Ballardite Josh Smyth is finally living his dream as a mainstage actor. After working as a pizza delivery guy for the last six years and spending time as an employee at Starbucks, Smyth is the lead actor as Charley in the Taproot Theatre production of Charley’s Aunt.
(Top, left to right) Josh Smyth, Eric Riedmann , Emily Fairbrook and Steve West. Photo by Erik Stuhaug.
Smyth hasn’t always been into acting. During his first few high school years at Ingraham he was into sports, basketball to be specific. His senior year he auditioned for, and got a part in, The Wizard of Oz. From then on he’s been focused on the stage. “Being on the Mainstage has pretty much been my biggest aspiration since I started doing little odd jobs here,” Smyth says in a recent interview for Taproot’s newsletter.
Since graduating from Seattle Pacific University Smyth has worked small jobs with the goal of being financially supported by acting. “Basically those jobs are paying for me to go gallivanting from theatre to theatre doing anything from light board operating, to set design, to acting–basically I’m continuing my quest to be fully employed in theatre,” he says.
Josh Smyth and Emily Fairbrook. Photo by Erik Stuhaug.
After working at Taproot in different roles, both behind the scenes and as part of the holiday touring company, Smyth is finally on the mainstage this spring. “In high school when I realized how much I love to act, the idea of getting to act in Taproot’s unique space really started eating at me. So I guess in a way, this is the fulfillment of one of my life goals!” Smyth says.
Charley’s Aunt is underway at Taproot Theatre and runs until June 12. More information on the show can be found here. Ticket information here.
Sounds like a rags to riches story to me. Personally enriching that is.
He was great in Charley’s Aunt! Congratulations!
Just went this past Friday — total fun! If it’s not already sold out, go buy a ticket!