Upcoming . . .
James' scenic design will bring to life Montclair State University's upcoming chamber production of Humperdink's Hansel und Gretel. Alongside director Karen Driscoll's staging and under the baton of Maestro William Hobbs, this is an opportunity for students of the John J. Cali School of Music to exercise their skills as operatic story tellers with this classic fairy tale of witches, fairies, gingerbread, and candy!
HANSEL und GRETEL presented by Montclair State University, John J. Cali School of Music and the Alexander Kasser Theatre
8 December, 2024
For more information, please visit Cali Kasser Theatre Events
Now thru Dec 31, 2024 . . .
Please Vote!
NJ Broadway World has opened voting for their 2024 nominations! This year three of James' productions have been nominated. Voting can be accessed by clicking on this link and is open through December 31st. It's a popularity contest, so the one who wins the most votes wins: if you have a second please cast your vote! Thanks so much for the nominations and support.
James has been nominated for:
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Best Direction of a Musical: James Conrad Smith Seussical (Light Opera of NJ)
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Best Scenic Design of a Play or Musical: James Conrad Smith Seussical (Light Opera of NJ)
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Best Performer in a Musical: James Conrad Smith ELF (Wyckoff YMCA)
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Best Ensemble: Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ)
James productions have also been nominated for:
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Best Choreography of a Play or Musical: Katie Claire Seussical (Light Opera of NJ)
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Best Costume Design of a Play or Musical: Jessica McGovern Seussical (Light Opera of NJ)
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Best Ensemble: Seussical (Light Opera of NJ)
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Best Musical Direction: Erin Kennedy (Light Opera of NJ)
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Best Musical: Seussical (Light Opera of NJ) and Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (NJ Shakes)
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Best Performer in a Musical: Emily Hughes, Mark Uhlemann, Rebecca Madeira Seussical (Light Opera of NJ)
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Best Supporting Performer in a Musical: Daisha Davis, Evan Charpentier Seussical (Light Opera of NJ)
Holidays 2024
OkCron: Blizz the Season
James was invited to collaborate with OkCron to promote the launch of Starry Cranberry for the 2024 holiday season. James provided the orchestral backing track and vocals.
Upcoming . . .
Yuletide Carolers: New Jersey
James returns to the Yuletide Carolers for his second year in New Jersey. Almost every day in December James will be singing with fellow Yuletide Carolers throughout the state. Here we come a caroling among the leaves so green...
Upcoming . . .
Stage Directing and Production Design
James will be making his return to Villa Walsh Academy as stage director and production designer for the school's production of The Wizard of Oz. Rehearsals begin in early January 2025 with performances to follow March 7-9th.
RECENT . . .
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James has joined the ranks of the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players when he performed in their revival production of Ruddigore as a rube and ancestral ghost.
RUDDIGORE presented by NYGASP
Gerald W. Lynch Theatre ~ 23-24 November 23, 2024
October 2024
JEKYLL & HYDE presented by WPPAC 4-20 October, 2024
James returned to the WPPAC in their production of Jekyll & Hyde as Sir Archibald Proops, a member of the Board of Governors. This production was directed by Marc Tumminelli, musically directed and produced by Stephen Ferri, choreographed by Felicity Stiverson, with scenic design by Chris & Justin Swader, lighting design by Aaron Bowersox, sound design by Don Hannah. Photographs below by Justin Swader.
Above: The company of Jekyll & Hyde "Façade"
Below: "The Board of Governors" featuring (from left to right) Steve Taylor, PJ Cirino, Tristan Caldwell, Michelle Jennings, James Conrad Smith, Chris Marth
AUGUST 2024
Light Opera of New Jersey presented Seussical August 9-11 at the Rosen PAC in Wayne, NJ. James marked his directorial debut with LONJ as well as serving as set, prop, and lighting designer for this production.
To view the program, please click on this link.
"The Circus McGurkus" featuring Mark Uhlemann as Horton and the cast of LONJ's Seussical. Stage Direction, Set/Lighting/Prop Design by James Conrad Smith; Costume Design by Jessica McGovern
Emily Hughes (Jojo) and Mark Uhlemann (Horton)
Niko Lento (Cat) and Rebecca Madeira (Gertrude)
Emily Hughes (Jojo) and Mark Uhlemann (Horton)
SEUSSICAL the musical
presented by Light Opera of New Jersey
at the Rosen PAC
Performance Photographs courtesy of Edward Wolf of Blue Crew Productions; Set Photographs by James Conrad Smith
James Conrad Smith
Erin Kennedy
Katie Claire
Jessica McGovern
Tara Wolckenhauer
Danny Viola
Quinton Tramm
Jason Tramm
Chris Dzerovych
stage director & set/prop/lighting designer
music director
choreographer
costume designer
assistant costume designer
sound design
SFX
executive producer LONJ
producer LONJ
MAY - JUNE 2024
James made his debut with the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. May 15-June 9, 2024.
March 2024
Stage & Music Directing, Production Design
In early January, James accepted a position at Villa Walsh Academy (Morristown, NJ) as the stage and music director for their 2024 spring musical Seussical. This marks his music directorial debut and is his first time working with high school students. As stage director, James will also be responsible for designing (and helping to realize) the set, the lighting, and the costumes/wigs. The show will have three performances in mid-March with a cast of 20 mostly high school and middle school age girls. He would like to thank the choreographer, Mrs. R. Lanni, for considering him for this position; she taught at his high school and choreographed the last three of his high school musicals.
You can purchase tickets at the door or online by clicking here.
February 2024
Leap Day 2024: Pour, oh, pour the pirate sherry
"For some ridiculous reason, to which, however, I’ve no desire to be disloyal, some person in authority - I don’t know who - very likely the Astronomer Royal has decided that, although for such a beastly month as February, twenty-eight days as a rule are plenty, one year in every four his days shall be reckoned as nine and twenty..."
Happy 168th/42nd Birthday, Frederic!
The encore of James' senior voice recital at Montclair State University in February 2014 featuring Steven Ryan (piano) and members of The Young Artists' Initiative founded by James the Fall of the previous year.
January 2024
Thank you for Voting!
Light Opera of New Jersey's production of A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER was nominated for the 2023 BroadwayWorld New Jersey Awards!
James was nominated for Best Performer in a Musical for his portrayal of The D'Ysquith Family. Although he didn't win, he did break 1% which - for this popularity contest - is an achievement! Thank you for voting and your support.
December 2023
ELF
The Musical
STUDIO 691
Dec. 8-10, 2023
James played the eponymous Buddy the elf in four performances of ELF in December 2023 fulfilling not just a Christmas wish but one of his all-time dream roles!
October 2023
A Celebration of the Stage: Opera to Broadway
LIGHT OPERA OF NEW JERSEY
October 8, 2023 at St. Mark's Episcopal Church
LIGHT OPERA OF NEW JERSEY'S gala concert to open their 2023-2024 season showcased James alongside Troy Cook, Gemma Nha, Cesar Andres Parreno, and Karen Delavan with a program of operatic classics and Broadway favorites. James sang from Die Tote Stadt, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. James sang from
September 2023
WORKING
the musical
September 16, 2023 at the Oakside Bloomfield Cultural Center
James appeared as Man 3 in Skyline Theatre Company's presentation of Working the musical as part of their Broadway in Concert Series directed by Sam Scalamoni.
July 2023
A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder
July 15-23, 2023 at SOPAC
The Light Opera of New Jersey presented Steven Lutvak’s and Robert Freedman’s Tony Award-winning operetta A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. James played the role of The D'Ysquith Family: one actor plays the eight heirs to the D'Ysquith fortune, each murdered so that Monty Navarro can become Earl of Highhurst. LONJ presented GGLAM at South Orange Performing Arts Center in South Orange, NJ.
Review by Jacqueline Parker
"In the charming hamlet of South Orange, NJ, which in addition to some charming shopping and notable architecture, boasts the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), where yesterday we enjoyed A Gentleman‘s Guide to Love & Murder, the award-winning musical from several years ago by Steve Lutvak and Robert L. Freedman. With fond memories of the original still vivid in my mind, I was delighted to see a cast of lively professionals deliver performances worthy of Broadway. The cast of ten nimbly scampered through this hilarious piece with dexterity and aplomb, skillfully directed by Joseph Hayward. Keep your eyes open for James C. Smith and Joey Nasta, the two male leads, whose talent we’re sure to see here before long."
Highlights Reel: James Conrad Smith as The D'Ysquith Family. Recorded July 23, 2023 at South Orange PAC. Light Opera of New Jersey presents A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER; directed by Joseph Hayward; musical direction by Griffin Strout; choreography by Matthew Lynady; executive produced by Jason Tramm. Featuring Joey Nasta (Monty Navarro), Gabriella Giangreco (Evangeline Barley "Poison in my Pocket"), and Lauren Rathburn (Lady D'Ysquith).
For more info about Recent musicals, please click here!
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