Molly Smith

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith presents the design for its new Mead Center for American Theater in 2007. Molly Smith is an American theatre director who was the artistic director of Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.

Biography Born and raised in a theater family in Juneau, Alaska, Smith moved to the Lower 48 for college and graduate school. She attended Catholic University (Washington, D.C.), and received a master's degree in 1978 in theatre from American University.

She returned to Juneau, where in 1979 she founded the Perseverance Theatre. Smith led this company as artistic director until 1998. Smith commissioned numerous world premieres at the Perseverance Theatre, including Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winning How I Learned to Drive and The Mineola Twins, Tim Acito’s The Women of Brewster Place, Moises Kaufman’s 33 Variations, Charles Randolph-Wright's Blue, Zora Neale Hurston's lost play, Polk County; and Sarah Ruhl's Passion Play, a cycle.

Smith has served as Literary Adviser to the Sundance Theatre Lab. She formed the Arena Stage Writers Council in partnership with Georgetown University. The Council is composed of leading American playwrights and promotes development. Smith brings artists of international renown to the Arena. She is a member of the Board of the Theatre Communications Group, as well as the Center for International Theatre Development.

She has also directed two feature films. Raven's Blood (1997) was adapted from the mystery novel, Death of an Alaskan Princess, by Bridget Smith, and filmed in Juneau. A major community effort, it featured many local actors and extras.

Legacy and honors Smith led the development of Arena Stage as a center for new American plays, artists, and voices. Some 200 works were produced, including by established American playwrights. She directed many new works, and invited diverse actors and directors to participate in productions. Some 150 works were originated in readings, workshops and related initiatives at the Arena Stage. From 2016 to 2024, a total of 25 plays have been commissioned related to American history. The Mead Center for American Theater, completed in 2010, is one of her legacies.

Smith has received Honorary Doctorates from Towson and American universities.

She organized a march on the National Mall for gun control on January 26, 2013.