Occupied Duwamish Territory

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About Catherine

How will I know I am shining? Because I will feel it.

Midwest born and bred, I transplanted myself to Seattle in 2009. I’ve long loved Seattle’s history of innovation nestled among lush greenery and dense neighborhoods and have developed a deeper appreciation for the land and its stewards. Initially arriving in Seattle to practice theatre, I evolved my love for theatre directing, history, dramaturgy—contextual research, season planning, script development—and production management into focuses on project and event management, web and graphic design, and editing and artistic leadership. As a designer, project manager, editor, or artist, I aid the expression of unique voices in live performance and digital media with a holistic approach. View my resume to learn more.

Early on in my career, I made the conscious decision not to attend grad school. Instead, I’ve found myself continuing my education with three certificates in web design, project management, and editing. At first glance, they may seem like different disciplines, but they share overlapping lessons and skills. Alongside my education, I’ve matured into an artistic leader who is now one of the more senior staff members at Annex Theatre. 

Studying web design at Seattle Central College, I naturally extended my lifelong theatre practice into user and information architecture design. When I transitioned into working directly with web developers, I connected my experience as a production manager in theatre and project management, which led me to study project management at UW-PCE. As I return to my core values to work with nonprofit organizations and on historical research projects, I’m joining my first loves of dramaturgy with the skills of editing, which I’m currently studying with UW-PCE.

My experience in artistic leadership is my guide, regardless of the area of discipline, to ask the following questions when I collaborate on project frameworks intended to bridge the gap between the viewer and the creator:

  • Which platform are we choosing, and why?
  • What do we want the audience/user/reader to take away from their experience?
  • What information does someone need to feel a certain way, and have we made the path clear to get to that result?
  • When someone engages with the material, will they have an integrated experience supported by the mission and purpose of the producers?
Catherine Blake Smith
Photo by Adam Boender