Smith is a graduate of the Iowa Culinary Institute at DMACC and Sioux City West High School
- Antoine L. Smith is a Broadway veteran and Emmy Award-winning artist who graduated from DMACC in 2005.
- Smith will return to his alma mater on Nov. 17 to perform at a sold-out Gourmet Dinner & Scholarship Fundraiser event at the Iowa Culinary Institute and to lead a workshop with DMACC Theatre students.
- Smith is currently starring as Berry Gordy in “MJ: The Musical” on Broadway.
Broadway veteran and Emmy Award-winning artist Antoine L. Smith, who graduated from the Iowa Culinary Institute at DMACC in 2005, will make a special return visit to the DMACC Ankeny Campus on Nov. 17 to perform at a sold-out Gourmet Dinner & Scholarship Fundraiser event at the Iowa Culinary Institute and to lead a workshop with DMACC Theatre students.
Smith is coming to DMACC from Broadway, where he is currently starring as Berry Gordy in “MJ: The Musical.” He has also appeared on Broadway in the Tony and Grammy-nominated revival of “Carousel,” and in the 2016 Grammy and Tony Award-winning musical revival of “The Color Purple” starring Jennifer Hudson. His additional Broadway credits include “Miss Saigon,” “Memphis” and “Cinderella.”
“DMACC is thrilled to welcome Antoine back to campus,” said Carl Lindberg, Chair of the DMACC Ankeny Theatre at the Simon Estes School of Fine Arts at DMACC. “Antoine is a wonderfully talented performer and professional who continues to accomplish great things by putting in the work. Our current students are so excited to learn from him.”
Smith was born in Gary, Indiana, and grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, where he graduated from Sioux City West High School. He studied vocal performance at the University of South Dakota and then earned a culinary arts degree from the Iowa Culinary Institute at DMACC as a bit of a passion-driven back-up plan.
“In addition to performing, I love creating in the kitchen, and I figured I could always cook at a restaurant somewhere while I auditioned for theater work,” said Smith, who also sang in the DMACC Choir while attending classes on the College’s Ankeny Campus.
And it was just down the road in Des Moines when he got an unexpected break. He was out singing karaoke at a local establishment when cast members from a “Sesame Street: Live” tour that was in town happened to hear him and suggested he audition to join their show.
“I sent in a video and they called me three weeks later,” Smith said.
Smith moved to New York City after the “Sesame Street” tour and worked for a few months as a chef before joining the national tour of "Cats." That led to roles in various regional theaters before he made his Broadway debut in “Memphis” in 2011.
As he reflects on his journey to this point, Smith said he hopes to share some inspiration with students.
“A lot of people just don't think they can do things outside of Iowa, but they can,” he said. “If you want it, just go for it and you can get it.”
To learn more about Smith’s upcoming visit to DMACC, please contact Carl Lindberg at (515) 965-7031 or celindberg@dmacc.edu.
Original source can be found here.
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