The Smith Center Arts Alive - Education & Outreach Programs

THE SMITH CENTER

ARTS ALIVE EDUCATION & OUTREACH PROGRAMS

THE IMPORTANCE AND IMPACT OF THE ARTS CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED. The arts are essential to a well-rounded education for all students. Research documents that learning in and through the arts enhances children’s cognitive abilities, increases cultural understanding, and supports the development of social and emotional skills. Integrating the arts across curriculum content areas heightens student engagement and allows those of all abilities to connect, discover, and celebrate. The Smith Center is committed to supporting teaching and learning in and through the arts.

FOR STUDENTS STUDENT MATINEES Students and teachers from public, private and charter schools throughout Southern Nevada are invited to attend matinee performances at The Smith Center. Most student matinees at The Smith Center are adapted from acclaimed literature, providing a stimulating, educational experience while inspiring future generations of audiences. The Smith Center provides supporting materials for classroom connections to participating teachers, to prepare students in advance of each performance.

DISNEY MUSICALS IN SCHOOLS The Smith Center’s Disney Musicals in Schools teaching artists partner with educators in selected CCSD elementary schools to produce Disney KIDS musicals and create sustainable theater programs. Together, educators and teaching artists apply the magic of Disney to theater experiences that address imagination, creativity, problem solving, teamwork, communication skills, and so many more goals of classroom learning in afterschool settings. The program finale includes a Student Share Celebration at The Smith Center each year.

NEVADA HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATER AWARDS The Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards is a regional celebration honoring the future stars of musical theater. The NVHSMTA presents awards in a variety of categories representing roles both on stage and backstage. As a regional affiliate of the Jimmy Awards®, the NVHSMTA selects one Lead Actor and one Lead Actress to represent Nevada in the Jimmy Awards® in New York City where they participate in private coaching, master classes and rehearsals with theater professionals. Students receive opportunities for merit scholarships, professional advancement, and other prizes.

IN-SCHOOL PERFORMANCES Throughout the school year, local, regional and national performing artists visit schools throughout Las Vegas to engage and inspire students of all ages through performances and lecture demonstrations. In-school performances allow hundreds of students to experience the exceptional artistry of professional performing artists without the cost of transporting students to a performance venue. A variety of performing artists and groups are offered throughout the school year and performances are free of charge to schools.

RESIDENCIES & MASTER CLASSES Local as well as touring professional artists with expertise ranging from visual art to hiphop dance work with students in one-time engagements or multiple visit residencies to share their knowledge and support student learning in various art forms. Residencies are offered as they are available across grade levels, and master classes are offered for middle and high school students.

FOR TEACHERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS Hundreds of pre-K-to-12th-grade educators participate annually in professional development workshops led by national teaching artists in a variety of arts disciplines with connections to math, language arts, ELL, science, social-emotional learning, and inclusion for students with disabilities. Educators explore strategies for integrating the arts across curriculum content areas to engage students in a higher level of learning.

SOUTHERN NEVADA WOLF TRAP Southern Nevada Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts is an affiliate of the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts™. The Wolf Trap Institute is an internationally respected program that provides innovative, arts-based teaching strategies and services to early childhood educators, through the disciplines of drama, music and movement.

Southern Nevada Wolf Trap places professional teaching artists in classroom residencies to collaborate with early childhood educators. Together, they create arts-based experiences linked to early childhood curriculum to foster social, cognitive and emergent literacy skills critical for long-term success in school.

FOR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SENSORY FRIENDLY As opportunities are available, The Smith Center presents sensory friendly performances of touring theatrical productions in a sensory friendly format. The environment for these performances is designed to offer audience members with intellectual or developmental disabilities as well as those with sensory sensitivities a more relaxed and enjoyable experience attending a performance. Productions also adjust sound volume and lighting to a more ambient level.

CAMP BROADWAY Camp Broadway at The Smith Center offers Mainstage Camp for ages 10 to 17 and Shining Stars Camp for ages 6 to 9 each summer. This tuition-based camp is offered in New York City and in select cities across the country. Participants have an authentic, enlightening and joyous musical theater experience taught by trained Broadway professionals which helps to develop character with equal relevance both on and off the stage. Each weeklong camp concludes with a Family Finale performance.

For more information, please email Education@TheSmithCenter.com

361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89106

This brochure has been funded, in part, by the Nevada Arts Council, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.