James Conrad Smith
For a full list of performance credits, you can click the Download Full Resume button or scroll below for a select list.
EDUCATION
James holds two degrees in vocal performance: a B.M. from Montclair State University (Montclair, NJ) and an M.M. from the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University (Bloomintgton, IN).
THEATRE
MUSICAL THEATRE
James has performed with White Plains Performing Arts Center, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Sierra Repertory Theatre, The Princeton Festival, Downtown Cabaret Theater and appeared in presentations of new musicals at Feinstein's 54/Below, Alvin Ailey. He is an Equity Member Candidate (EMC) as well as a member of AGMA.
OPERA
James has appeared with the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, the Light Opera of New Jersey, Opera Theatre of Montclair, and in productions of his own company, the Young Artists' Initiative.
STAGE DIRECTING
He started directing when he founded the Young Artists' Initiative in 2013 producing The Pirates of Penzance and Don Giovanni (2014). In 2016, he began mentoring and directing youth theater for elementary age children in NJ and UT. In 2019, he became the resident stage director for the New Jersey Vocal Arts Collaborative (N.J.V.A.C.) and helmed the company's inaugural production of Le nozze di Figaro. In 2022, he concluded his tenure as resident stage director with NJVAC with his staging of Die Zauberflote.
VIDEO EDITOR
During the pandemic, James assumed a new role with Chicago's Transgressive Theatre-Opera as their video designer for its virtual staging of Handel's Beauty's Truth (2020) utilizing Adobe's Creative Suite to bring together artists from across the country.
TEACHING
James is a private voice teacher (currently there is no formal studio) and offers acting coaching to opera singers.
He is also a NJ certified substitute teacher (K-12).
MAKING ART AWAY FROM THE STAGE
Church Cantor - 18+ years (Pequannock, Montclair, Clifton)
Calligrapher - holiday cards, wedding invitations, and other miscellaneous projects.
Composer / Orchestrator - In 2013, his piece "Reflection: Innocent Thoughts About Peace" won the inaugural Cali Choral Composition Competition at Montclair State University adjudicated by Morten Lauridsen. "Reflection" premiered at Carnegie Hall in March 2014 with MSU's Vocal Accord under the baton of Heather J. Buchanan. More recently, James has been at work on two projects: a requiem mass and the Hogwarts Song Anthology - information for both of these can be found here.
FUN FACTS ABOUT JAMES
James' hobbies and interests include: the history of the RMS TITANIC, the Harry Potter book series, decorating for Christmas, biking, and hiking.
He is also a huge fan of Downton Abbey and The Great British Bake Off. James also enjoys reading Stephen King or Clive Cussler, and listening to his favorite radio station WQXR.
Location: NJ / NYC
Union Status: EMC, AGMA
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 180 lbs.
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: Brown
Vocal Range:
G2-A4
Falsetto:
extends up to C6
Audio from the premier performance of "Reflection: Innocent Thoughts About Peace" at Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall in March 2014. MSU Vocal Accord, Heather J. Buchanan conductor, Steven Ryan piano
The 2021 gingerbread house from scratch.
Standing atop Oregon's dormant stratovolcano Mt. McLoughlin in September 2019 - elevation 9,495'
Musical Theatre
NEWSIES (2019-20) at the White Plains Performing Arts Center
From L-R: James Conrad Smith, Mark Bradley Miller, Jamie Zeidman, Chris McHugh
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LEGALLY BLONDE (2018) at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre
Also featured: Monica Brown as Elle Woods
Sierra Repertory Theatre | CAMELOT
Sir Dinadan
White Plains Performing Arts Center | NEWSIES
Seitz / Pulitzer Understudy
Oregon Cabaret Theatre | SWEEENEY TODD
Adolpho Pirelli
The Princeton Festival | SHE LOVES ME
Steven Kodaly
Alvin Ailey CitiGroup Theatre | MY PRINCESS DIANA: A NEW MUSICAL
Prince Charles -- Benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
Downtown Cabaret Theatre | LEGALLY BLONDE
Warner Huntington III
Feinstein's 54/Below | WHAT DO CRITICS KNOW?
Shakespeare
.
staged reading, new musical
White Plains Performing Arts Center | THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME
Fr. Dupin / Official
Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre | THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME
Jehan Frollo
Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre | The USIC MAN
Charlie Cowell
Rhino Theatre | BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Beast
Opera
THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT (2018) with the
LIGHT OPERA OF NEW JERSEY
Also featured: Hanne Ladefoged-Dollase, Marquise de Berkenfield
Light Opera of New Jersey | DAUGHTER OF THE REGIRMENT
Hortensius
Light Opera of New Jersey | PATTERMANIA!
Patter Soloist, Gilbert & Sullivan musical revue
Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre | THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE
Major-General Stanley (Cover)
Young Artists' Initiative | DON GIOVANNI
Don Giovanni
Young Artists' Initiative | THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE
Major-General Stanley
Blooming Voce Summer Workshop | COSI FAN TUTTE
Guglielmo
Children's Outreach
Opera Theatre of Montclair | DIE ZAUBERFLOTE
Papageno
Re-Imagining Opera for Kids (R.O.K.) | THE MAGIC FLUTE
Papageno / Sarastro
Indiana University
Education &
Teachers
M.M. Vocal Performance | Indiana University | Tim Noble, Terea Kubiak
B.M. Vocal Performance | Montclair State University | Peter R. Gillis
VOICE: Peter van Derick (current)
Special Skills
Licensed (NJ) Driver
Music: sight reading, composing, orchestration, piano
Falsetto (countertenor / soprano / Tiny Tim) - up to C6
Accents: British RP, French, German, Italian, Scottish, Russian