11/25/2019
Performances and Artists
Deana Martin still remembers witnessing Las Vegas’ glamorous days of the 1960s and ‘70s. That’s because she often accompanied her father, legendary Rat Pack member Dean Martin, for his performances in the hotel-casinos’ decadent lounges. Now an acclaimed performer in her own right, Deana strives to give audiences the same thrill her father did.
11/25/2019
Community Impact
When Breanna Keeter moved to Las Vegas, she found herself searching for a few things. This included seeking new friends, and a productive way to spend her time as she job hunted. She also hoped to connect with the community’s performing arts scene — her lifelong obsession.
11/20/2019
Education and Outreach
Few elementary students can boast about authoring original works — and even fewer witness their words transformed into a live theater show. Thanks to generous philanthropic support for The Smith Center, a nonprofit organization, Southern Nevada students enjoyed this rare experience this fall.
11/18/2019
Performances and Artists
Looking back on her starring role in NBC’s hit musical series “Smash,” Megan Hilty describes the show as “everything I've ever wanted to do, wrapped up in one job.” Portraying a powerhouse performer gunning for a starring role in a new Broadway production, Hilty showcased her stunning vocal, dance and acting skills as a real-life triple threat.
11/13/2019
Education and Outreach
What does The Smith Center have in common with performing arts centers in Oklahoma, Ohio and London, England? They are all among the 26 performing arts centers and regional theaters worldwide chosen to partner with Disney Theatrical Group to provide the Disney Musicals in Schools (DMIS) initiative, helping under-resourced elementary schools develop their own sustainable musical theater programs.
11/13/2019
Education and Outreach
Not many high schools put on several theater productions a year. Nor do many have the chance to workshop with top-tier performance professionals. But students enjoy all of this at Green Valley High School (GVHS), where teacher Jennifer Hemme has built a theater department recognized as one of the leading high school programs in the nation.
11/12/2019
Inside the Theater
This has likely happened to you at some point: You’re sitting in a theater watching a dazzling, live performance… Only to suddenly be distracted by your neighbors’ crinkling wrappers, the piercing light of their smartphone screens, or the carrying sound of their voices as they converse.
11/12/2019
Performances and Artists
Four-time Grammy nominee Boney James nearly saw his career end 10 years ago. As the multiplatinum artist chatted on speakerphone with his wife while driving home from his performance at the Newport Beach Jazz Festival, a drunk driver rammed his car from behind.
11/6/2019
Supporting the Arts
Rarely do young professionals get public speaking tips from acclaimed artists who make their living in the spotlight. But members of Fanfare! — The Smith Center’s networking and engagement group for young philanthropists with a passion for the arts — experienced that and more this fall.
11/5/2019
Performances and Artists
Alfred Uhry’s moving, Pulitzer-Prize-winning play “Driving Miss Daisy” remains an important commentary on race relations in America, hailed for its heartwarming use of comedy and friendship to reveal the common humanity between an elderly Jewish widow and her African-American chauffeur. Read about the real life inspiration behind the play.