About Bill Sapsis

Bill Sapsis, President of Sapsis Rigging, Inc., began his entertainment industry rigging career in 1972.   His work on Broadway includes the original productions of A Chorus Line, The Runner Stumbles, The Little Me and Truckload. He was the Technical Director for a number of regional opera companies including the Tri-Cities Opera Company and the Augusta Opera Company.

Bill opened Sapsis Rigging in 1981 and has since grown the company into a multi-faceted installation/production/service company with clients on 5 continents.

Bill is an internationally recognized leader in the stage rigging industry. His commitment to safety related issues is well established and his articles on rigging and safety can be found in numerous entertainment industry publications while his lectures can be heard around the world. He has authored two books for the entertainment rigging industry: Heads and Tales (© 2007) and Entertainment Rigging for the 21st Century (© 2015)

Bill is a member of the Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) Council and Chair of the ETCP Rigging Subject Matter Experts. He holds a seat on the ESTA Technical Standards Committee that oversees the ANSI-accredited Technical Standards Program and is the Chair of the TSP’s Rigging Working Group. Bill is also a member of the ESTA Foundation's Board of Directors and the Behind the Scenes committee. 

Bill is an ETCP Recognized Trainer.  He is a USITT Fellow and past member of the USITT Board of Directors.  He is a member of ABTT.  He is also a founding member of the Long Reach Long Riders, an industry based charity motorcycle group.  Bill was the 2010 recipient of the Eva Swan Award, ESTA’s highest honor.  Bill produces the North American Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference (NATEAC), a quadrennial event held in New York City.

In his civilian life Bill has three kids and a cat.