John's Bio
Photo Credit: Tedo Zhvania
John Huntington is an author, educator, entertainment and show control systems consultant, and sound engineer. He is also an award-winning photographer and storm chaser. Huntington is a Professor Emeritus of Entertainment Technology after more than 24 years at New York City College of Technology, also known as Citytech, which is part of CUNY. At Citytech, he led the audio, live video and networking/control areas, and for more than 20 years designed the show control systems and oversaw the A/V for the Gravesend Inn®.
Huntington's book Show Networks and Control Systems was the industry standard until it was retired in 2023 and replaced with two books, Introduction to Show Networking (2020) and Introduction to Show Control (2023). The original book was first published as Control Systems for Live Entertainment by Focal Press in 1994, 2nd and 3rd editions were published in 2000 and 2007. In 2012, Huntington started self publishing the book, renamed it, and extensively expanded the networking coverage; he released a second edition in 2017. In 2020, Huntington released a new, smaller, cheaper Introduction to Show Networking book and in 2023 released Introduction to Show Control. Details on all books here.
Mr. Huntington has written more than 40 published articles, one of which—Rethinking Entertainment Technology Education—won USITT's Herbert D. Greggs Merit award in 2004; the 2019 follow-up to this article, Bridging Art and State-Of-The Art, also won the same award. He has sound designed over 20 productions in New York City and regional theatres like Seattle Rep, and has given more than 50 master classes, workshops, presentations, papers, and talks at conferences and trade shows throughout the United States.
In 2005, Mr. Huntington was first appointed by ESTA’s Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) as a "Subject Matter Expert" for the entertainment electrician certification test.
Mr. Huntington taught as a visiting professor at the Yale School of Drama for 14 years; taught sound design at NYU; worked as a Systems Consultant for George Kindler's show and audio control firm Thoughtful Designs (a PRG company); as sound engineer at the Metropolitan Opera House and for the annual Met Opera/New York Philharmonic summer parks tour; as a systems engineer for Production Arts Lighting, working on projects like Buccaneer Bay at Treasure Island casino; as technical editor for Theatre Crafts and Lighting Dimensions magazines; and his first job out of college was with Bran Ferren's legendary special effects firm Associates and Ferren, helping to build projectors for Pink Floyd and working on (and even appearing in) movies like Little Shop of Horrors and The Manhattan Project.
Mr. Huntington studied technical design, production, theatre engineering and sound at the Yale School of Drama (MFA) and Ithaca College (BFA). He lives in New York City and is a member of Local #1 IATSE stagehands. Mr. Huntington is also a die-hard music fan, whitewater and sea kayaker, mountain and road biker, and chases tornadoes each spring in the plains.
John's Academic CV In PDF Format—Updated July 2020
Some photo highlights of my career here.