Inside The Smith Center:

Suzanne Chabre on Building Las Vegas’ Cultural Cornerstone

By Sheryl Aronson

In this Chic Compass conversation, Suzanne Chabre, vice president and chief experience officer for The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas, reflects on the vision, partnerships and community commitment that helped shape one of Southern Nevada’s most important cultural institutions. From world-class performances to meaningful arts education, her insights reveal how The Smith Center became far more than a venue — it became a home for the arts.

Chic Compass: How does The Smith Center’s mission shape the kinds of performances, educational programs and community experiences it offers today?

Suzanne Chabre: The Smith Center’s mission guides everything we do, from inspiring audiences through great performances to enriching the lives of students in our community through educational programming. We’re not just a venue; we’re a cultural home that brings music, theater and dance to Southern Nevada while investing in learning and access. From the start, our goal has been to offer world-class programming to the entire community — not just ticket buyers.

Chic Compass: Why was it important for Southern Nevada to have a world-class performing arts center separate from the entertainment of the Las Vegas Strip?

Suzanne Chabre: I believe a great city deserves a cultural foundation of its own. Before The Smith Center opened, Las Vegas was the largest community in North America without a world-class performing arts center. We created a place where locals could gather for shared artistic experiences rooted in the community itself.

Chic Compass: What were some of the biggest challenges during the nearly 20-year effort to bring The Smith Center to life?

Suzanne Chabre: One of the biggest challenges was simply the length and complexity of the effort. Nearly two decades passed between vision and reality, and along the way, fundraising, public support, land, infrastructure and political alignment all had to come together. Even during the Great Recession, we stayed committed because the community believed this project mattered.

Chic Compass: How did the public-private partnership help make The Smith Center possible, and why was that collaboration so important?

Suzanne Chabre: A project of this scale could never come together through one source alone. The City of Las Vegas supported the effort with land and infrastructure, while the state and county helped fund the project through a car rental tax. That partnership made The Smith Center possible and reinforced its long-term civic value.

Chic Compass: What role did community support and philanthropy play in the creation of The Smith Center?

Suzanne Chabre: Community support and philanthropy were the foundation of the project. The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation made transformative gifts, and 57 community members, The Smith Center’s Founders, each contributed $1 million or more. To me, that support reflected a shared belief that Las Vegas deserved something lasting.

Chic Compass: How did the design inspiration from iconic venues around the world and the Hoover Dam help shape the identity of The Smith Center?

Suzanne Chabre: Our design drew inspiration from internationally celebrated venues such as the Palais Garnier, Musikverein and La Scala, while the Hoover Dam’s Art Deco influence grounded the building in Southern Nevada. The result is a campus that feels both globally inspired and unmistakably local.

Chic Compass: In what ways has The Smith Center fulfilled its original vision of becoming a cultural foundation and community hub for Southern Nevada?

Suzanne Chabre: I believe we’ve fulfilled that vision through both our programming and our impact. We’ve brought acclaimed artists and Broadway tours to Las Vegas while also serving more than 1.5 million students and educators at no cost to schools. That reflects exactly why The Smith Center was created in the first place.

Chic Compass: What did it mean for The Smith Center to host globally recognized artists and major Broadway productions within its first five years?

Suzanne Chabre: Those early appearances validated The Smith Center’s ambition from the very beginning. Hosting artists such as John Legend, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis — and presenting first national Broadway tours like “Kinky Boots,” “The Book of Mormon” and “Wicked” — established us as a serious destination for the performing arts.

Chic Compass: How important has original work, such as the reimagined “Tempest” and “Idaho! The Comedy Musical,” been in defining The Smith Center’s artistic voice?

Suzanne Chabre: Original work has been incredibly important in defining our artistic voice. It proved that The Smith Center could do more than present established hits — we could also help create new art. Projects like “Tempest” and our first original musical, “Idaho!,” showed our willingness to support innovation alongside tradition.

Chic Compass: How did national PBS broadcasts help expand The Smith Center’s reputation beyond Las Vegas and Southern Nevada?

Suzanne Chabre: PBS brought The Smith Center into homes across the country not long after we opened our doors. That national exposure introduced broader audiences to the caliber of our venue, the artists we attract and the production standards we deliver. It helped solidify The Smith Center’s place in the American performing arts landscape.