Design and production firm The Hettema Group (THG) has been confirmed as the producer of the 21st annual Thea Awards Gala, to be held at Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, on 21 March.

Created by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), the Theas are among the most prestigious awards in the attractions industry, bringing together a broad cross-section of owners, creatives and suppliers for a black-tie dinner.

Among the 16 Thea honorees for 2015 are Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios Florida (Thea Paragon Award); "It's a small world," Disneyland (Thea Classic Award); Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, Zhuhai, China; the National 911 Memorial Museum, New York; and Wings of Time, Sentosa Island.

Led by attractions industry stalwart Phil Hettema (show producer/creative director), the THG production team for the Thea Awards Gala includes Tom Vanucci (show director) and Jeff Kurtti (script writer). The company has built a reputation for innovation through a string of high-profile projects, most recently including the One World Observatory, currently under construction at the new World Trade Center building in New York City. Himself the recipient of five Thea awards, Phil Hettema’s credits include projects for Steven Spielberg, Universal Studios, the Walt Disney Company, Dreamworks SKG, Sid and Marty Krofft, and David L. Wolper.

"We know that we're in good hands and can expect a show of the highest caliber, in keeping with THG and TEA standards of excellence and creativity,” TEA president Steve Birket of Birket Engineering.

“Not only is Phil one of the top creative figures in themed entertainment, he's also been an active and valued leader within the Themed Entertainment Association for many years, including TEA's annual Summit and SATE conference, and service on the Thea Awards Committee. There's no one better to create the themed entertainment industry's most magical night of the year."

To read a report on the TEA’s latest SATE conference, from the Q4 edition of Attractions Management magazine, click here.