6/10/2021
Supporting the Arts
To rekindle enthusiasm for the arts this May, The Smith Center offered community members their first invitation back to a theater since the lockdown began.
Well — a movie theater, that is.
The Smith Center hosted approximately 60 select donors and Nevada High School Musical Theater Award nominees to an exclusive, advance screening of the highly anticipated film adaptation for Lin Manuel-Miranda’s smash musical “In the Heights” at AMC Town Square 18 theater.
This special event aimed to help boost love of the arts before the center’s fall reopening. The screening also expressed thanks to donors who have helped support The Smith Center, a nonprofit, during the financial pressures of its temporary closure.
“Being a big Lin-Manuel Miranda fan, I felt this was a special treat,” said Chairman’s Club and board member, Cindy Ellis. “It’s always fun to be able to see something before it’s released.”
An Early Glimpse
Chronicling the vibrant, tight-knit community of Washington Heights, the energizing musical “In the Heights” earned Miranda a devoted following long before his creation of “Hamilton.”
As it snagged four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, many have long awaited the “In the Heights” film adaptation — especially with it helmed by “Crazy Rich Asians” director Jon M. Chu.
The film definitely didn’t disappoint Ellis or her daughter Michaela.
“The music was spot-on Lin-Manuel Miranda, which was fantastic, and I loved the colorful sets,” she says.
The film’s portrayal of Latin characters held strong significance for Chairman’s Club and Encore Society donor Bonnie Lemert, who worked in Puerto Rico for five years.
“It showed an intriguing mix of struggle as well as optimism, and ended up being entertaining in the process,” Lemert says. “I really appreciate The Smith Center providing opportunities like this.”
The event also boosted anticipation of the center’s reopening, by allowing donors the chance to reconnect with each other and Smith Center staff members.
“It felt great getting back to some normalcy,” Ellis says.
Crucial Support for The Smith Center
Donor support has proved crucial for The Smith Center during its temporary closure, which involved cancelling or postponing over 450 performances that totaled more than $40 million in lost revenue.
Many like Ellis contribute to The Smith Center because of their personal passion for the arts and their excitement with promoting a rich arts culture in Southern Nevada.
“Everyone in our family loves musical theater,” Ellis says.
Donating to The Smith Center includes a variety of benefits, depending on the contribution level, including invitations to exclusive events such as the “In the Heights” screening.
With The Smith Center continuing steps to reopen this fall — including the recent announcement of shows for its 2021-2022 Broadway Las Vegas® Series — Cindy looks most forward to enjoying live shows again with her loved ones.
“We are all looking forward to seeing some great shows and spending time together,” she says.