The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland, College Park
Located on the University of Maryland’s flagship campus in College Park, Maryland, the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center combines student productions with professional companies. It features a wide variety of music, dance, lectures and plays; only the theatrical productions are listed here.
Website: http://claricesmithcenter.umd.edu/
Location: 3800 Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-2635
Ticket Office: 301.405.ARTS (2787)
Main Office: 301.405.7794
Upcoming Events:
NextNOW Fest 2026 at the Clarice, Sep 9-15
Clarice presents:
NextNOW Fest 2026
Wed, Sep. 9, 2026 | 11:00 AM
Thu, Sep. 10, 2026 | 1:00 PM
Fri, Sep. 11, 2026 | 5:00 PM
Mon, Sep. 14, 2026 | 3:00 PM
Tue, Sep. 15, 2026 | 5:00 PM
Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
Live music. Comedy. Art. Connection. Experience it all at NextNOW Fest! Register for free now to receive priority access to the full 2026 lineup and schedule. You’ll also receive daily reminders throughout the festival week that will make your experience easy and convenient. Festival events will take place Wed, Sep 9-Tue, Sep 15 with festival nights taking place at The Clarice on Thu, Sep 10 and Fri, Sep 11. The full festival lineup and schedule will be announced in Summer 2026.
About NextNOW Fest
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center’s annual NextNOW Fest is a multi-day arts festival featuring performances and other experiences by intriguing, inventive artists from around the country and the University of Maryland campus. A forward-looking gathering place where art transforms our future and connects us all, NextNOW Fest is where creativity and community converge.
A University of Maryland campus tradition, NextNOW Fest is a signature event in University of Maryland’s Arts for All initiative, which leverages the combined power of the arts, technology and social justice to address the grand challenges of our time. NextNOW Fest is also a partner of Terps After Dark, an initiative by the UMD Division of Student Affairs that supports late-night,on-campus student programming. The festival is open for all to attend, including the general public.
Tickets: Free. Click here.
Tags: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park Maryland, NextNOW Fest, NextNOW Fest 2026
A World Without Them at the Clarice, Sep 17 & 18
Clarice presents:
A World Without Them
Thu, Sep. 17, 2026 | 7:30 pm
Fri, Sep. 18, 2026 | 7:30 pm
Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
What do we lose when someone disappears—a species, a culture, a language, a voice?
A World Without Them is a visually stunning and emotionally powerful exploration of extinction in all its forms—natural, cultural, and personal. Co-created by Deaf artist Landon Krentz and Ghost River Theatre’s Eric Rose, this groundbreaking work blends physical theatre with visual vernacular, a unique storytelling technique rooted in Deaf expression.
This production transcends language and cultural barriers, where gesture replaces dialogue, and movement becomes meaning. At its core, it is a bold celebration of Deaf artistry, a tribute to those who came before, and a call to imagine a future where no story is left behind.
Tickets: Free. Click here.
Tags: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park Maryland, A World Without Them, Landon Krentz, Ghost River Theatre, Eric Rose
Mr. Burn: A Post-Electric Play at the Clarice, Oct 9-18
Clarice presents:
Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play
by Anne Washburn
Fri, Oct. 9, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Sat, Oct. 10, 2026 | 2:00 PM
Sat, Oct. 10, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Thu, Oct. 15, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Fri, Oct. 16, 2026 | 7:30 PM
Sun, Oct. 18, 2026 | 2:00 PM
Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
What stories survive at the end of the world? In Anne Washburn’s daring dark comedy, Mr. Burns, A Post‑Electric Play, a band of survivors transform pop culture into myth and parables and TV characters into mythic figures of the time before the collapse.
When the power goes out, what stories survive? In Anne Washburn’s Mr. Burns, A Post‑Electric Play, a band of survivors huddles around a fire and retells The Simpsons episode, “Cape Feare.” As the years pass, commercial jingles become parables, pop songs turn into hymns and TV characters (like the titular Mr. Burns) transform into mythic figures of the time before the collapse. Wildly funny and unexpectedly moving, Mr. Burns is a genre-bending mash-up of theater, pop culture, opera and commedia dell’arte with “depths of feeling to match its breadth of imagination” (The New York Times). Directed by Elizabeth Dinkova (Artistic Director, Spooky Action Theater), this daring play returns to its roots after premiering at D.C.’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.
Tickets: $35 General, $10 Students. Click here.
Tags: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park Maryland, Mr Burns A Post-Electric Play, Anne Washburn
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Kreativity Diversity Troupe Open Mic at the Clarice, Oct 17
Kreativity Diversity Troupe Open Mic Night
Friday, September 19, 2025. 7:30PM
Friday, October 17, 2025. 7:30PM
Thursday, December 11, 2025. 7:30PM
Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
Join the Kreators of the Kreativity Diversity Troupe for an open mic night, full of music, dance and spoken word.
Interested in learning more about Kreativity? Email kreativity.troupe@gmail.com and like them on Facebook!
Free, no tickets required. Click here.
Tags: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park Maryland, Kreativity, Variety Show, Open Mic
Kreativity Diversity Troupe Open Mic at the Clarice, Sep 19
Kreativity Diversity Troupe Open Mic Night
Friday, September 19, 2025. 7:30PM
Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
Join the Kreators of the Kreativity Diversity Troupe for an open mic night, full of music, dance and spoken word.
Interested in learning more about Kreativity? Email kreativity.troupe@gmail.com and like them on Facebook!
Free, no tickets required. Click here.
Tags: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park Maryland, Kreativity, Variety Show, Open Mic
Kreativity End of Semester Show at the Clarice, Nov 30
Kreativity Open Mic
End of Semester show: Thursday, November 30, 2023. 5:30PM
Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
Join the Kreators of the Kreativity Diversity Troupe for an open mic night, full of music, dance and spoken word.
Interested in learning more about Kreativity? Email kreativity.troupe@gmail.com and like them on Facebook!
Free, no tickets required. Click here.
Tags: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park Maryland, Kreativity, Variety Show, Open Mic
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Clarice Smith, Dec 6
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Jason Max Ferdinand, music director
Tactus, UMD Treble Choir, University Chorale, Voix de Chanson, FreundeMusik
Friday, December 6, 2024. 8PM
Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
UMD Choral Activities continues the holiday tradition of bringing Festival of Lessons & Carols to campus for its 23rd year. Choirs, brass quintet and organ combine to bring the joy of the season to life with carols, hymns and spoken word that epitomize hope and goodwill. This event takes place at the UMD Memorial Chapel.
Tickets: Regular $20, Seniors: $15, Student/Youth $10. Click here.
Tags: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park Maryland, School, Festival of Lessons and Carols, UMD Choral Activities, Jason Max Ferdinand
The Muses – Original Works Project at the Clarice, Dec 11
The Muses – Original Works Project
Sunday, December 10, 2023. 3PM
Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
The Muses proudly present their Original Works Projects, a memorable night of short plays written, directed, and performed by women who are either current UMD students or alumni. This event showcases new works that are sure to excite and inspire you.
Free, no tickets required
Tags: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park Maryland, The Muses, Original Works Project, Free performance, World Premiere, Variety Show, One-Act Play Festival
Ballet Company M’s The Nutcracker at the Clarice, Dec 17
The University of Maryland and the Clarice Smith Performaning Arts Center present:
Ballet Company M’s The Nutcracker
Sunday, December 17, 2023 • 3PM
Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
Ballet Company M is proud to present a rendition of Tchaikovsky’s classic holiday ballet, “The Nutcracker.” With the help of her Nutcracker, the audience will travel with Clara from her mother’s holiday party, through a beautiful snowstorm and into the magical Land of the Sweets.
Free, tickets required. Click here.
Tags: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park Maryland, Ballet Company M, The Nutcracker, Dance, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Peter and the Wolf, Pedro y el Lobo at the Clarice, Jun 16
NOI+F Family Concert: Peter and the Wolf
Sunday, June 16, 2023 • 2PM
Concierto Familiar NOI+F: Pedro y el Lobo
Sunday, June 16, 2023 • 4PM
Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
Richard Scerbo, conductor
Prokofiev’s beloved symphonic fairy tale returns to NOI+F! The young Peter goes out into the forest–against his grandfather’s advice. Join Peter as he makes friends with whimsical forest creatures and faces a ferocious gray wolf!
The 2PM presentation will be performed in English and will include ASL interpretation. The 4PM performance will be performed in Spanish.
PROGRAM
Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf
Julia Cruz, directora
¡El amado cuento de hadas sinfónico del compositor Sergei Prokofiev viene al Centro de las Artes The Clarice! El joven Pedro sale al bosque a pesar que su abuelo se lo prohibió. En el bosque hace amigos con criaturas fantásticas y se enfrenta al temido lobo.
La presentación de las 2PM se realizará en inglés e incluirá interpretación de ASL. La presentación de las 4PM se realizará en Español.
Prokofiev: Pedro y el Lobo
Free, no tickets required. Click here or aqui.
Tags: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park Maryland, Peter and the Wolf, Pedro y los Lobos, Prokofiev, Richard Scerbo, Julia Cruz, NOI+F, Family Concert, Free Performance
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