artist | administrator | scholar
Elaine Hendriks Smith has over 25 years of experience advancing artistic excellence. She has a proven track record of guiding interdisciplinary teams across theatre, dance, and music through periods of growth, transition, and innovation.
Her scholarship examines the ways theatre makers stage anxiety in moments of social rupture. Grounded in affect and trauma theory, her work contributes to broader conversations about theatre history, pedagogy, and institutional responsibility. Her academic work is complemented by extensive experience in directing, producing, design, curriculum development, and mentoring emerging artists and scholars.
Elaine is particularly skilled in strategic planning, program development, collaborative leadership, and cultivating inclusive artistic environments. She brings a human-centered approach to institutional advancement — aligning mission, creative vision, and operational strategy to strengthen both artistic output and organizational sustainability.
EDUCATION
- Ph.D., Theatre & Performance Research, Florida State University, 2021-2026
- MA, Theatre, Florida State University, 2019-2021
- BA, Theatre, Wayne State University, 1992-1997, 2018
PUBLICATIONS
- “Affecting History: 9/11’s Liminal Mourning as Theatrical Healing in Anne Nelson’s The Guys.” In Theatre and Performance Notes and Counternotes. (In progress)
- “Intellectual Property and Licensing in the Arts.” In Business Issues in the Arts, edited by Jay Pension and Anthony Rhine, 128-143. Oxfordshire: Routledge, August 8, 2022.
- Book Review: Ross Brown’s Sound Effect: The Theatre We Hear. Theatre Topics, 32.3, November 2022.
- Book Review: Michael D’Alessandro’s Staged Readings: Contesting Class in Popular American Theatre and Literature, 1835-1875. In Theatre History Studies, vol. 44. (expected July 2026)
Musing Artist Blog
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Germany Reflections
Our trip to Germany was wonderful. We did so many things. I also gained access to texts that will help my dissertation in big ways. I spent a day with texts published about the…
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Lunch with Theatre Makers
One of my very favorite things to do with artists is to have lunch. There is something truly wonderful about sitting down in a restaurant with a cup of coffee. Enjoying a good sandwich…
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Removing Old Doors…
For most of my life, I have worked. A lot. I have worked all over the country. My work days change week by week. Many days start at 8:00 am and end after midnight.…
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