Raynette Halvorsen Smith

Raynette Halvorsen Smith (Scenic Designer), is an Associate Professor in Kent State University’s School of Theatre and Dance where she served as School Director from 1991-1996.  She also served as Producing Director for Kent State University's professional Equity theatre, Porthouse Theatre. 

Raynette received her MFA in Scene Design at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh and is a member of the United Scenic Artists Association which she first joined while working professionally in Chicago.  She has served on the Board of Directors for USITT and as Forum Chair for The Association for Theatre in Higher Education.

Raynette’s work as a designer and scenic artist has taken her across the country to numerous theatre including the Arena Stage (Washington D.C.), Three Rivers Shakespeare Festival (Pittsburgh, PA), the Music Theatre of Wichita, the St Nicholas Theatre (Chicago) and CBS Television (Chicago).

She has designed scenery for Porthouse Theatre many times over the past 20 years.  Her most recent design was for Spelling Bee in the 2010 season.