Making an Impact — and Making Friends — by Volunteering with The Smith Center

Claudia Newbury knew she wanted to volunteer at The Smith Center the first time she stepped foot in its Grand Lobby in 2012.

“I describe it when I do tours as ‘a happy building,’” Newbury says. “You walk in and you just smile because it’s such a beautiful place. The people are so nice, and there are so many things going on.”

As a nonprofit, the center relies on hundreds of volunteers to support its operations — including presenting hundreds of performances each year and providing education and outreach initiatives impacting over one million students and teachers.

By volunteering, Newbury takes pride in playing a role with all of this.

She watches exuberant kids enjoy their first taste of the arts by assisting with education events. She shares the center’s fascinating history with community members as a tour docent. She even gets to watch world-class shows as a volunteer usher.

Perhaps best of all, Newbury has become a part of the tight-knit volunteer family at The Smith Center, who enjoy a close camaraderie through their shared love of the arts.

“Volunteering at The Smith Center gives me the opportunity to share my love of the arts with others,” Newbury says.

With many ways to volunteer at The Smith Center — including as an usher, tour docent and assisting with education programs and special events — some volunteer hundreds to thousands of hours.

The Smith Center honored these exceptional individuals at its 2022 Volunteer Appreciation Celebration, held every April to commemorate National Volunteer Week.

Newbury, Steve Smith, and the late Larry LeBlanc each received the prestigious, national President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Award for volunteering over 4,000 hours (with LeBlanc receiving his posthumously).

Other outstanding volunteers received silver awards (for 200 to 499 service hours) and bronze awards (for 100 to 199 service hours). Silver recipients included: Patricia Fejer, Lisa Link, Maria Marino, Linda Shaffer, Josephine

Sittig and Gail Van Luit. Bronze recipients included: Christian Gueffier, Cheryl Hartfield, and David Rodriguez.

In addition, Hartfield received the first-ever Larry LeBlanc Award for Service Excellence, created in honor of LeBlanc’s legacy to celebrate volunteers who go above and beyond the call of duty at The Smith Center.

“It’s about the giving of yourself and helping the community that you love,” Hartfield says.

Community members cite many reasons for volunteering at The Smith Center.

These include promoting the arts, giving back to their community, and bonding with their fellow volunteers.

Often volunteering for The Smith Center as an usher and a community ambassador, Smith believes in supporting the center as a performing arts resource for Southern Nevadans.

“Even though there are a lot of entertainment options in the Vegas area, there is a need for Broadway shows,” Smith says.

Hartfield volunteers frequently because of her lifelong love for musicals, she says, and she finds it rewarding to provide a service and engage with fellow art lovers.

“People give me energy, and that’s why I like volunteering,” Hartfield says. “Just taking a few minutes to help someone can give them a real experience.”

And Newbury’s favorite volunteer moments stem from ushering at the center’s student matinees.

“You get high fives and hugs from kindergarteners who have never been to a theater before,” Newbury says. “It warms your heart, and you go home feeling you’ve actually done something worthwhile.”

Latecomers – Late seating varies per event. To avoid distracting audience members, you might not be seated until a natural break in the show. We provide video monitors throughout our lobbies, so you can enjoy the performance until you can be seated.

Latecomers – Late seating will vary based upon the requirements of the producer of your event. For classical music, late seating is usually not permitted until a break between pieces or intermission. In the event that you arrive late and are asked to wait in one of our lobbies until late seating is permitted, we have video monitors throughout so that you can enjoy the performance until you are able to be seated.

Children’s Policy – All persons entering the theater, including children and babes in arms, must have a ticket. Broadway shows are recommended for children ages 5 and up. Please check event listing for family-friendly designation.

Photos and Video – Most artists restrict photos and recordings during their performances. When photography and video are permitted, we will announce it before the show.

Children’s Policy – Children five and older that have a ticket are welcome to attend performances at The Smith Center. Other age restrictions may apply at the request of individual producers, so please review the show information or call the Box Office prior to purchasing tickets, as all performances my not be appropriate for all age levels.

Food and Drink Policy – Food and beverage items are available through a system that allows for touchless ordering and payment. Audience members are free to bring beverages into Reynolds Hall, as long as the drinks are served in The Smith Center’s capped beverage holders, available at all bars in the complex.

Most artists restrict photos and recordings during their performance. In the event that photography and video are permitted, we will announce it before the show.

Smoking – The Smith Center is a smokefree building.