Smith Center Blog

Performances and Artists

Four Impressive Facts About the Woman Behind Miranda Sings

Teens and young adults nationwide recognize Miranda Sings by her overdrawn lipstick, off-key vocals and adorably obnoxious opinions. And while this fictional character’s antics have earned more than 50 million followers on social media, her fans might be even more impressed by Sings’ creator – the highly talented singer, actress and comedian Colleen Ballinger.

Education and Outreach

Acclaimed Ballet Folklorico Dancers Help Vegas Students Embrace Their Cultural Roots

Villalobos-Cardenas says her students’ participation in the Ballet Folklorico master class was more than just about learning dances and steps. “The experience gave the students a taste of Mexico’s cultural diversity,” she says. “In turn, this helps to grow the students as a community and invest in each other as dancers.”

Discovering The Smith Center

The Smith Center Receives $10 Million Donation from Engelstad Foundation

When visitors now enter The Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall, they will pass through the Betty Engelstad Grand Lobby. These naming rights honor a deeply generous donation from the Engelstad Foundation of $10 million to The Smith Center, a nonprofit organization. The foundation provided this as a matching gift for the Campaign to Sustain The Smith Center, an initiative to grow the center’s endowment fund and secure its future as a community resource for decades to come.

Performances and Artists

The Family Legacy That Keeps Brazilian Music Alive

Her family built a global following as Brazil’s First Family of Music, starting with her grandfather Seu Jorge, a famous mandolin player, followed by her father Sergio and uncle Odair, hailed as one of the world’s preeminent guitar duos.

Performances and Artists

How Some Minor Criminal Activity Launched John Tesh’s Career

John Tesh boasts a long list of accolades for his globally acclaimed career as a radio and television host, pianist and composer, including three gold records, 8 million albums sold and several Emmys. But before all that, he got kicked out of college and his home.

Performances and Artists

How Lena Prima Learned to Light Up Vegas Stages From Her Father, Louis Prima

She spent much of her youth watching her father Louis Prima – one of the most renowned big-band leaders in entertainment history – performing at Vegas’ glamorous lounges in the ‘60s and ‘70s, where she enjoyed his infectious music and charismatic persona up close.

Performances and Artists

Reviving the Classic Vegas Vibe of Louis Prima

Lena Prima’s memories from growing up in Vegas aren’t like most people’s. With her father, Louis Prima, one of the most renowned big-band leaders in music history, much of Lena’s youth was spent at Vegas’ iconic casinos and lounges of the ‘60s and ‘70s to watch him perform.