BWW Preview: The Smith Center Presents Broadway Las Vegas 2015-16

Las Vegas' Smith Center for the Performing Arts is an extraordinary place. It's diverse programs encompass just about all of the performing arts. The building, designed by David M. Schwartz is a Neo Art Deco design and features a 47-bell carillon housed in a 17-story carillon tower. The design, Schwartz said at the opening, was chosen to echo the design elements of Hoover Dam, located 30 miles away. It is the first performing arts center in the United States to be Gold LEED certified. After three years of planning and construction, it opened on March 10, 2012.

Since that time, for the first time ever, Las Vegas always has first-rate entertainment, much of it direct from Broadway. It's been an ongoing romance between the residents and the Smith Center.

Reynolds Hall, the main stage theater, seats 2,0052 people. That's where the Broadway road companies play. Cabaret Jazz, the other most used performing space seats 244 people at small tables, Light food and drinks are served there. Cabaret Jazz hosts the likes of Barbara Cook, the Ramsey Lewis Trio, Lainie Kazan, Frankie Moreno, Ana Gasteyer and Jim Caruso's Broadway Cast Party,, among many others. Clint Holmes does his own show and, also, works with Jane Monheit in Frank Wildhorn & Friends.

On Monday, the Smith Center's annual President's Reception was held. The purpose was to announce the 2015 Broadway Las Vegas series of eight shows. They are Dirty Dancing, (July 14-19); (Oct. 7-November 1); Elf The Musical (Nov.24-29); Riverdance 20th Anniversary Tour (January 26-January 31, 2016); The Bridges of Madison County (February 23-28); A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (March 8-March 13), The Roundabout Theatre Company's Cabaret (June 14-190; The Book of Mormon (September 22-October 18); Disney's Beauty and the Beast (April8 - 17).

The evening was emceed by actor/writer/composer/Broadway maven Seth Rudetsky, who hosts "Seth's Big Fat Broadway" on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio's On Broadway

The entire event featured food made with potatoes: That fact drew many comments and much speculation from the attendees. The reason for the potatoes was to highlight the announcement of a new show, Idaho (May 22-June 2). For the first time, The Smith Center will be producing a musical with the hope of shepherding it to Broadway.

The promotional material says, "Book and Lyrics by Buddy Sheffield, Music by Buddy Sheffield and Keith Thompson. A bawdy, original, laugh-out-loud musical comedy that pays homage to Broadway's Golden Age classics Tater country is turned spud-side-up in IDAHO! when a mail order bride comes to town and falls in love with the wrong man. Born (out of wedlock) from the golden age of musical comedy comes a new love story...a twisted tale of wife stealin', spud peelin' and double dealin' at a time when men were men and Aunt Pearlie carried the shotgun.

Idaho first played in eptember at the New York Musical Festival where it won several awards. It was written by Buddy Sheffield and Keith Thompson, a composer and conductor who is now conducting the hit Jersey Boys at Pairs Las Vegas.

Tickets are available for individual shows and by subscription for a series. For information, please visit www.thesmithcenter.com.

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