Performing Arts

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Smith’s dance, music and theatre departments are excited to offer you an astonishing range of thought-provoking, inspiring and just-plain-fun performances. Every semester features mainstage and studio theatre performances, faculty and student dance performances and a wide range of faculty and student music performances. From new play readings to new works of choreography by graduate dance students to a series of informal concerts at lunchtime, we invite you to join us.

What’s Happening

The Arts, Elevated

At Smith, the arts have a long history of helping students figure out where they belong, cultivate and foster community, think creatively, and plan fulfilling careers in a number of exciting, dynamic fields.

SmithArts—and the Smith Office for the Arts—aims to highlight opportunities to engage with art and artists on campus, through events, installations, performances, and more.

Learn More About SmithArts
Senior Dance Concert 2023
Multiple actors on stage in Moonlight on the Miskatonic
Chinese Music S23
Smith College La Ruta 2023
Smith College SDC 2023
Smith College Orchestra

The Current Theatre Season

Purchase tickets.

2026–27 Season Calendar

One Body: Dispatches from Idaho

By Jimmy Maize
Based on the work of Jen Jackson Quintano, founder of The Pro-Voice Project

September 18, 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Hallie Flanagan Theatre

New Play Reading Series

Lines

By Sadie Shapiro

October 15 at 4:30 p.m.
Acting Studio I

The Secretaries

By the Five Lesbian Brothers
Directed by Tara Franklin

October 28–31 at 7:30 p.m.
Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre

Fall Studio Productions

Overtones

By Alice Gerstenberg
Directed by Kendra Burford

Matt & Ben

By Mindy Kaling and Brenda Withers
Directed by Erin McKay

December 4, 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre

Antigone, Presented by the Girls of St. Catherine’s

By Madhuri Shekar
Directed by Tabitha Reid

February 24–27 at 7:30 p.m.
Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre

The Importance of Being Earnest

By Oscar Wilde
Directed by Monica Lopez Orozco

April 21–24 at 7:30 p.m.
Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre

Spring Studio Productions

April 29, 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre

Auditions

The department season consists of three major productions, directed and designed by faculty, guest artists, and students; students also direct, design, and act in one act studio productions, and participate in writing, acting and directing for the New Play Reading Series. Majors and non-majors are welcome to audition for and work on productions.

The Secretaries

By the Five Lesbian Brothers

A bold and satirical play that blends wacky humor, high-stakes drama, and cutting commentary on gender roles and workplace dynamics. Set in and around the Cooney Lumber Mill in the early 1990s, the story follows a group of secretaries who are caught in a whirlwind of competition, manipulation, and sexual tension. With a mix of absurdity and biting wit (not to mention chainsaws, blood, and the ritualistic killing of lumberjacks) The Secretaries challenges societal norms and explores the complexities of identity, ambition, and camaraderie in a world that’s anything but simple.

Auditions

Tuesday, September 8 and Wednesday, September 9, 7–9 p.m.
Acting Studio 1, Mendenhall CPA
Please let us know if you are interested but unable to make either date.
Callbacks will be on Thursday, September 10.

Performances

October 28–31 at 7:30 p.m. in Hallie Flanagan Studio Theatre

Casting Breakdown

We are actively seeking eight (8) actors of all identities.

Audition Prep

No appointment necessary. Sides from the script will be available at the audition for cold reads. No preparation necessary, but reading the script prior to auditioning is encouraged. Perusal scripts available at Josten Library.

Contact/Questions

Production Manager, Nikki Beck, ncbeck@smith.edu 
Director, Tara Franklin, tfranklin@smith.edu 

Take Action

Buy Tickets Attend an Event

Explore Our Departments

Dance

Discover the imaginative, expressive powers of human movement in a program dedicated to fostering each student’s unique talents in dance performance.

Dance performance in Theatre 14

Music

From a broad array of classroom courses to extensive opportunities for performance, the music department is a lively center of musical activity.

Gamelan ensemble performance

Theatre

Smith offers theatre enthusiasts extraordinary opportunities both on and off the stage, from an adventurous mix of plays to exciting guest artists.

Performance of Pirates of Penzance

Sign Up for Our Newsletters

When you join our SmithArts mailing list, you will receive weekly emails with information on art, dance, music, theatre and film/media events at Smith during the academic year. Sign up for our new SOFANotes email to learn about current exhibits, visiting artists & poets, academic opportunities and more.

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Contact SmithArts

Theatre/Dance Box Office
Mendenhall, T206
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063

Phone: 413-585-3220 Email: boxoffice@smith.edu

SmithArts Box Office Manager
Nancy Case
ncharbon@smith.edu

SmithArts Marketing and Communications Manager
Shelley Latham
Sage Hall, Room 6
slatham@smith.edu
413-585-3325

Accessibility Contact
Accessibility Resource Center
ARC@smith.edu
413-585-2669