Jase Smith Named New Artistic Director of Firehouse Theatre

FIREHOUSE THEATRE is pleased to announce the appointment of Jase Smith as Artistic Director. Smith has led Firehouse as Interim Artistic Director since January and has served as an artistic associate since 2008. He is well-known in the Richmond theatre community for directing shows that have earned many accolades including 30 Richmond Theatre Critic's Circle Awards nominations and eight awards in various categories.

"I'm very excited about our first full season under the leadership of Artistic Director Jase Smith," said Kay Holmes, president of Board of Directors. "We are thrilled about our upcoming season and look forward to seeing you at Fire Station #10."

"I am so honored to continue to serve Firehouse Theatre's mission to present important American Contemporary Theatre to Richmond," said Smith. "We have just launched our 20th Anniversary with an incredible production of one of my all-time favorite plays 'night, Mother. I am starting rehearsals next week for a musical that has always been on my bucket list, The Wild Party. We have completed casting for the ultimate American classic A Streetcar Named Desire and are announcing casting call for the ground-breaking comedy The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity in the coming weeks. We have a great team and are looking forward to big things at Firehouse!"

Previous directing credits for Smith include RTCC Award for Best Musical nominees The Rocky Horror Show, RENT, Reefer Madness:The Musical, and The Great American Trailer Park Musical(Firehouse Theatre Project). Other professional credits include POP!, A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant (FTP), Zanna Don't and Christmas with the Crawfords (Richmond Triangle Players).

Formerly, Smith served as an Instructor of Theatre at John Tyler Community College where he has directed Psycho Beach Party and The Fantasticks. He holds a Master in Fine Arts in Theatre from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from The College of William and Mary where he directed The Laramie Project. Jase has also served as Marketing Director for Firehouse Theatre Project, Virginia Shakespeare Festival, and William and Mary Theatre. He is a recipient of Style Weekly's Top 40 Under 40 award in 2008 for his volunteer marketing work with The Conciliation Project and his professional directing contributions to Richmond theatre. He is an associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and a member of Theatre Communications Group.

Photo by Adam Ewing Photography