One of the few bright spots in what has been a pretty dismal 2009 has been the goings-on on and off Broadway. I can't remember a spring season so congested with noteworthy openings of legitimate Tony contenders and we were especially pleased to see how many included a media component. Maybe that's not a development pleasing to all, but for Scharff Weisberg it made for an eventful few months.

A lot of the credit for the media invasion of theater goes to the technology, which has become more powerful while shrinking in size and cost. The primary tools of the trade - media servers, projectors and LED video screens - are more "theater-ready" making them easier to install and operate.

For example, the current projector of choice is the 10,000 Lumen 1080p DLP projector, which is significantly quieter and smaller than previous models with much improved lamp-life. LED video screens have also come a long way in terms of noise and weight, with some of the newer models doing without cooling fans entirely. The LED screen we're supplying to "Shrek - The Musical" only weighs 5 lbs per sq foot.

None of the technology would matter much without high-quality production and media design behind it and for that we have to thank the artists we've been working with. Since there isn't a Tony Award for Projection Design at this time, we can root for all of the designers who are, in our eyes, all award winners. Here's our honor role for 2009:

Zachary Borovay - "Xanadu"
Laura Frank - "Shrek-The Musical"
Wendall Harrington - "To Be Or Not To Be"
Elaine J. McCarthy - "Impressionism"
Dustin O'Neill - "Guys and Dolls"
Sven Ortel - "Hamlet"
Jeff Sugg - "33 Variations"
Tal Yarden - "Distracted"

We also want to extend our congratulations to our friend Herrick Goldman, who designed the lighting for the rock musical that finally rocked - "Rooms". And, to all those other talented men and women in the projection and lighting design profession we salute you and look forward to having the honor of working with you soon.