STEVE SMITH
Creative Director, Consultant, Comic Spirit
941-266-4773 [email protected] Sacramento, CA 95811
I offer five decades of work experience in theatre, television, theme parks, circus and cabaret.
EXPERIENCE
APR '15 - APR '20
Creative Director │ Circus Center San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Created and curated monthly live theatrical cabaret series. 30+ original productions
Facilitated Artist Residency Program
Worked closely with the Executive Director on all aspects concerning the performing arts wing of the organization
NOV '18 - JAN '19
Head Jester │ Circus Bella, San Francisco, CA
Served as Ringmaster/Host for the Circus Bella big top production of "KALEIDOSCOPE" presented on Treasure Island
in San Francisco CA.
JAN '12 - JAN '14
Creative Director │ Circus Arts Conservatory, Sarasota, FL
Created and directed public performances for the Sailor Circus Academy. Consulted for Circus Sarasota. Served as Emcee for the Summer Circus Spectacular presented at the historic Asolo Theatre on the grounds of The Ringling Museum.
JAN '01 - JUN '09
Director, Line Producer │ Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Miami, FL
Created and directed large scale, on board theatrical spectacles for 5 Voyager Class Ships; 3 Freedom Class Ships; and 1Oasis Class Ship. Recruited, cast and trained 4 member physical comedy teams, known as the "KROOZE KOMICS", for the same ships listed above.
SEP '08 - MAY '09
Principal │ Show Of Force - CIRCUS, New York, NY
As Guest Director for the Big Apple Circus, I was a Principal in the 6 hour long documentary as it followed the show for the entire 2008-2009 Season. Airing in 2010, it was filmed for and presented on the PBS television network. The New York Times said "CIRCUS" is "beautifully filmed," truly affecting," and "quietly addictive."
JAN '08 - JUN '08
Creative Consultant │ WONDERFUN, Hollywood, CA
Recruited, cast and trained physical comedians/actors to portray specific characters in the CGI animated DVD, "Bop-A-
Lots", created by parents and developed with educators to nurture positive, cognitive development during early childhood.
JAN '01 - JUN '01
Silent Movie Sequence Director │ York Theatre Company, New York, NY
Created bits of business and gags which developed into the silent movie sequences for this Off Broadway production,"The IT Girl", presented at the York Theatre in Manhattan. "Creative and funny nickelodeon sequences staged by Steve Smith."
~ Matthew Murray, Talkin' Broadway
JAN. '00 - JAN. 01
Creative Consultant │ The Walt Disney Company, Orlando, FL
Creative consultant working with the Disney Imagineers to develop the new parades and the new Icons for the 4 themed parks at Walt Disney World in celebration of Walt Disney's 100th birthday, "100 Years of Magic".
JAN '97 - JAN '99
Talent Development Coordinator │ Chuck Jones Film Productions, Burbank, CA
Recruited and trained interns, teaching them how to "act out" their storyboards; hiring unusual life models; facilitating Field Trips to the Magic Castle, the Los Angeles Zoo, Venice Beach, the Getty Museum and the backlot of Warner Bros. where our studio was located. Traveled and performed with legendary Warner Bros. animator Chuck Jones. "For Steve: The world's best cartoon character. With love & respect ~ Chuck Jones"
JAN '95 - DEC '95
Writer/Director │ Parque Espana, Shima , Japan
Conceived and directed this lavish outdoor pageant for Shima Spain Village's "PARQUE ESPANA", a theme park designed to look like a Spanish Village located in this coastal city in central Japan.
APR '85 - JAN '95
Director │ Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Clown College, Venice, FL
Recruited, performed, taught and managed all aspects of this unique, once-a-year intensive physical comedy training program. During my ten year tenure as Dean of the school we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of Clown College in 1987 with a special graduation performance for over 500 alumni who gathered in Venice FL for a reunion and the taping of a CBS television special hosted by Mr. Dick Van Dyke.
JAN '92 - NOV '94
Show Director │ Feld Entertainment, Ellenton, FL
Conceived and directed the 123rd Edition of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The show celebrated 200 years of circus in America and was known to many as the "Children of the Rainbow" edition of the Greatest Show On Earth. "Three Ring's worth of Thrills, Spills, Frills!" ~ Jack Anderson New York Times
AUG '78 - JUN '85
Co-Host │ NBC Television, Chicago, IL
Co-hosted "KIDDING AROUND", an Emmy award winning television program designed to give a platform to pre-teens aged 9 to 13. This program aired for seven seasons.
AUG '76 - JAN '85
Instructor/Playwright │ Goodman School Of Drama (Now The Theatre School At De Paul University), Chicago, IL
Taught Circus Arts classes to first year acting students. Conceived and directed two productions for the Goodman Children's Theatre, "Clown Town" in 1977 and "The Magically Marvelous, Wonderfully Wacky, Seriously Silly Center Ring Circus" in 1981 (which was remounted in 1997 for the Chicago Children's Theatre"). "...Center Ring Circus not only deserves a review, it deserves a permanent spot center ring." ~ Rick Kogan Chicago Sun-Times
JAN '81 - DEC '84
Principal │ Tattered Productions , Chicago, IL
Started this company to produce my one man clown show, "SLAPSTICK & SAWDUST". First presented in 1978 at the Body Politic Theatre, the 1982 production was better funded, and much more sophisticated than the original. The show consisted of ten original comic vignettes featuring my clown character "T. J. Tatters". "Family entertainment that sparkles with joy" ~ Richard Christiansen Chicago Tribune
"A wondrous ride with 'T. J. Tatters' and his 'Slapstick'." ~ Lloyd Sachs Chicago Sun-Times
DEC '83 - APR '84
Creative Consultant │ McDonalds, Oakbrook, IL
Conceived and directed "Fitness Fun With Ronald McDonald", a nationwide school program written in collaboration with the PCSFN (President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition). Once the show was written, we field tested it to refine the script and then presented it to the national convention at Hamburger University in Oakbrook IL. This was for all of the Ronald McDonalds from around the United States. This show was presented in Primary schools from coast- to-coast for twenty years.
OCT '73 - DEC '77
Advance Clown/Goodwill Ambassador │ Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus, Washington, DC
Traveled the country via motorhome to publicize the arrival of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus by doing radio and television appearances; school shows; civic organization promotions; department store openings and special events like conducting the Houston Symphony in full clown make up and costume. (All of these appearances were done as my clown character, "T. J. Tatters").
NOV '71 - DEC '72
Clown │ Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus, Washington, DC
Lived and traveled by train to perform in arenas across the U.S.A. as a First-of-May Clown for the Blue Unit of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus - 550 perfromances. (Other artists in Clown Alley were Mark Anthony, Prince Paul Alpert, and the great Otto Griebling).
EDUCATION
JUN '86
Certificate In Mask
Movement Theatre International, Philadelphia, PA Studied And Performed With And For Master Teacher Jacques Lecoq.
NOV '71
Bachelor of Fun Arts Attended and graduated from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College and signed a one year performance contract with the Greatest Show On Earth.
JUN '73
Certificate In Pantomime
Estudio Busqueda de Pantomima, Patzquaro, Mexico. Studied and toured throughout Central Mexico with a small troupe led by our teacher Sigfrido Aguilar. We were called, "Los Payasos Educados".
MAY '70
Completed Coursework Towards BFA In Acting Ohio University, Athens, OH
During My 1st Year At OU The Campus Closed On May 15, 1970, Soon After The National Gaurd Killed 4 Students During Protests Of The Vietnam War.
JUN '77
BFA In Acting
Goodman School of Drama, Chicago, IL
Dr. Charles McGaw, Dean Of The School And Author Of, "Acting Is Believing" Transferred My Credits From O.U. And Let Me Teach In Lieu Of Tuition.
SKILLS
Leadership * Communication * Collaboration * Empathy * Decisiveness * Growth mindset
AWARDS
5 Time Emmy Award Recipient - Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Excellence in the Arts Award - The Theatre School at De Paul University Medal of Merit for the Performing Arts - Ohio University
Power Behind the Scenes - The John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art
Performance Citation - The Joseph Jefferson Awards Inductee - Zanesville City Schools Hall Of Fame Inductee - International Clown Hall of Fame
