Jeff Menick, Storyteller

Jeff Menick
Donor and Patron

What inspires you to give to the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center?

Sharing laughter, sharing tears, sharing intensity of emotion that accompanies attending a live performance, there’s nothing like it. I love coming to performances here. You can see the artists’ enjoyment of being in the space. There is aliveness that is apparent when you watch them perform. I have been blessed in the course of my life of being in a position to be able to be supportive of performing arts in different ways.

One of the things I have come to most appreciate about the role the university is able to play in the creative process is the support to artists to create new works. And both in terms of the students and faculty and visiting artists, that collaboration and that creativity I think is one of the real strengths of the Center.

My involvement has made me extraordinarily proud of what the Clarice Smith Center is, what it does, what it represents and its importance in the overall university community. One of the things I have come to most appreciate about the role the university is able to play in the creative process is the support to artists to create new works. And both in terms of the students and faculty and visiting artists, that collaboration and that creativity I think is one of the real strengths of the Center. It is a fabulous experimental environment in the arts. Until you go behind the scenes, you really don’t get as clear an understanding of just exactly what is happening here beyond the presentation of artists of great quality and renown to the general public. For example, the fact that the university was willing to take a chance and underwrite the creation of an opera about the life of Joe Lewis is unbelievable. Or look at the work of the Maryland Opera Studio graduate students, particularly in that spring showcase they do every year. We get an opportunity to see the technical theatre work that’s going on.

What’s changed over the number of years I have been coming as I’ve become more involved is my awareness, the depth of my knowledge and understanding of what happens inside the walls of this building with students and not just the professional performers who are hired to put on a show. I find that just terrifically exciting