John R Smith Jnr

John is a classically trained, dynamic, character actor. He has been working in CT Theatre off and on for 20 years as an Actor, Producer, Director and Acting Coach. He co-founded Vagabond Theatre Company with his wife Tanya Feduik-Smith and they serve as its Co-Artistic Directors. Prior to that he served as an Artistic Consultant at The Bijou Theatre in Bridgeport and Co-Producer and Dramaturg of The Bijou Actors Guild.

In his teens he lived in MD and attended student workshops at The Folger Library in DC and Improv Workshops with Jason Kravits and Robbie Chafitz. He also studied theatre at Slippery Rock University and Montgomery College. After marrying Tanya and moving to CT, they became involved with the efforts to reopen Stratford’s Shakespeare Theatre while taking Shakespearean technique workshops with Louis Burke. Through their involvement, they were invited to attend the weekend workshop, Playing Shakespeare USA, with RSC Co-Founder, John Barton.

During the fund raising efforts for Shakespeare Theatre, director Louis Burke organized a reading series of new, un-produced plays at Sacred Heart University. John participated in three shows playing:

Kringa and other aliens in "Monsters" - with James Earl Jones
The Town Crier and Hawker in "Whitechapel" - with Julie Harris
Henry Houston in "Voodoo Mambo" - with Millicent Martin

?He has also performed in New Haven including the title role in Hamlet and Jeff Symons in Murder in Green Meadows for Algonkuin Theatre Company, and Angus in Macbeth for Godlight Productions at Long Wharf’s Stage II. He has also appeared in productions at other theaters around CT including: Wilton Playshop, Clockwork Rep in Oakville, Town Players of New Canaan, and The Stratford Festival Theatre.

?He has been nominated for 3 individual OnStage Critics Awards and 2 BroadwayWorld.com Awards for his performances at The Bijou, and as a producer, his shows have garnered nominations for 3 OnStage Critics Awards and 8 BroadwayWorld.com CT Awards.