6/29/2020
Education and Outreach
Richard Pokropski has no trouble filling his days. During the school year, the teacher arrives at Centennial High School at 5:30 a.m. daily to train cadets with junior reserve officers’ training corps (JROTC). This follows with a full day of teaching Naval Science and mentoring students in pursuing college and career dreams.
6/25/2020
Inside the Theater
Southern Nevadans can take great pride that world-renowned movie stars have graced the stage at The Smith Center. As the center’s curtains remain drawn during its temporary closure, enjoy this list of top film stars to perform at The Smith Center and their popular movies to revisit.
6/23/2020
Community Impact
“I yearned to work here,” says Smith Center volunteer Mary Richard, whose career as a singer, dancer and actress includes performing off-Broadway and appearing in “Miss Congeniality” and other feature films. She now urges others to volunteer and offer support during The Smith Center's closure.
6/23/2020
Education and Outreach
Avila still remembers the first time he heard mariachi music. As a high school student, he happened to catch the mariachi class practicing before school, and became mesmerized. “I saw everyone just watching them rehearse and I was in awe,” he says. “I joined my freshman year and grew to love the whole idea of it.”
6/22/2020
Education and Outreach
Christian and Houchens became fast friends a decade ago, sharing enthusiasm as they worked together on school committees and chaperoning field trips. When their friendship evolved into romance a few years ago, Christian admits he felt nervous. “Our biggest fear of dating was that if we did, and things didn’t work out, how would it mess up our friendship circles and working environment?” he remembers.
6/19/2020
Inside the Theater / Discovering The Smith Center
Reopening a performing arts center during a pandemic poses many challenges. Smith Center President and CEO Myron Martin explains some of the challenges that are preventing The Smith Center from reopening anytime soon.
6/12/2020
Inside the Theater
As Southern Nevada moves forward with its initial reopening phase, community members still await the day they can gather again for live performances. This at least provides more time for reading. That’s why The Smith Center curated the latest list below of books that tie directly into performances that visit the center’s theaters.
6/10/2020
Supporting the Arts
Lynne Lerner takes great pride in being involved with The Smith Center from its beginning. “The opening night is still my favorite event there,” says Lynne, whose contributions with her husband Mark helped support the opening of The Smith Center, a nonprofit organization.
6/5/2020
Supporting the Arts
When the pandemic halted normal business operations earlier this year, The Smith Center’s development team feared the nonprofit might lose some of its grant support from corporations, a vital source of revenue. That’s exactly when Ameriprise Financial decided to throw a lifeline to its nonprofit partners, including The Smith Center.
5/21/2020
Inside the Theater
Hundreds of years ago, during the age of Beethoven, Bach and Mozart, audiences were welcome to applaud between movements – and whenever else they felt like it. In fact, if audiences didn’t applaud between movements, composers would likely take offense.