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.
11/4/2019
Performances and Artists
Storm Large has finally reached just the right level of famous. After building a national fanbase as a finalist on CBS’ reality singing show “Rock Star: Supernova,” Large says she was hit with a wave of stardom she felt unprepared for. This feverish fandom has eased up at last, allowing Large to focus on touring nationwide.
10/30/2019
Supporting the Arts
The holiday season is here, and many prefer shopping for gifts online. Making online purchases can even help support nonprofits like The Smith Center, thanks to AmazonSmile. “This offers a great option for those who want to take part in the season of giving,” says Carol Hollatz, director of Annual Fund at The Smith Center.
10/28/2019
Performances and Artists
Composer Danny Elfman’s life story sounds almost as fantastic as the films he scores. He unleashed his creativity in the ‘80s with his new-wave band Oingo Boingo, hailed for its wildly experimental and genre-defying tunes spanning ska, world music and rock. His quirky inventiveness then caught the attention of emerging film director Tim Burton.
10/26/2019
Community Impact
As thousands of Southern Nevadans enjoy Broadway smash “Wicked” this month at The Smith Center, the show’s compelling characters come to life through the orchestra pit’s mighty blasts and whimsical melodic surprises from Stephen Schwarz’s Tony-nominated score. Three UNLV students experienced this wonder up close and personal.