James had the opportunity to understudy Smudge, one of the four late lamented members of the plaid harmony group with the Winter Park Playhouse during their 2025 season hosted at the Orlando Shakespeare Festival while their home location was being renovated.
FOREVER PLAID presented by the Winter Park Playhouse
Mendell Theatre, Orlando Shakespeare Festival ~ September-October 2025
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In 2024, James had the opportunity to join the ranks of the estimable NYGASP or the New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players. Having first been introduced to the company when he was in college seeing their production of The Pirates of Penzance at City Center, James was ecstatic to learn an unfamiliar G&S title, Ruddigore as a rube and ancestral ghost under the baton of founder Albert Bergeret.
FOREVER PLAID presented by the Winter Park Playhouse
Gerald W. Lynch Theatre ~ November 2024
James returned to the White Plains Performing Arts Center (WPPAC) for the third time in their fall production of Jekyll & Hyde as Sir Archibald Proops/Ensemble. The production was directed by Marc Tumminelli, musically directed/produced by Stephen Ferri, choreographed by Felicity Stiverson, with scenic design by Chris & Justin Swader, lighting design by Aaron Bowersox, and sound design by Don Hannah.
Photographs below by Justin Swader.
The company of Jekyll & Hyde "Façade"
"The Board of Governors" featuring (from left to right) Steve Taylor, PJ Cirino, Tristan Caldwell, Michelle Jennings, James Conrad Smith, Chris Marth
JEKYLL & HYDE presented by the White Plains Performing Arts Center
WPPAC ~ October 2024
James made his debut with The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in their summer musical production of Steven Lutvak's A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder with direction by artistic director Brian B. Crowe and musical direction by Doug Oberhamer.
A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER presented by The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
FM Kirby Theater ~ May-June 2024
STUDIO691
A dream role since he first heard the soundtrack, James had the privilege to play Buddy the Elf in Studio 691's holiday production directed by Tim Santos.
ELF presented by Studio 691
Studio 691 ~ December 2023
Artistic director Sam Scalamoni led a concert performance of Working The Musical in which James played Man 3. This production was part of Skyline Theatre Company's "Broadway in Concert" series with performances taking place at the Oakside Bloomfield Cultural Center.
WORKING THE MUSICAL presented by Skyline Theatre Company
Oakside Bloomfield Cultural Center ~ September 2023
James' return to the stage after the hiatus that was the Covid-19 pandemic was marked by his being cast as The D'Ysquith Family in Light Opera of New Jersey's summer musical presentation of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. James first heard the soundtrack to GGLM in 2017 when he was working at the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre: it was love at first listen. The opportunity to tackle this tour de force was an incredible gift as one cast as a D'Ysquith plays not one, not two, not even three... but nine different members of the family of wretches, hypocrites, and eccentrics.
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).
All photos (except bottom center) were published on New Jersey Stage by John Posada - click here for the original posting
A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER presented by Light Opera of New Jersey
South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) ~ July 2023
We all remember the confusion and isolation that was the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic. Alas, like so much of the rest of the world, the 2020 summer season of The Princeton Festival was cancelled. In its place, though, artistic director Richard Tang Yuk developed Virtually Yours, a virtual online festival which incorporated performances in isolation. James has the opportunity to sing as a featured solo artist in an online concert and featured spotlight series.
Signature Artist Showcase: "Anthem" from Chess
Signature Artist Showcase: "A Little Bit of Good" from Chicago
Live Musical Theater Revue: My time stamp is @ 55:09
"If I Can't Love Her" from Beauty and the Beast
TOWN TOPICS
Review by Donald H. Sanborn III
"When Beauty and the Beast (1994) became Disney’s first stage musical, additional songs were needed to augment the animated film’s score. Lyricist Tim Rice studiously imitated the style of Howard Ashman, the movie’s late wordsmith. An exception was an anguished ballad for the Beast, “If I Can’t Love Her,” which was more characteristic of the ambivalent, weary mood that pervades many of Rice’s songs from other shows. James Conrad Smith — who, like Rakow and Weintraub, was a veteran of last year’s Princeton Festival production of She Loves Me — lent his ringing baritone to Alan Menken’s melody."
An arrangement I created for myself and four friends who were in The Princeton Festival's 2019 production of She Loves Me - all of whom would have been in Into the Woods this coming summer. Top (L-R): Tommy MacDonald, Amy Weintraub, (me) James Conrad Smith; Bottom (L-R) Shannon Rakow, Aaron Gooden
VIRTUALLY YOURS presented by The Princeton Festival
Online ~ June 2020
Alas, far too similar to Arthur's unrealized dream of the ideals of Camelot, the Sierra Repertory Theatre's 2020 production was similarly fated to not see its full production calendar fulfilled. The Covid-19 pandemic forced a shutdown of SRT's inaugural production of their "Legendary Season": Lerner & Loew's Camelot in which James played Sir Dinadain in this paired-down ensemble cast.
CAMELOT presented by the Sierra Repertory Theatre
East Sonora Theater ~ Feb-Mar 2020
​James' second production at The White Plains Performing Arts Center was their 2019-2020 holiday production of Disney's Newsies directed by Frank Portanova and musically directed by Stephen Ferri.
NEWSIES presented by the White Plains Performing Arts Center
WPPAC ~ Dec 2019-Jan 2020
Artistic Director Val Rachelle offered James the chance to not only play Adolfo Pirelli in The Oregon Cabaret Theatre's 2019 autumn production of Sweeney Todd but also the opportunity to orchestrate the production's live musical accompaniment for its nine-person ensemble. This he did during the spring and summer leading up to his cross country drive from NJ to OR. During the months on the west coast, James hiked and explored the beauty of the Pacific Coast's volcanic peaks while playing some sixty odd performances with an incredible cast in the cab's charming dinner theater atmosphere only just down the street from the Oregon Shakespeare Theatre.
THE MAIL TRIBUNE
Review by Maureen Flannagan Battistella
"James Smith is a delightful Adolfo Pirelli, exaggerated and inflated with Italian bombast, clothed and mustachioed to the tips of his two-toned, pointy footwear. Pirelli is the first to go (need I explain how?), and I was sorry that this character was so short-lived, but Smith continues as effectively though very differently in the ensemble."
THEATRE IN OREGON
Review by Ella Nelson-Mahon
"The ensemble, who all have significant roles as well, are impressive... ...Standouts include Kristen Calvin as the Beggar Woman and James Smith as Adolfo Pirelli. Smith's portrayal as Pirelli, a rival barber, is a riot. His hilarious quirks as he flounces about the stage are contrasted with a vocal range that could best be described as serious."
SWEENEY TODD presented by The Oregon Cabaret Theatre
OCT ~ Sep-Nov 2019
James' debut with The Princeton Festival was in their 2019 summer musical production of She Loves Me as the licentious (yet solvent) Steven Kodaly.
TOWN TOPICS
Review by Donald H. Sanborn
"James Conrad Smith, a baritone who brings considerable vocal power to 'Grand Knowing You,' is suitably cast as the oily Kodaly."
U.S.1
Review by Neal Zoren
"James Conrad Smith has a magnificent voice and smooth dance moves."
"UNDER THE STARS" Concert
SHE LOVES ME presented by The Princeton Festival
The Princeton Festival ~ June 2019
​James' debut at The White Plains Performing Arts Center was the 2017-18 holiday production of Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame directed by Frank Portanova and musically directed by Stephen Ferri. James played Fr. Dupin in the players ensemble which was responsible for filling out the action on stage.
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME presented by the White Plains Performing Arts Center
WPPAC ~ Dec 2017-Jan 2018
James' professional debut out of grad school was at the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre with roles in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Jehan, ensemble), The Music Man (Charlie Cowell), and The Pirates of Penzance (ensemble, u/s Major-General Stanley). James also appeared as a soloist in the Sheldon Harnick tribute concert (singing "A Fish" from The Apple Tree), amongst other concerts and performance and outreach opportunities. The Utah Festival is led by Michael Ballam.
HUNCHBACK, PIRATES, MUSIC MAN presented by the Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre
Ellen Eccles Theatre ~ Jun-Aug 2017
