7/14/2020
Discovering The Smith Center /
Inside the Theater
Despite its ongoing temporary closure, The Smith Center’s campus-wide deep cleaning and disinfecting continues on a daily basis. The Smith Center just gained a cutting-edge tool to prevent the spread of any infection: the Clorox® Total 360® System, which uses an electrostatic sprayer to ensure the even those hard-to-reach, difficult-to-clean areas are properly treated.
7/13/2020
Inside the Theater
Many audience members lose themselves in the pages of their show programs, rife with performance previews and feature articles on artists and theater magic. Little do many know, these Smith Center guests take part in a long and surprising legacy. The history of theater programs — also called playbills — dates back hundreds of years.
7/13/2020
Education and Outreach
Last year, teacher Claudia Ahumada hosted a special birthday party. Instead of accepting presents, she asked friends, family and community members to donate birthday gifts for low-income students at her school, Matt Kelly Elementary School.
7/8/2020
Education and Outreach
Tyler Swick says he likes the idea of breaking the mold. Since founding the music program at Henderson’s Ellis Elementary School just two years ago, Swick has successfully led “outside-the-box” thinking to grow the music club program to involve nearly a quarter of the school’s entire population in music instruction.
7/6/2020
Education and Outreach
When one of Michelle Taylor’s former kindergarten students called her in 2015, she heard fear in his voice. That’s because the young boy’s mother — both of them living in Laramie, Wyoming — was suffering a stroke. “Though his neighbors were home, and his uncle lived an hour away, he called me because of our trusting relationship,” says Taylor, a teacher at Mabel Hoggard Elementary School.
6/30/2020
Supporting the Arts
Ever since Jillian Stewart sparked an interest in theater at age 12, the Vegas resident idolized Broadway and television star Sutton Foster. “I looked up to Sutton Foster, not only for her talent but most importantly for her character,” says Stewart, a student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas whose family supports The Smith Center as donors.
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.”