11/15/2021
Supporting the Arts
How much does Kathy Fox love The Smith Center?
So much, Kathy and her husband Herman moved to an apartment across the street from the center, after selling their Las Vegas home.
“We could have moved anywhere, but we moved next to The Smith Center,” says Kathy, a Vegas resident of 19 years.
They did so for the same reason they remain longtime donors of The Smith Center, a nonprofit organization.
After moving from arts-rich Cleveland to a scattered arts scene in Las Vegas, Kathy says the construction of The Smith Center finally gave her the robust cultural hub she had sorely missed.
“The reason it was so impactful for me is because I was here in Las Vegas before The Smith Center, and came from a city that had its own version of The Smith Center,” she says. “We were crying for this. If you wanted to find culture and arts in Las Vegas (in the past), you really had to look in pockets around town or go to the Strip.”
Kathy strives to ensure the center remains a community resource, because of how it provides a performing home for the Nevada Ballet Theatre, the Las Vegas Philharmonic, local theater companies like Broadway in the Hood, as well as touring Broadway productions and musicians across all genres.
“It was exactly what the people of Las Vegas needed,” says Kathy, retired with her husband from their family business. “As a venue for so much, with the breadth and scope of what they encompass, I’m still in awe of what they have accomplished.”
Impacting Tens of Thousands of Students
Much of Kathy’s earmarked donations support The Smith Center’s education and outreach initiatives, impacting tens of thousands of Southern Nevada students each year.
She wishes The Smith Center had existed when her theater-loving daughter had gone to school, so she could have experienced the center’s Camp Broadway theater program and its annual Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards.
“She could have been on stage at The Smith Center,” Kathy says. “She would have attended Camp Broadway every summer.”
Now with her contributions, Kathy ensures no child will miss out on the center’s education initiatives.
Her support provides scholarships for Camp Broadway, and helps to present student matinees that provide students with their first introduction to live performances.
Invited as a donor to attend these initiatives, she admits to feeling tears in her eyes.
“You see the children’s responsiveness as they’re watching these shows, and you know it’s going to be impactful for them,” she says.
Kathy also feels passionate about supporting the center’s Disney Musicals in Schools initiative, helping at-risk elementary schools create their own musical theater programs.
“Early exposure to the arts is so enriching and exciting. It can spark a lifetime of appreciation and involvement in music, theater, dance and art,” Kathy says. “When my father took me to my first musical at age 6, I was mesmerized and hooked for life.”
A Smith Center Superfan
When asked about shows she loves most at The Smith Center, Kathy says she could provide “20 lists of shows.”
Her favorites at Myron’s Cabaret Jazz — The Smith Center’s most intimate venue — include vocalist Jane Monheit, stage-and-screen star Sutton Foster, guitar virtuoso John Pizzarelli and Las Vegas gem Michelle Johnson.
“My favorite venue is Myron’s, 100 percent,” she says, adding that she attends the monthly Composer’s Showcase event there, where she caught the premiere of original music composed for “Idaho,” The Smith Center’s self-produced musical.
Her top picks from the center’s versatile Troesh Theater include a moving Broadway in the Hood musical “Violet.” She still delights in discussing the uplifting musical “Come From Away” she saw at the center’s Reynolds Hall.
“I love that The Smith Center’s three venues each offer a unique experience. The magnificent Reynolds Hall, the intimate 240-seat Myron’s where you can socialize before with food and drinks, and the Troesh theater that can be arranged any way that fits a show,” she says. “Between the three, there are endless possibilities for years to come. Lucky Las Vegas!”
Backstage Tours and Meeting the Stars
Kathy enjoys every perk that comes with donating to The Smith Center.
She enjoys visiting the Founders Room, accessible for donors before and during shows.
“It is so gorgeous,” says Kathy, who further supports the community as a member of Nevada Women’s Philanthropy. “The Founders Room is a wonderful escape before a show and during intermission.”
She also delights in special events for Smith Center donors, included a rare backstage tour, a celebration on stage in Reynolds Hall, and meet-and-greets with megastars like Broadway icon Kelli O’Hara.
“The Smith Center is always reaching out to its donors, and you feel appreciated,” she says. “The Smith Center has made such a difference in bringing this community together.”
Support The Smith Center
As a nonprofit, The Smith Center relies on donor support to help with the following:
- Presenting world-class performances at accessible prices
- Offering arts education experiences for over 70,000 students each year
- Maintaining The Smith Center campus
To learn more about ways to support The Smith Center, click here.