Conversation with Chuck Smith - Icons

Part 1: An airplane mechanic, a jazz enthusiast, a U.S. Marine, a mail carrier, a computer programmer, an arts educator, an actor, producer, and director… phew! It’s too many adjectives – simply one will do. Chuck Smith is a trailblazer. He has changed the face of Chicago theater through a quiet determination, sheer force of will, and a wicked sense of humor. Here he is, illuminating the road less traveled by – but certainly more traveled now that he has led the way for us all.

Part 2: In the next part of our conversation with trailblazer Chuck Smith, we take a deep dive into his evolution, and the evolution of Black theater in Chicago. From his early days with X-Bag and the founding of CTC, to his pioneering work on the stages of The Victory Gardens and The Goodman Theater, we gain a rare glimpse into our industry and forces that helped shape Black participation. His is not a journey seeking inclusion, Chuck Smith built roads for us to travel upon… and then he sent us a road map to help chart our future course.