Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is a major performing arts complex located on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park. It serves as the primary venue for the university’s School of Music, School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, and the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library. The center is dedicated to presenting a diverse array of professional and student performances while fostering interdisciplinary artistic exploration and community engagement.

History

Planning for a consolidated performing arts facility at the University of Maryland began in the late 1980s, driven by the need to replace outdated venues like Tawes Theatre. A significant philanthropic gift from Clarice Smith, a noted Washington, D.C.-area artist and alumna, and her husband Robert H. Smith, a real estate developer and philanthropist, provided the cornerstone funding for the project. The center was designed by the Santa Monica-based firm Moore Ruble Yudell Architects & Planners, with groundbreaking occurring in 1998. It officially opened to the public in October 2001, named in honor of Clarice Smith, and has since become a cultural hub for the Washington metropolitan area. The facility consolidated several academic departments previously scattered across campus, creating a unified home for the arts at the University of Maryland.

Architecture and facilities

The design by Moore Ruble Yudell emphasizes transparency, connectivity, and flexibility, featuring extensive use of glass, natural light, and communal spaces to encourage interaction. The complex houses multiple performance and rehearsal venues, including the 1,100-seat Dekelboum Concert Hall, renowned for its acoustics designed by Jaffe Holden and flexible orchestra pit. Other key spaces are the 350-seat Kay Theatre, the experimental Dance Theatre, and the intimate Gildenhorn Recital Hall. The building also incorporates the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library, extensive rehearsal studios, scene shops, and digital media labs. Its layout facilitates collaboration between the School of Music and the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies, supporting a wide range of artistic disciplines from orchestral music to avant-garde theatre.

Programming and artistic mission

The center’s programming is a blend of professional presentations, student productions, and artist residencies, curated to reflect a global perspective on the performing arts. It presents the annual Maryland Day festival and series such as NextNOW Fest and Arts for All. The artistic mission emphasizes innovation, interdisciplinary work, and cultural dialogue, often featuring collaborations with institutions like the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Library of Congress. Programming spans classical music by ensembles like the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra, contemporary dance, world music, jazz, and new theatrical works, supporting both emerging artists and established figures such as Yo-Yo Ma and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Academic and community engagement

As an integral part of the University of Maryland College of Arts and Humanities, the center provides essential production and performance opportunities for students in the School of Music and School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies. It hosts master classes, workshops, and lectures by visiting artists, integrating professional practice directly into the curriculum. Community initiatives include the Terp Young Scholars program, outreach performances for Prince George's County schools, and partnerships with local organizations like the Prince George's Philharmonic. The Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library serves as a key resource for students, scholars, and the public, offering extensive collections related to musicology, theatre history, and dance notation.

Notable events and performances

The center has hosted a wide array of significant performances and events since its opening. Notable presentations have included residencies and performances by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, concerts by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and world premieres by composers like John Corigliano. It regularly features the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra under conductors such as James Ross and hosts festivals like the NextNOW Fest, which showcases experimental work. The venue has also been a site for prestigious events such as the Maryland Film Festival screenings and lectures by notable figures including Mikhail Baryshnikov and Wynton Marsalis, solidifying its reputation as a leading cultural institution in the Mid-Atlantic states.

Category:University of Maryland, College Park Category:Performing arts centers in Maryland Category:Buildings and structures in College Park, Maryland Category:2001 establishments in Maryland