Building a "Stage to the Future" with the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art

The partnership of Twin Valley Players and The Ned Smith Center began one day as Marie Smith, Ned's wife, and Steve Williams, TVP board member, began an informal discussion about the Center and what Marie dreamed for the future of Ned's art. She expressed a desire to gift to the Center Ned's paintings and have them housed and displayed here in Millersburg, but she was concerned how the Center would survive. Marie knew Steve was a local businessman for many years and asked him for any advice that might ensure that the Center would continue to be successful for years into the future. As the discussion became more serious, Steve shared his concern for the area's children and a desire for creating educational classes for all aspects of theater. He also shared a desire for TVP to have a permanent home for their performances. Steve wanted more of the community to gain the same benefits that the TVP organization had offered his son Jared and the Williams family since their joining the group in 1991. A theater in the Center could be used by NSCNA for lectures, videos, and movies. Regional and traveling performers would be able to use the theater for all types of shows including dance, musical theater, drama and video. With the proper use of this part of the Center, a more diverse revenue stream would be added to help with the survival of the NSCNA in the future. Steve talked about how children and adults in the area had already gained so much from TVP since their beginning in 1970 and what a great opportunity for both NSCNA and TVP to come together. During the discussion, Marie told Steve that Ned used to play with a band and how extremely excited she was becoming over the possibilities that a partnership might offer the community. Steve said he would mention this discussion to TVP and told her to keep in contact with him in the future as things developed at the Center.

The Center decided to form a focus group and have what was called a "Stake Holders" meeting to brainstorm about the purpose and use of a multi-million dollar center. Steve was contacted and asked to come and bring along TVP representatives. On February 21, 1998 the first meeting was held in Harrisburg bringing together leaders in the Arts and Science fields along with NSCNA representatives with a purpose to begin shaping the Center. TVP was represented then and has been ever since.

After many meetings, in April of 1999, TVP entered into a formal agreement with NSCNA. It has been an exciting road for all involved, as the "Stage to the Future" becomes reality!