Today we’d like to introduce you to Bethany Smith.
Bethany, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I (Bethany) grew up dancing and loving movie musicals. However, I didn’t start dance until nine so I always felt like I was playing catch up. In middle school, I started to become more involved in musical theatre. By 19, I started dreaming of owning a professional theatre. A place to have job security and continue doing what I loved. I started reading every textbook I could find on producing theatre. Meanwhile, Mark grew up loving baseball and history. He is also starting to really love musical theatre in Middle and High School. He went to college to be a history teacher while still allowing him to pursue theatre. He was soon recruited by the theatre department and changed his major. We met in 2001 playing husband and wife in a musical. We became quick friends but didn’t date until Mark moved in 2002 from California to New York to pursue “acting”. We started dating soon after, engaged in 2003, and married in New York in 2004. Mark wanted to be an Artistic Director and I wanted to own a theatre. We both wanted to move to a more family-friendly location to someday start a family and theatre. Mark was recruited to teach theatre at Landmark Christian school so we moved to Georgia. I decided in July of 2005 that I was ready to start make this dream a reality. I started looking at buildings (most everyone thought I was crazy). In August, I started the Broadway Workshop (acting classes) and by November, I had a builder and the architectural plans in my hands! We opened The Legacy Theatre the following November in 2006 to a sold out crowd!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Owning and operating a business is never a smooth road. Rewarding but not smooth. It takes a lot of courage and faith to opening a business. It takes even more courage and faith to keep going! 2 years after we opened, the 2008 economy crashed greatly affected our area. And then of course March 2020! No one would have ever thought that there would be a time when it seemed dangerous to do theater. And yet, Covid 19 proved just that. We were forced to close our doors immediately. That was definitely the scariest time in our business history.
However, we immediately got to work on one of the first-ever socially distant outdoor theaters! Building a full stage outside, we were able to open in May 2020! We were also able to keep most of our students by going virtual as soon as the pandemic began.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Our original mission statement still remains true: “To provide theatre of unprecedented excellence to the South Metro Atlanta community, while inspiring and educating budding theatre artists in a compassionate and non-discriminating atmosphere, as well as nourishing present and future theatre-goers.”
I LOVE to make my dreams happen and inspire others to do the same! I really believe this is my “Zone of Genius”- Dream Creator! I want to be known for inspiring our students to be unlimited in their potential. I also want to inspire our patrons through presenting beautiful art. I am most proud of our performing arts conservatory, Legacy Dream. It is a safe place for students to train, grown and dream! I believe my drive, commitment to excellence, ability to innovate and take action quickly have contributed to my success.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way to join Legacy is to see a show or take a class! Legacy is such a beautiful and unique place. Once you come through the doors, you understand why it is so special. It has been called many times a “gem’ for South Atlanta. We invite you to buy season tickets, bring a group to see a show, recommend a budding artist to join the conservatory! All of this can be found on our website www.legacytheater.com.
Contact Info:
- Email: bethany@thelegacytheatre.org
- Website: www.legacytheater.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelegacytheatre/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelegacytheatre
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBs4QmJ1aP7sokCxaLEG7Vg
Image Credits
Production photos by Steve Thrasher
