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Molly Smith
artistic director at Arena Stage
Molly Smith is an American theater director who served as the artistic director of Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., from 1998 to 2023.4 During her tenure, she championed American plays, playwrights, and voices, overseeing the production of over 200 works.14 Smith also helped originate 150 new works through workshops and commissions at the Arena Stage.4
Key aspects of Molly Smith's career and contributions:
- Early career Smith was born into a family of actors and started the Perseverance Theatre in Juneau, Alaska, in 1979, where she served as artistic director until 1998.14
- Arena Stage leadership Smith became the artistic director of Arena Stage in 1998.4 She spearheaded the development of the Mead Center for American Theater, which included the renovation of existing theaters and the construction of a third theater.14 This project made Arena Stage the largest regional theater in Washington, D.C., second only to the Kennedy Center.4
- Directorial work Smith has over 30 directing credits, including Carousel, Oliver!, The Originalist, and Fiddler on the Roof.25 Her direction has been showcased at various venues, including 59E59 in New York, The Old Globe, and Canada’s Shaw Festival.5 In 2014, she made her Broadway debut as a director with The Velocity of Autumn.25
- New play development Smith has been involved in new play development for over 30 years.5 She has worked with playwrights such as Sarah Ruhl, Paula Vogel, and Wendy Wasserstein.25 Smith also founded Arena's "downstairs series," which has held readings and workshopped around 60 plays.4
- Power Plays Initiative Through the Power Plays initiative, Arena Stage commissioned 25 new plays related to American history from 2016 to 2024.4
- Recognition and awards Smith was named to American University’s Alumni Hall of Fame in 2003 and was named "Washingtonian of the Year" in 2011.2 She received the Governor’s Award for the Arts from the Alaska State Legislature in 1998 and was inducted into the Washington, D.C., Hall of Fame Society in 2018.2 She also holds honorary doctorates from American and Towson Universities.2
Molly Smith retired as Artistic Director from Arena Stage in July 2023, after 25 years in the role.12 Her LinkedIn username is molly-smith-bb220b24.3
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