Theatre Arts Scholarship

Antoine L. Smith Theatre Arts Scholarship

Antoine L. Smith made a special appearance to his alma mater here at DMACC in November of 2022 to help establish the Antoine L. Smith Theatre Arts Scholarship for future students. He performed between courses to a sold out dinner at the Iowa Culinary Institute - where he graduated from in 2005. He also led a student workshop where he talked about his time here at DMACC in the Culinary Arts Program, as well as his journey into a successful acting career and what it’s like to work as a professional actor and Broadway performer. Students learned about audition techniques and got the chance to perform monologues and song selections for Antoine and received feedback and advice.

Nearly 3 in 4 community college students work more than 20 hours per week, and in performing arts this can limit a student's best training opportunities: rehearsal and performance. Students who participate onstage or backstage in the professionally oriented environment of a DMACC Ankeny Theatre production are eligible to receive the Antoine L. Smith Theatre Arts scholarship. We are proud to support those who want to pursue their dreams with both the support and inspiration of Antoine.

If you are interested in donating to the Antoine L. Smith scholarship to help current and future theatre artists, visit the DMACC Foundation's Make a Gift page.

After the option to select an amount, in the drop-down menu under Designation select "Scholarships”, and be sure to type "Theatre" in the comments section right below.

Every bit helps and we appreciate your generosity to our students, Thank you!

Make a Gift

More photos from Antoine’s November 2022 visit can be found on our Facebook Page.

More About Antoine

Antoine L. Smith is an Emmy Award Winning Artist. He can currently be seen in MJ: The Musical on Broadway as Berry Gordy. He has also appeared on Broadway in the Tony and Grammy Nominated Best Revival of a Musical, Carousel as Timony (u.s. Billy Bigelow). The 2016 Grammy, and Tony Award Winning Best Revival of a Musical, The Color Purple. Playing Opposite Oscar and Grammy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson, Tony Award nominee Danielle Brooks, as well as Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award Winner and 2 time Oscar Nominee Cynthia Erivo as Grady (u.s. Harpo). Other Broadway Credits include: Miss Saigon (Shultz /u.s. John); and the 2009 Tony Award Winning Best Musical, Memphis as Wailin’ Joe. Broadway Tours include The First Broadway National Tour of Cinderella (original Lord Pinkleton); and CATS. Notable Regional Credits include: The Award Winning All Black production of Oklahoma as (Curly) at The Denver Center for The Performing Arts. Where he also received the coveted “Henry Award” for Best Actor in a Musical. Antoine is also a 2005 Graduate of The DMACC Culinary Arts Program.