Main Light’s Tri-State team played a key role in the 29th Annual NYSTEA Student Conference held January 9–11, 2026 at the Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon, NY. The event, hosted by NYSTEA (New York State Theatre Education Association), brought together nearly 900 high school students from across New York State for a weekend of theatre workshops, performances, and technical theater activities. The conference featured over 100 workshops led by college faculty, theatre professionals, and industry experts, covering everything from acting and voice to dance and stage tech. In addition to classes, students enjoyed live performances, including five short plays by student playwrights showcased at the conference, and even a “Tech Challenge” competition where tech theater teams raced to complete tasks for top honors.

Al Ridella and Jim Schoenfelder have supported the NYSTEA conference for years (15 for Ridella and 10 for Schoenfelder) and once again provided extensive technical support in 2026. They coordinated a hands-on lighting experience for students, supplying a wide range of professional gear used in modern productions. High-end fixtures such as High-End Systems Lonestar LED profile movers, Chauvet Maverick Storm 2 BeamWash units, Martin MAC Aura PXL washes, and Astera Titan Tubes gave students the opportunity to work with real-world tools.

Main Light also brought the latest control technology, including the ETC Ion Xe 20 and ETC Apex 5 consoles, ETC ColorSource V LED spot fixtures, and Astera QuikPunch fixtures to ensure that students gained experience using advanced platforms and lights. 

Ridella and Schoenfelder led multiple workshops throughout the weekend. Sessions ranged from Lighting 101 and hands-on moving light programming to wiring LED tape for scenic electrics and understanding lighting design paperwork. They also hosted a “Tech Talk” Q&A session, where students engaged directly with working professionals to discuss career paths in the entertainment technology field. Main Light Tri-State additionally provided full lighting support for the student showcase performances, lending expertise and gear to help stage the five winning short plays written by students.

Main Light is proud to have supported the NYSTEA High School Theatre Conference again and to contribute to the development of young talent in the entertainment technology field. Ridella and Schoenfelder plan to continue their involvement, fostering connections between education and industry so that students statewide can shine under the best lights possible.

About Main Light

Main Light stands at the forefront of the entertainment technology industry, offering rentals and used sales of consoles, lighting, truss, and more. With three strategic locations across the U.S., Main Light combines the resources of a national provider with the attentive service of a local partner.

Main Light, Tri-State

100 Central Ave, Teterboro, NJ 07608

Main Light, East

1614 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, DE 19808

Main Light, West

6435 South Valley View Blvd., Suite C, Las Vegas, NV 89118

For more information, visit MainLight.com.