH Entertainment, Lighting Designer

Director: Wendy Short-Hayes

Created lighting design for cabaret version of Beehive, in Hey City Theater in Minneapolis, MN.

2003                          Luciadi Lammermoor, Greensboro Opera Company, Production Electrician

Lighting Designer: Kent Dorsey

Responsibilities included supervision of 12-electrician crew, set-up and realization of lighting design.  Production took place in the Memorial Auditorium, Greensboro, NC

2003                          V-Corporation, Minneapolis, MN, Electrician

Electrics Shop Supervisor: Charles Craun

Performed basic maintenance and repair on equipment for 8 tours of V-Corporation.  This included High-End X-spots and Studio Colors, video projectors and standard ETC equipment.


 

2003                          Beauty and the Beast, National Tour, Disney Theatricals, Pyrotechnician

Lighting Designer: Natasha Katz

Technical Supervisor: David Benkin

Performed duties of pyrotechnician and deck electrician for 3rd national tour.  Responsible for pyrotechnics, radio controlled set electrics and fog effects.  Production performed at various venues for 1-2 weeks each.

2001 – 2003            Aida, National Tour, Disney Theatricals, Head Electrician

Lighting Designer: Natasha Katz

Production Electrician: Robert Fehribach

This position required training in Laser repair and operation.

Responsibilities included all aspects of set-up, load-out and move of electrics and lighting equipment for National Tour.  Five road electricians and sixteen local electricians in each city were on the crew.  Equipment included: fiber optic star-drops, Colorram II scrollers, Vari*lite moving lights with Virtuoso, air-cooled laser systems, water, haze and smoke systems and wireless set electrics.  Production performed at various venues for 2-8 weeks each.  Negotiated changes in lighting rental package that resulted in savings of $1000 a week in rental costs and $500 a month in labor.  Coordinated changes in lighting design to save the producer an additional $1000 a month in labor costs.

2000                          Ragtime, Bus and Truck, Charlotte Wilcox Inc., Electrician

Production Electrician: Robert Fehribach

Supervised local crew of 4 electricians. Supervised set-up and load-out of electrics equipment, maintained moving-light system of 26 Vari*lites with Artisan and performed duties of running both consoles during performances.  Instituted changes in re-programming that saved the producer 1-2 hours of load-in time per week.  Re-designed cable layout for electrics in production to save additional time in load-in and required less maintenance.  Production performed at various venues for 1-2 weeks each.

2000                          Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding, Hey City Theater, Technical Director

General Manager: John Hey

Supervised lighting and sound design and a 6-stagehand crew.  Planned and supervised the installation of all departments for production into the Hannah theater in Cleveland, OH.  This was a sit-down production.

2000                          Cabaret, National Tour, Charlotte Wilcox Inc., Electrician

Production Electrician: Todd Davis

Operated Artisan and Obsession consoles for National Tour.  One venue only – Detroit Fisher Theater.


 

1999 – 2000            Martin Guerre, Pre-Broadway Tour, Alan Wasser Associates, Pyrotechnician

Production Electrician: Robert Fehribach

This show required working with an imported, alcohol-based flame-paste

Supervised installation and strike of electrics equipment on-stage including conventional units, de-luge water curtain, Martin moving lights, DHA light curtains, Vari*lites and MDG Haze systems. Supervised and operated systems for use of flame-paste and butane-based pyrotechnics for pre-broadway tour to Detroit - Fisher, Washington DC – Kennedy Center, Seattle – 5th Avenue and Los Angeles - Ahmansen.  The production performed at each venue for 6-12 weeks each.

1999                           Spirit, Bus and Truck, Stagedoor Productions, Moving-Light Technician

Production Electrician: Janice Gary

Supervised a 4-electrician local crew. Set-up, maintained and programmed moving light plot of Vari-lite and Cyberlight units and a Wholehog II console.  Production performed at various venues for 1-2 weeks each.

1999                           Jekyll and Hyde, Bus and Truck, Networks, Head Electrician

Lighting Designer: Bev Emmons

Production Electrician: David Reese

Responsible for all aspects of set-up, load-out and move of electrics and lighting equipment for National Bus and Truck. Three road electricians and twelve local electricians on the crew.  Equipment included: Colorram II scrollers, Vari*lite moving lights with Artisan, water, haze and 1.4G pyrotechnics.  Production performed at various venues for 1-2 weeks each.  

1995 – 1999             Beauty and the Beast, National Tour, Disney Theatricals

Lighting Designer: Natasha Katz

Production Electrician: Scott Schilk

1998 - 1999              Head Electrician:

Responsible for all aspects of production including conventional lighting, Colorram II scrollers, moving lights as stated below, pyrotechnics as stated below and front-light operations including Pani-projector and spotlight operation.  Supervised a crew of 5 road and 16 local electricians.

1997 - 1998              Moving-Light Technician:

Responsible for maintenance, re-programming, and operation of Mini-Artisan console and Vari*lite system of 78 instruments.  Cut down re-programming time from 16 hours to 5 and improved maintenance of units during tenure.  Developed system for tracking and logging fixture hours in maintenance, which resulted in savings of $1000 a month for producer.


 

1995 - 1997              Pyrotechnician: 

Responsible for all pyrotechnics, fog and haze systems and radio controlled dimming system for electrified scenic units.  Worked on re-design of Lumiere Hands (butane effect, actor worn) and Mrs. Potts Smoke (changed from smoke charge to dry ice effect).  Designed safety systems for each venue on tour and acted as liaison to fire marshal in each city.

This position required an ATF type 34 low explosives permit.

1995                           Scenic Technologies, Automation Department, Production Resource Group, Assistant Supervisor

Supervisor:  Michael Paulin

Responsible for estimates, production progress and representative of department in meetings as assigned by supervisor.  Worked on several projects including Beauty and the Beast – Toronto for Disney Theatrical and T2-3D for Universal Studios.

1993 – 1995             Master’s Lighting Service, Yale Masters Association, Founder and Operator

 

Using initial capital of $20,000 started a lighting rental company for Yale undergraduates.  The company, which is still in existence today was created to save the Yale Council of Masters the cost of renting equipment for the 20-30 productions they produce every year.  The Master’s Lighting Service installs dimmers in various venues as needed and provides instrumentation and control consoles for as many of the mentioned productions as possible every year.

1994                           Theatre Projects Consultants, Assistant Consultant

Supervisor:  Allen Kibbe

Performed duties as assigned including, drafting in AutoCAD, budgetary estimates and research for consultant pool.  Worked as sole consultant on Merrimack College project.

 


 

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

1996                           Vari*lite Technical Training:

Series 200 Technician

Series 300 Technician

Artisan Programming

2004                          Technician Training: Service Technician

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION

1991 - Present          Member: I.A.T.S.E. Local 115

2007 - present Member: I.A.T.S.E. Local 635