Northern Illinois University
School of Theatre and Dance
College of Visual and Performing Arts

He is an active member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE local 212); the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT); the Entertainment Services and Technology Association (ESTA); and the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA); as well as a lifetime member, corporate sponsor, and the Professional Representative for the Board of Directors of the Illinois Theatre Association (ITA) and a member of the Board of Directors for the University Resident Theatre Association (URTA).  He is also a voting member of the ANSI accredited ESTA Technical Standards Program’s Rigging Working Group, which is responsible for developing American National standards and recommended best practices that facilitate the use of new and existing equipment and promote safe working conditions in the entertainment industry.  He was one of the first forty-five professional riggers to be certified by the ESTA Entertainment Technician Certification Program (ETCP) in both theatrical and arena rigging in 2005 and is an ETCP Subject Matter Expert. He also is an ETCP Recognized Trainer, OSHA MEWP (personnel lift) trainer, OSHA Lift Truck (forklift) trainer, and an ETCP Recognized Employer.

 

Professor Nunnally is the owner, president, and system designer at Vertigo™, a performer flying effects and specialty rigging company.  Through Vertigo, Professor Nunnally provides flying effects for hundreds of productions per year, including numerous productions of Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, The Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Tarzan, Billy Elliot, Frozen, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Seussical, and A Christmas Carol. Some notable professional credits include the Broadway tours of Camelot, Dr. Dolittle, Tarzan, and 9 to 5, and the Broadway production of Curtains.  His special brand of flying effects has taken him to many destinations, including Europe, Africa, Central America, South America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean. Other high profile flying effects designed by Professor Nunnally include an 800-foot zip line for Machine Gun Kelly’s Mainstream Sellout Tour across the Cleveland Browns Stadium, various effects for professional NBA mascots, and the Splashdown Party for Space X’s Inspiration 4 astronauts. VertigoTM also performs rigging inspections, training sessions, repairs, installations, and custom solutions for all manner of performance venues.

 

In addition to his professional work, Professor Nunnally presents an annual series of master classes on performer rigging, known as the TOP Flight Academy.  He can also be found leading sessions and master classes on a wide variety of topics at national and international conferences such as LDI, USITT, SETC, FILO, and URTA, as well as numerous EdTA festivals and events across the country.