8/10/2020
Supporting the Arts / Community Impact
The Smith Center’s stages may be dark, but that hasn’t stopped several of the center’s veteran volunteers lending a listening ear. “With The Smith Center experiencing such a financial setback, our need to raise money is critical,” says Director of Annual Fund Carol Hollatz. “That’s why we enlisted some of our most dedicated volunteers."
8/5/2020
Education and Outreach
Belisa Brownlee admits she never wanted to teach. At least, not until she entered law school and realized becoming a lawyer was no longer her dream. When Brownlee observed a close friend entering the teaching profession, she felt the draw of a new career. Now after teaching for 11 years, she has combined her talents with education and the law.
8/3/2020
Inside the Theater
Russ McCrory vows that when he saw Broadway musical “American Idiot” at The Smith Center, he felt hooked from the first guitar chord. “I knew I found my happy place at The Smith Center,” says McCrory, 32, who has lived in Las Vegas since he was 5 years old. “I’ve been coming back ever since.” McCrory has the programs to prove it.
8/3/2020
Education and Outreach
Elizabeth Harris feels nothing but enthusiasm about arriving at school an hour early to coach her Mathletes students. “These kids all have a desire to improve their skills, and bring a positive attitude to class each day,” says Harris, a teacher at Lied STEM Academy. “When kids come to you and ask for more math, the only correct answer to that question is ‘yes.’”
7/31/2020
Inside the Theater
Many shows offer surprising musical inventions and innovations. And countries across the globe offer their own, lesser-known instruments that produce entrancing sounds. To celebrate Uncommon Instrument Awareness Day, explore below some unusual instruments played by top artists at The Smith Center.
7/28/2020
Education and Outreach
Solan became the second Best Actress winner of The Smith Center’s annual NVHSMTA, allowing her to compete on Broadway in the Jimmy Awards where she placed as a finalist among the country’s top young performers. Now a professional actress and vocal coach, Solan confirms these experiences significantly shaped her performing.
7/27/2020
Education and Outreach
As a young man, Robert Cuccurullo struggled with substance abuse. “It was a tough road there for a while,” says Cuccurullo. But Cuccurullo successfully overcame his substance abuse and at age 41, returned to school to receive a Bachelor of Arts in history and education.
7/20/2020
Education and Outreach
Carolyn Lara, STEM Robotics teacher at Spring Valley High School, didn’t let COVID-19 or the closure of Clark County School District (CCSD) stop her from guiding her students to learn and lead. This is one of many reasons The Smith Center honored Lara as one of the top 20 teachers for its fifth-annual Heart of Education Awards.
7/20/2020
Performances and Artists
The first time Anne Mazzola saw a Las Vegas Philharmonic performance at The Smith Center, it fulfilled her childhood dream of attending a world-class concert. “When the Las Vegas Philharmonic performs at The Smith Center, it’s sheer magic,” says the Vegas resident.
7/16/2020
Education and Outreach
As a band instructor, Mark Nekoba gently pushes his students to improve on their musical abilities, teaching students instruments they never thought they’d play, helping them to read music and identify parts of music. But Nekoba says his emphasis in the classroom is always to teach personal conduct above all else.