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News Article

New Artistic Director at Circus Center 
Posted 4/15/2015 7:03:06 PM  by Don Covington
News from Circus Center Press Release viewed 625 times

Wednesday, April 15, 2015 - San Francisco, California
Steve Smith has been appointed the new Artistic Director of San Francisco's Circus Center

PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 1, 2015
Press Contact: Sarah Bruhns, Assistant General Manager
(415) 759-8123, sarah@circuscenter.org

Circus Center Announces Appointment of

Steve Smith as Creative Director

 

Steve Smith Headshot 2SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Circus Center, San Francisco’s internationally-renowned circus training and performing arts center, has appointed Steve Smith as its Creative Director. Smith brings to his new post over four decades of show business experience as a director, performer, teacher, and creative consultant.

Smith began as a clown with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and went on to become that circus’s Goodwill Ambassador. He later was Dean of the Ringling Clown College for ten years, and also served as director for the 123rd edition of “The Greatest Show on Earth.”

He is a five-time Emmy Award winner for his work in children’s television, and a 1993 inductee into the Clown Hall of Fame.

Smith has worked as a director and creative consultant for numerous clients, including Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, McDonald’s, Verizon Wireless, Walt Disney World, Chuck Jones Film Productions, The Reduced Shakespeare Co., Princess Cruise Lines, NBC-TV, CBS-TV, and many Off-Broadway theatre, cabaret, theme park, and film projects. More recently, he served as co-creator and director of four productions for the Big Apple Circus.

“It is with a tremendous sense of honor and humility that I join the staff of Circus Center,” says Smith. “I have great respect for its legacy, and a strong sense of purpose for the limitless potential of its future.”

“Along with my years of experience in the circus arts, I offer my sense of passion, play, energy, and enthusiasm to this new position. I believe that, together, we will raise the standard of excellence to the highest levels of artistry and professionalism in our training and performances, and I eagerly look forward to the challenges and adventures that lie ahead.”

Smith will work closely with Executive Director Barry Kendall in leading Circus Center into the next phase of the 31-year-old organization’s future. Smith will provide creative counsel on all aspects of the organization’s operations, including the selection of artistic projects and personnel and overseeing their production. Kendall will continue to provide overall leadership and management of the organization.

Kendall remarks, “I am delighted that Steve Smith is joining the leadership team at Circus Center. Steve brings both tremendous depth of experience in the circus and an impressive diversity of show business credits. His reputation for nurturing creativity and generous collaboration make him a perfect fit for our future. He will be a terrific asset to this community, creating more and better opportunities for our students, faculty, professional performers, and alumni to shine.”

Smith will begin working with Kendall and the Circus Center faculty and staff on April 1. Events are being planned throughout the spring to introduce Smith to the community.

Originally the training arm of San Francisco’s legendary Pickle Family Circus, Circus Center is today an internationally recognized circus training and performing arts center, offering circus productions and recreational and professional training year-round. Its international faculty has performed in featured roles with elite circuses around the world, including the Nanjing Acrobatic Troupe, Moscow Circus, Cirque du Soleil, Big Apple Circus, Teatro ZinZanni, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. A non-profit organization dedicated to the perpetuation of the circus arts, Circus Center is proud to offer training to thousands of children, teens, and adults in clowning and physical comedy, acrobatics, aerial performance, flying trapeze, and more.

For more information, or to arrange interviews and receive high-resolution photos, please contact Sarah Bruhns at 415-759-8123 or sarah@circuscenter.org.

To learn more about Steve Smith, including a brief video profile, visit http://www.pbs.org/opb/circus/circus-life/profile/steve-smith/.

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