What's New at SRI
December 10, 2008
Paulson & Sapsis team up at Madison Square Garden.
Rocky Paulson and Bill Sapsis, two of the leading rigging instructors in the United States, recently conducted a 3 day master class at Madison Square Garden. The class was attended by members of the Garden staff and Local 1 riggers.
The three day class covered Arena and Theatrical styles of rigging with an emphasis on problem solving. Rocky admitted that "the math can get a little heavy at times but these guys stuck with it. They did a great job." The final portion of the class was spent drop-testing a 220 pound weight to simulate a technician falling off a truss. "The forces involved in arresting a fall can be very surprising", Bill observed, "and the results bring home the importance of having the right fall protection equipment."
"Rocky and I haven't held a class together since 1994" noted Bill. "Up to now our schedules just never lined up. Rocky is the consummate teacher and his attention to detail is awesome." Rocky added that "Madison Square Garden is a great place to teach. The staff was very eager to have this class and their commitment to safety is inspiring. They're already planning on the next round of classes."
July 16,2008
Sapsis Rigging Goes to the Opera 
Sapsis Rigging, Inc. was part of the critically acclaimed Lincoln Center Festival production of Die Soldaten at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. The company provided rigging consultation, design, and equipment for this landmark opera production from 20th-century German composer Bernd Alois Zimmermann. The rigging equipment for Die Soldaten, which included over 150 chain hoists and approximately 3,000' of truss, was part of an overall load in that took two weeks to complete.
Mike Sapsis, who shared onsite supervisor duties with son, Paul, noted, "Working in this venue is always interesting. The 55,000-sq.-ft. space is great to work in, but, because it was built in 1877, hanging even a normal show in here can be a challenge. Die Soldaten was anything but normal. This production, with the moving risers and everything else going on, presented it's own set of demands. Thanks to a great team and excellent communication with the Lincoln Center festival design and production teams, we put this project together quickly and safely.
April 23, 2008
Sapsis Rigging Hangs with the Pope in New York City
Sapsis Rigging provided rigging production management services for the Papal arrival and departure ceremonies held at JFK Airport. These services included systems design, load certification and liaison between the production companies and the engineering staff at JFK. It also included onsite supervision of all hanging elements. Mike Sapsis, SRI team leader, noted; "Working in this industry presents a new challenge every day. The scope of this project, coupled with the fact that we were in an airplane hanger, made it all the more interesting...and fun."
November 27, 2007
Sapsis Rigging in New York
Sapsis Rigging recently provided rigging services for two special events in New York City.
For the launch of the new Target Model-Less Fashion Show, Sapsis Rigging provided an eight-legged, self-climbing ground support system in Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Station. The rig was 40' wide and 80' long and was used to support lighting, audio and Barco projectors. The projectors were side-mounted to allow images to be projected in several directions. The Model-Less Fashion Show was billed as the world's first fashion show without models.
At the same time Sapsis Rigging provided the rigging for the latest 7th on Sale AIDS Benefit held at the 26th Street Armory in NYC. Sapsis Rigging has provided the rigging for every 7th on Sale event since they began in 1990. The rig for this year's production included over 75 hoists and approximately 3000 feet of truss.
The semi-annual affair features fashion designer clothing and samples on sale via an eBay auction and three sale days at the Lexington Avenue & 26th Street Armory. 100% of the money raised goes to services and housing for those living with HIV and AIDS.
August 2, 2007
Sapsis Rigging goes Kabuki in Lincoln Center.
Sapsis Rigging, Inc. provided design, installation supervision and equipment for the recent New York City Lincoln Center Festival engagement of the Heisei Nakamura-za Kabuki troupe in Avery Fisher Hall.
Sapsis Rigging, Inc. provided a super-truss rig, forty chain hoists, traditional and not-so traditional counterweight rigging, kabuki drop rigging, travelers and a host of miscellaneous rigs for the week long production.
"It was, to say the least, an interesting project", noted Michael Sapsis, project manager for Sapsis Rigging. "The compressed load-in schedule coupled with language differences made for a few surprises but the Avery Fisher Hall crew, along with the Lincoln Center Festival design team and my supervisors rose to the occasion. Avery Fisher Hall is a concert venue and not designed for this type of production. The rigging load on this show is over 20,000 pounds and is, I believe, the largest ever hung in Avery Fisher Hall.
Sapsis Rigging hangs around Spiderman premiere.
Sapsis Rigging, Inc. provided rigging equipment and labor to support the aerialist group Anti-Gravity during the premier of the Spiderman 3 movie. The event took place at the Top of the Rock observation deck at 30 Rockefeller Center.
SAPSIS RIGGING INC • 233 N Lansdowne Ave • Lansdowne, PA • 19050 • 800-727-7471
