Name:
J. Richard Smith
Year Graduated:
B.F.A. 1990 / M.F.A. 2005
Degree:
M.F.A. Theatre / Drama and Theatre for Youth
Favorite Memory of T&D::
As an undergrad -- the fabulous Halloween parties attended by not only students but faculty. As a graduate student - teaching, and coordinating the Symposium honoring my mentor Dr. Coleman A. Jennings in celebration of his forty years teaching.
Influential Professors or Classes:
John Rothgeb, Paul Rinehart, Carolyn Lancet, David Nancarrow, and Jill Dolan and Coleman A. Jennings who inspired me more than either can know.
Current Hometown:
Seattle, Washington
Current Profession:
Freelance Director, Designer, Teacher, and Writer
Biography:
J. Richard Smith (Scenic Design) is a Renaissance man of sorts. He works as an actor, director, writer, illustrator, producer and professional scenographic designer, having designed regionally for community, professional, children's and academic productions throughout the Southwest. Some of his notable designs and plays directed include: Les Liaisons Dangereuse, A Shayna Maidel, Man of La Mancha, Carousel, The Tempest (two productions), Much Ado About Nothing, All's Well That Ends Well, In A Room Somewhere, Blood Wedding, Guys and Dolls, Big River, Secret Garden, Beauty and the Beast, The Snow Queen, The Hobbit, My Neighbor, and 30 plus productions for Second Youth Family Theatre, the professional theatre for young audiences company that he co-founded in 1991, in Austin, Texas for which he served as Producing Artistic Director from 1996-2005.
Mr. Smith relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 2005 and subsequently directed Two Rooms, the inaugural production for West of Brooklyn Theatre Co. in February 2006 and this season's opening production of Private Eyes; designed the West -Coast Premiere of Black Water for Off Center Opera Co., and The Rocky Horror Show for the Historic Everett Theatre. Mr. Smith holds an M.F.A. in Drama and Theatre for Youth and a professional certificate in Non-Profit and Philanthropic Studies both from The University of Texas at Austin.
