Smith Center Blog

Performances and Artists

Ring In The Holidays Virtually With The Smith Center

There’s no place like home for the holidays, as the old song goes. That’s especially true this year amidst the pandemic as most families will gather individually at home instead of venturing out for large gatherings.

Discovering The Smith Center / Retrospective Series

Great Art Takes Wing: The Creation of the Genius in Flight Sculpture

Smith Center visitors often catch their breath at the towering sculpture atop the Grand Lobby staircase. A muscular figure with massive wings eternally outstretched, the bronze, 16-foot Genius in Flight sculpture has served as a solemn gatekeeper to thousands of captivating performances.

Community Impact

Virtual Workshop Addresses Challenges of Distance Learning for Students with Disabilities

Smith Center educational consultant Jenna Gabriel doesn’t sugarcoat how screen-based learning poses enormous challenges for students with disabilities. “The unilateral nature of screen-based learning can be extremely difficult for students with high-incidence disabilities like learning and attention issues, and even traumatic for students with autism who find their regular routines disrupted,” Gabriel says.

Discovering The Smith Center / Retrospective Series

The Story Behind The Smith Center’s Pipe Dream Sculpture

Most visitors to The Smith Center take part in a beloved ritual: snapping photos in front of the vibrant Pipe Dream sculpture outside the center’s east entrance. Southern Nevadans of all ages enjoy this colorful collection of pipes as a part of their meaningful experiences with seeing shows and attending special events at the center. Many choose it as the backdrop for photos to commemorate their weddings, graduations and more.

Broadway Las Vegas / Inside the Theater

Test Your Knowledge of Broadway Shows at The Smith Center

When The Smith Center opened in 2012, its top goals included bringing the best of Broadway productions to Southern Nevada audiences. The nonprofit did just that with its Broadway Las Vegas® Series, presenting Tony-winning productions throughout each year – including many shows fresh off the Broadway stage.

Smith Center Experiences That Southern Nevadans Are Thankful For

With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, many Southern Nevadans reflect on all that makes them feel thankful. Even with the numerous challenges of this past year, The Smith Center family expresses deep thanks for those who support the nonprofit during its temporary closure.

Discovering The Smith Center / Retrospective Series

The Showstopping Art at The Smith Center

While The Smith Center may have been conceived to showcase world-class performing arts, it is also a showcase of world-class visual art, including outdoor and indoor sculptures, paintings and lithographs by some of the nation’s most celebrated artists. Roger Thomas, retired Smith Center board member, discusses this world-renowned collection.

Discovering The Smith Center / Retrospective Series

Creating a Beacon for the Community

Many people have enjoyed countless musical performances at The Smith Center over the years, but few people know that the Reynolds Hall building on the center’s campus is actually a musical instrument itself.

Education and Outreach

Nominations Now Open for Sixth-Annual Heart of Education Awards

Nominations opened this week for The Smith Center’s sixth-annual Heart of Education Awards, recognizing outstanding Clark County School District (CCSD) educators who go above and beyond for their students and schools.

Supporting the Arts

How Toyota Helps Drive the Arts Forward

Growing up in Southern Nevada, Cliff Findlay — now Findlay Automotive Group president — had a vision for what Las Vegas could become. This included a thriving city with successful businesses, top schools and robust arts and culture. Now this vision continues, with the Toyota Dealers Association sponsoring The Smith Center’s Broadway Las Vegas Series.