Gene Smith was resident makeup designer at Phoenix Little Theatre and Actors Inner Circle, as well as a frequent actor in Valley productions of the 1960s and ’70s.
Gene worked for Clairol as a hair designer while studying acting in New York and was a hairdresser at the elite Salon de Venus in Phoenix. Oh, he was an accomplished painter, too.
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Memories of working with Gene
Gene Smith and Kit Carson in The Odd Couple was a huge hit. Perfect casting! – Jacqueline Gaston.
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Article that appeared in the March 20, 1965 edition of The Phoenix Gazette.
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NOTABLE CREDITS
1975. March. Scottsdale Community Players. “Frankenstein.”
In March of 1975, Scottsdale Community Players presented the world premiere of Tim Kelly’s Frankenstein at the Stagebrush Theatre. Kelly with a prolific playwright, with more than 50 titles to his credit by this time. Tim directed from his script and his cast included Thomas Mastronardi as Dr. Frankenstein, Steven Mastroieni as Henry Clerval, Thomas Blackwood as ‘The Creature,’ Joan Silberschlag as Frau Frankenstein, Martha Welty as Elizabeth, Gene Smith, Fay Bullock and Royce Bauder. Ken Kloth designed the sets.
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1973. May. Phoenix Center for the Performing Arts. “Pinocchio.”
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IN 1973, Gene became one of four lecturers hired by Studio Sombrero. He taught makeup design, while Mary Mizell taught screen acting, Ron Duffy (then general manager of Phoenix Little Theatre) taught career planning and Heather Mathieson taught puppetry.
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1970. May. Phoenix Little Theatre. “Cactus Flower”
Bina Breitner’s review in the Arizona Republic.
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1970. January. Phoenix Little Theatre. “Gaslight.”
Below is Bina Breitner’s review from the Arizona Republic, Jan. 9, 1970
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1969. December. Phoenix Little Theatre. “Snow White.”
Bina Breitner’s column in the Arizona Republic.
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1969. November. Phoenix Little Theatre. “On Borrowed Time.”
Bina Breitner’s review in the Arizona Republic
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1969. October. Scottsdale Community Players.
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1969. October. Phoenix Little Theatre. “Enter Laughing.”
Bina Breitner’s Arizona Republic review: Oct. 3, 1969
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1969. June. Actors Inner Circle. “Requiem for a Nun“
Review: Bina Breitner, Arizona Republic, June 15, 1969.
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1969. May. Actors Inner Circle. “The Rainmaker“
Bina Breitner’s review in the Arizona Republic
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1969. March. Actors Inner Circle. “The Firebugs“
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1968. December. Actors Inner Circle. “The Rose Tattoo“
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1968. August. Phoenix Little Theatre. “The Odd Couple.”
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1968. June. Actors Inner Circle. “The Physicists.”
Review: Arizona Republic, June 14, 1968, Bina Breitner.
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1968. April. Phoenix Little Theater. “Charley’s Aunt.”
Bina Breitner’s review in the Arizona Republic
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1968. April. Phoenix Musical Theatre. “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.”
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1968. January. Actors Inner Circle. “Orpheus Descending”
Bina Breitner’s review in the Arizona Republic.
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1967. December. Phoenix Little Theatre. “The Tinder Box”
Bina Breitner’s review in the Arizona Republic.
Arizona Republic, Dec. 16, 1967 
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1967. November. Phoenix Musical Theatre. “Once Upon a Mattress“
Bina Breitner’s review in the Arizona Republic.
Arizona Republic, Oct. 22, 1967. Bina Breitner’s On Stage Column
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1967. October. Actors Inner Circle. “The Royal Hunt of the Sun.”
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1967. April. Actors Inner Circle. “The Waltz of the Toreadors“
Bina Breitner’s review in the Arizona Republic.
