The OSU Department of Theatre will host the annual winter symposium for the Southwest section of the United States Institute for Theatre Technology on Jan. 14 and 15.

Keynote speakers are William J. Byrnes, provost of Southern Utah University, author and former institute president, and Jerry Nadal, senior vice president of Cirque du Soliel’s resident shows division. Featured artist is author and costumer Rafael Jaen.

Don Childs, a theater faculty member who died Dec. 18, 2011, was the institute’s immediate past president. In a career spanning five decades, he designed more than 200 plays, musicals, dance concerts and exhibitions for academic and professional theaters. His teaching career took him from San Diego to Montreal. At the time of his death, he taught designing at OSU.

A celebration of Child’s life starts at 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts. The public is welcome to attend.

Photo: Don Childs, award-winning designer, educator and mentor, died Dec. 18, 2011.

About 200 students are expected to attend the symposium. The Southwest region is comprised of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, says Daniel Archibald, technical director and production manager for the theater department.

The symposium allows students, educators, professionals and vendors in technical theater to meet and share ideas. Workshops include wig-making, costuming, lighting and sound technology, props crafts, management and rigging. A student design competition with more than $12,500 in prizes will be awarded in multiple categories. Registration begins Friday afternoon. The OSU Department of Theatre is one of 24 departments in the College of Arts and Sciences.