4/21/2020
Community Impact
Smith Center supervisor Carnell Johnson says he originally started working at The Smith Center because he loves the performing arts and wanted to be closer to them. A professional singer for more than 20 years, Johnson, who also sings the national anthem at Vegas Golden Knights games, says being close to live music is what he enjoys most about his job at The Smith Center.
4/20/2020
Community Impact
After Southern Nevada youths from Broadway in the HOOD saw musical “Once on This Island” at The Smith Center, they stood outside and had a long talk. “This was their first time seeing themselves represented in a Broadway show, with the majority of the cast being of color,” says Torrey Russell, founder of Broadway in the HOOD, a nonprofit youth theater company. “It’s life changing.”
4/17/2020
Discovering The Smith Center / Community Impact
When Marise Mizel first moved to the Sun City Summerlin active-adult community, she immediately joined the community’s travel club. “I wanted to go places and do things, and meet new people,” explains Mizel, now club president.
4/16/2020
Inside the Theater
Mother's Day is just around the corner on Sunday May 10. Though many families have been separated by social distancing protocols and traditional celebrations have been put on hold, you can bypass the challenges of the times and still honor loved ones with a gift card for The Smith Center.
4/16/2020
Education and Outreach
As a leading professional percussionist, Linda Austin — known to all by her stage name, L.A. — can list many impressive performance experiences. This even includes playing for world icons such as Nelson Mandela. But one of L.A.’s favorite memories took place in a Clark County School District (CCSD) classroom.
4/14/2020
Community Impact
Claudia Newbury knew she wanted to volunteer at The Smith Center the first time she stepped foot there in 2012, the center’s opening year. “I describe it when I do tours as ‘a happy building,’” Newbury says. “You walk in and you just smile because it’s such a beautiful place. The people are so nice, and there are so many things going on.”
4/3/2020
Education and Outreach
As assistant principal with Richard J. Rundle Elementary School in Las Vegas, Stacey Sly felt true pride watching students perform the school’s second-ever theater production this spring. But seeing her 9-year-old daughter Lissa among them raised her reaction to pure astonishment.
4/3/2020
Inside the Theater
At theaters around the world, performers and workers behind the scenes take their crafts seriously – and this often includes upholding longstanding theater traditions. Some of these hold practical purposes, others offer a bit of fun… And some just give artists a little peace of mind.
4/3/2020
Inside the Theater / Discovering The Smith Center
The Smith Center’s stages might be dark for now, but its team remains hard at work preparing for when the doors reopen. To ensure the highest standard of cleanliness and safety when guests return, the center just launched campus-wide disinfecting, alongside general infrastructure improvements.
4/3/2020
Supporting the Arts
Beginning with appearing in an award-winning production of Man of La Mancha in Chicago in her 20s, Helen B. Arnold began a lifelong passion for music and the performing arts that continues today. Arnold, a dedicated patron and generous supporter of The Smith Center, views the performing arts as “food for the soul."