12/9/2019
Broadway Las Vegas
So, you’ve never seen a single episode of children’s television phenomenon “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Or maybe you grew up with it. Maybe reading the name just makes you confused. No matter which of these applies, you can still fully enjoy the hit Broadway show “The SpongeBob Musical."
12/9/2019
Supporting the Arts / Education and Outreach
Even after nearly quadrupling choir membership at Greenspun Junior High School, teacher Heather Houchens admits she thought about leaving her profession. That is, until she became one of 20 teachers from several hundred finalists to be named a winner at The Smith Center’s first Heart of Education Awards. And sponsors help make it all happen.
11/30/2019
Performances and Artists
The new year marks the perfect opportunity to try new things and enrich our lives — and the performing arts can help! Enjoy a few ideas for new year’s resolutions that you will actually enjoy tackling, like laughing more, slowing down and relaxing or bonding more with the family. The 2019-2020 season is full of excited entertainment opportunities.
11/26/2019
Performances and Artists
Instrumental-music phenomenon The Piano Guys holds a simple standard for choosing its tunes. “We have 16 kids between the four piano guys. We try to pick something they’ll like,” says Jon Schmidt, the group’s pianist. This method seems pretty ironclad. The groundbreaking group boasts over 1.2 billion YouTube views of its music videos.
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.