Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Harris Smith has been named interim director of the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film for the spring semester.
Associate Professor of Film Sharon Teo-Gooding will be taking on additional duties as associate director during this time to assist Smith.
Director Paul Steger announced he was stepping down as director in October and would be returning to the faculty next Fall. He will be on faculty development leave this spring.
In November, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln announced a $20 million gift from the Johnny Carson Foundation to establish the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts, to be led by the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. A search for a permanent director will be underway soon.
Smith earned his M.F.A. in acting from the University of Washington’s School of Drama. He serves on the international board of the University/Resident Theatre Association.
He is a certified teacher of stage combat through the Society of American Fight Directors. His fight direction and movement coaching includes St. Louis Black Repertory, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Nebraska Repertory Theatre, Capital Repertory (N.Y.) and Seattle Children’s Theatre, among others.
Some of his theatrical credits include Utah Shakespeare Festival, A Contemporary Theatre (Seattle), Sacramento Theatre Company, Shakespeare on the Green (Nebraska), Illinois Shakespeare Festival and more.