Educational Resources

This bibliography is not intended to be a definitive compilation, but merely an additional resource for locating relevant reference materials. Neither The ESTA Foundation nor the Committee makes any representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or content of any of the resources contained in the bibliography.

The Committee intends to update the listing periodically as new information is provided to it. If you do not see rigging reference material that should be included in the bibliography, please contact Lori Rubinstein at with the complete bibliography listing information.

Please note: If you would like additional information about the materials listed in the bibliography, please contact the publisher or author. The Seminars and Training Committee does not provide or sell these materials.

ANSI E1.1 - 1999 Entertainment Technology - Construction and Use of Wire Rope Ladders. ESTA Technical Standards Program Rigging Working Group

ANSI E1.2 - 2000 Entertainment Technology - Construction, Use and Maintenance of Aluminum Trusses and Towers. ESTA Technical Standards Program Rigging Working Group

ANSI E1.2 - 2006 Entertainment Technology - Construction, Use and Maintenance of Aluminum Trusses and Towers. ESTA Technical Standards Program Rigging Working Group

ANSI E1.8 - 2005 Entertainment Technology - Loudspeaker Enclosures Intended for Overhead Suspension—Classification, Manufacture and Structural Testing. ESTA Technical Standards Program Rigging Working Group

ANSI E1.15 - 2006 Entertainment Technology - Recommended Practices and Guidelines for the Assembly and Use of Theatrical Boom & Base Assemblies. ESTA Technical Standards Program Rigging Working Group

ANSI E1.21 - 2006 Entertainment Technology - Temporary Ground-Supported Overhead Structures Used to Cover Stage Areas and Support Equipment in the Production of Outdoor Entertainment Events. ESTA Technical Standards Program Rigging Working Group

The Art of Knotting & Splicing Fourth Edition. Cyrus L. Day, Edited by M. Lee Hoffman Jr. and Ray O. Beard Jr., United States Naval Institute Press, Annapolis MD, 1986

The Artist’s Complete Health and Safety Guide Third Edition. Monona Rossol, Allworth Press, New York NY, 1994

The Backstage Handbook: An Illustrated Almanac of Technical Information Third Edition.  Paul Carter and George Chiang (Illustrator), Broadway Press, New York NY, 1994

CMC Rope Rescue Manual Third Edition. James A. Frank, CMC Rescue, Inc. Santa Barbara CA, 1998

Developing an Operations Manual for a Performing Arts Facility. Reid Neslage and Dr. Randall A Davidson, 1991

Entertainment Rigging: A Practical Guide for Riggers, Designers and Managers. Harry Donovan, Rigging Seminars, Seattle WA 2002

The Event Safety Guide. Health & Safety Executive Books, United Kingdom, 1999

Greening Up Our Houses: A Guide to a More Ecologically Sound Theater. Larry K. Fried and Theresa J. May, Drama Book Publishers, New York NY, 1995

Handbook of Rigging: For Construction and Industrial Operations. W.E.Rossnagel, Lindley R. Higgins, Joseph A. MacDonald (Photographer), W. A. Rossnagel. McGraw-Hill, NY, 1988

HEADS and Tales. Bill Sapsis, Sapsis Rigging, Philadelphia, PA, 2007

Health and Safety Guide for Film, TV and Theatre. Monona Rossol, Allworth Press, New York, NY, 2000

Illustrated Theatre Production Guide. John Holloway

Introduction to Fall Protection Third Edition. J. Nigel Ellis Ph.D, CSP, P.E., American Society of Safety Engineers, Des Plaines IL, 1993

An Introduction to Rigging in the Entertainment Industry.  Chris Higgs, Entertainment Technology Press, Cambridge, England 2002

The Klutz Book of Knots. John Cassidy, The Klutz Press, Palo Alto CA, 1985

Modular Loudspeaker Flying Hardware System. ATM Audio Visual, Gardena CA

On Rope Second Edition. Allen Padgett, Bruce Smith, National Speleological Society, 1997

Pocket Ref  Second Edition. Thomas J. Glover, Sequoia Publishing Inc, 1997

A Practical Guide to Health and Safety in the Entertainment Industry. Marco Van Beek, Entertainment Technology Press, Cambridge, 2000

Rappelling Second Edition. Tom Martin, SEARCH, Mt Sterling KY, 1988

Reference Cards for Entertainment Rigging. Harry Donovan, Rigging Seminars

Results of Stage Rigging Hardware Tests, 1986 through 1991. United States Institute for Theatre Technology, NY, 1991

Rigging for Entertainment;  Regulations and Practice. Chris Higgs, Entertainment Technology Press, Cambridge, 2003

Riggers Handbook. I & I Sling Co., Inc., Aston PA

Rigging Manual for Iron Workers. International Association Bridge, Structural & Ornamental Iron Workers, AFL-CIO, Washington DC, 1976

RigRight 1.0 Software. Harry Donovan, Rigging Seminars

Rope, Knots, Hitches & Splices. Wellington Puritan, Madison GA, 1968

Scene Design and Stage Lighting Seventh Edition. W. Oren Parker and R. Craig Wolf, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Fort Worth TX, 1996

Scene Technology Third Edition. Richard L. Arnold, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs NJ, 1993

Single-Failure-Proof Design for Theatre Safety. Olaf Soot, USITT Journal, 1986

The Splicing Handbook: Techniques for Modern and Traditional Ropes. Barbara Merry (Editor), John Darwin (Contributor), New England Ropes, New Bedford MA, 2000

Stage Rigging Handbook Second Edition. Jay O. Glerum, Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale IL, 1997

Stage Scenery, Its Construction and Rigging Third Edition. A.S. Gillette and J. Michael Gillette, Harper & Row, New York NY, 1988 (Out of Print )

Stage Specs: A Guide to Legit Theatres. League of American Theatres and Producers, 1990 (Out of Print)

The Stagecraft Handbook. Daniel A. Ionazzi, Betterway Books, Cincinnati OH, 1996

Standard Specifications for Theatrical Rigging. J. R. Clancy, Inc., Syracuse NY, 1988

Strength of Materials, Block and Tackle, Tackle Maintenance. The Crosby Group, Tulsa, OK, 1991

Structural Design for the Stage. Alys E. Holden and Bronislaw J. Sammler, Focal Press, 1991

Structures: Or, Why Things Don't Fall Down.  J.E. Gordon, Plenum Press, New York, 1978

Technical Design Solutions for Theatre (The Technical Brief Collection, Volume 1). Ben Sammler, Don Harvey

Technical Design Solutions for Theatre (The Technical Brief Collection, Volume 2). Ben Sammler, Don Harvey

Technical Rescue Riggers Guide. Rick Lipke, Conterra, Inc, 1998

Theatre Backstage from A to Z Fourth Edition. Warren C. Lounsbury and Norman C. Boulanger, University of Washington Press, Seattle WA, 2000

Theater Technology Second Edition. George C. Izenour, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York , NY, 1997

Theatre Engineering and Stage Machinery.  Toshiro Ogawa, Entertainment Technology Press, Japan, 2000

Theatrical Design & Production. J. Michael Gillette

Why Buildings Fall Down.  Mathys Levy and Mario Salvadori, W.W. Norton & Co, Inc, New York, 1994

Why Buildings Stand Up.  Mario Salvadori, W. W. Norton & Co, Inc, New York, 1990

Wire Rope Sling Users Manual. American Iron and Steel Industry, Wire Rope Technical Board, Stevensville MD, 1990

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