Annie played by Ellie Smith with Sandy the dog at Tuacahn.
As a seasoned Tuacahn patron you may begin to recognize familiar faces of returning cast members performing in our Broadway productions. This familiar face might be a little harder to recognize since there has been a 15 year gap between her first performance at Tuacahn to now. Ellie Smith made her Tuacahn debut in 2008 as Cosette in Les Miserables and Brigitta in The Sound of Music. She’s back and is playing the role of Clarice in our 2022 production of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. We caught up with her on everything she’s been up to since she’s been away.
“I truly grew up and found my identity, confidence, and theatrical footing at this theater.”
What productions have you performed in at Tuacahn? and what roles did you play?
11 year old Ellie Smith played Little Cosette in Les Miserables in 2008.
I started out at Tuacahn at age 11, playing Little Cosette in Les Miserables and Brigitta in The Sound of Music– both productions in the summer of 2008. And the year after, I got to come back as Annie in Annie, and my younger sister played one of the orphans: Kate. Incredibly precious childhood memories.
What brought you back to Tuacahn?
I feel like I spent incredibly formative years here- I truly grew up and found my identity, confidence, and theatrical footing at this theater. I’ve always hoped to come back to Tuacahn again because of that (and again and again, fingers crossed!) Even in college, I’d roadtrip down here from BYU to see the summer season. When I saw Tuacahn’s 2016 production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, it re-solidified absolutely everything I not only loved about this theater, but theatre as an art form in Pretty special. To this day, it’s my favorite musical I’ve ever seen. I spent most of the show in tears.
What led to your career in theater?
Ellie Smith shows off the iconic red dress to Daddy Warbucks in Annie in 2009.
Theatre was always just it. There was no other path for me, no question about it. I was a child actor onstage and in television, and I never really gravitated out of the arts. I was pulled out of school after my Annie days to pursue it more seriously, giving me the flexibility to travel and work outside of Las Vegas, where I was raised. I will say, I definitely had to re-discover my love, drive, passion, etc for the industry as I grew up, especially after having such supportive parents constantly guiding me towards this world. My teenage years and my college years were crucial for discovering if I saw myself- and loved myself- in the theatrical profession. I’ve had to learn to love the industry through the ups and downs, successes and failures. I’m still here, still in it- I still can’t imagine doing anything else. I’m immensely proud that I’ve chosen this career, and still choose it every day, after every audition.
What have you been up to since you were last at Tuacahn to now?
Ellie Smith sings the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium.
Oh gosh- everything. After all, it’s been about fifteen years since I was first here. (Geez, I’m getting old.) Roughly 300 National Anthems all over the country for the NFL, NBA, MLB (helped me surpass any stage fright I might have had left in me). Intense opera training during my teenage years, along with acting, dance, etc. Revisited Les Miserables, playing Eponine in a regional production in Vegas. I even tried my hand at pageantry when I was getting bored and antsy- I won Miss Nevada at age 17 and competed at Miss America in 2014. That was absolutely wild and terrifying.
Ellie Smith won the title of Miss Nevada at age 17 and competed at Miss America in 2014.
Now, after graduating from Brigham Young University, (MDT program- go Cougs!) I’ve completed two cruise contracts, made my national television debut on CBS’s Blue Bloods, played a supporting lead in my first feature film, starred at Cape Playhouse as Sandy in Grease, and now I’m here. After Rudolph, I’m starting 2023 off with a dream show: I’m incredibly lucky to have had these experiences- I’ve taken something special, something crucial from each one.
What are you most looking forward to now that you’re back at Tuacahn?
Besides the obvious choices: Living in this majestic canyon for a few months, Cafe Rio a few minutes away, and making new friends with the cast of Rudolph, I’m so excited to work under this creative team again.
“I’m immensely proud that I’ve chosen this career, and still choose it every day….”
Ellie Smith portrayed Annie in the 2009 production at Tuacahn.
Who has inspired you throughout your theater career?
Scott Anderson used to sit backstage with me as I was preparing to play Annie and would go through each and every line with me, my objectives scene by scene, and little nuances here and there that he helped me realize. He patiently guided 12-year-old Ellie through one of the best parts of this art form: character development.
Young Cosette sings Castle On a Cloud as she dreams of a better life away from the Thénardiers, played by Ellie Smith.
What is your favorite memory at Tuacahn?
Besides performing in Annie with my sister, (and having our parents here for every single show) my favorite memory here was Les Miserables. I (embarrassingly) admit I even had my first “love” here at Tuacahn- Little Cosette had the BIGGEST crush on the young actor that played Gavroche. I was even reminded upon coming back here years later, that I immortalized this infatuation on the show tag wall of the underground tunnel below the main stage: I wrote, in sharpie, “Ellie looooves Cameron” or something along those lines. Cringe. But hey, I was eleven.
Tuacahn means the world to me- it has for fifteen years. I’m thrilled to finally be back, and I hope there will be many more productions, roles, and memories to come here. Just no more sharpie-ing my co-star’s name on the wall.
All grown up, Ellie Smith is again performing at Tuacahn in the role of Clarice in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
See Ellie and the entire cast in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer running now through Dec. 22 in our indoor Hafen theatre. Click here to purchase your tickets to this Christmas classic!