MANSFIELD — During his tenure as chairman of the Renaissance Theatre’s board of directors, Rand Smith gave three things he often encouraged from others: Time, talent, and treasure.
Time in spending 12 years on the Renaissance board, giving colorful private tours of the theater and even using his vacation time to visit other local theaters to learn how the Renaissance compared.
Talent in his vision for the Renaissance and his aptitude for fundraising, rallying the community to raise $100,000 for the theater at a time when its doors almost closed.
And treasure, as many colleagues, friends and community members would attest, in simply being the passionate, devoted, larger-than-life person that is Rand Smith.
So when the time came to honor Smith’s contributions to the Renaissance Theatre, it was decided that the best gift to give him would be the same gift he gave the community: the theater itself. Thus, the “Rand Smith Auditorium” was dedicated on Saturday evening.
Smith said the dedication was “overwhelming and humbling,” speaking on stage to an audience about to enjoy the opening night of “Sister Act: The Musical.” As predicted by those closest to him, Smith used the opportunity to talk not about himself, but the impact of the Renaissance and the importance of community support.
“(The Renaissance) is part of the fabric, the foundation the pillars of the community we call Mansfield, Ohio,” Smith said. “With you, our future is bright … with you, the Renaissance Theatre will expand their capacity to entertain, to enlighten and to educate.
“This is a very humbling thing, to have a room in a building named after you. I don’t take it lightly, but I really don’t know what to do with it, other than thank all of you,” Smith said with a laugh.
“But most of all, thank you for what you do for our community, whether it be come to this theater, or volunteer, or participate. You make the difference for tomorrow.”
Smith first joined the board of the Renaissance Theatre 12 years ago at the encouragement of Shelley Seckel, who initially approached him with the idea during a party at Kingwood Center Gardens.
“It seems as though we have known Rand Smith forever. He is a wonderful friend and would help anyone in need,” Seckel said. “A pillar of our community, Rand can turn anything around, and always for the better.”
Smith’s talent for turning things around was immediately called into action upon joining the board. The theater was $1.2 million in debt, and former president and CEO Mike Miller recalled that at the time, a $100,000 grant the Renaissance was expecting didn’t come through.
“The sirens were blaring,” Miller said.
From day one, Miller said, Smith was fully engaged in solving this problem. He was instrumental in finding more donors, a group he called the “magnificent 20,” that helped close the financial gap and keep the theater’s doors open.
“Rand exemplifies board leadership by giving of himself and his resources,” Miller said. “He leads by example and is open to input by all that surround him. He is approachable, kind and his compassion is endless. Rand will go above and beyond to create harmony, diffuse conflict and will remain vigilant in the face of adversity. The Renaissance would not exist today because of his tenacity to find ways to make it better.”
The first wave of revitalization efforts for the Renaissance began in 1980, when Warren Rupp purchased the theater and spent spent roughly $2.2 million on renovations. For Colleen Cook, the Renaissance’s former director of marketing, Smith became the next prominent champion of the theater after Rupp.
“In a lot of the same ways that Warren Rupp saw something in the Ren and chased it down and made it happen, Rand has been the next iteration of that for the Renaissance,” she said.
“He saw the potential and he saw the dimming of its lights, and it really bothered him,” she continued. “He became almost evangelistic about it. He insists upon people’s engagement with it. And when he finds people who are equally passionate, he brings him along. His legacy is he saw the potential and the possibility, and took action on it for Mansfield’s sake.”
That same passion helped Smith support the expansion of the Renaissance footprint down Park Avenue West — despite some initial reservations.
“When I came to him about the Imagination District and the 166 building, he looked at me like I had two heads,” Miller said with a laugh. “But he said, ‘Let me think about that.’ He went outside after we spoke, he went up Park Avenue and looked at all the vacancies, and I think he saw my vision. So many times, he was eager to implement things, but I think that was the one time he thought I was crazy.”
Smith introduced the idea of the Imagination District at the Renaissance’s 2018 season preview party, and four months later, the ribbon was cut on Theatre 166. The new Buckeye Imagination Museum officially opened on Aug. 10, and Miller has since transitioned to focus on growing the Imagination District full time.
“Mike and I were very enthusiastic about doing the Imagination District, we had talked about a lot of possibilities, but it took a board member from each organization to make it happen,” said Fred Boll, executive director of Buckeye Imagination Museum.
“(Rand) was able to see the value it would bring to our community, and he had to be the cheerleader at the Renaissance to make it happen,” Boll continued. “Rand embraced it and saw the good it would bring to our community, and without him, it would not have happened.”
Smith’s leadership also helped bring the Renaissance through the COVID-19 pandemic, when theaters across Ohio were forced to close their doors without a clear path forward.
“All the arts and theaters around the state were under tremendous stress, and he navigated that the best he could, and deserves a pat on the back,” said state Senator Mark Romanchuk. “Rand is an omnipresent guy, he’s always around in the community. His leadership, especially considering what’s happened in the last three years, has been outstanding.”
Rand’s contributions to the Ren are immeasurable – from time, talent, and resources, Rand has given generously from a place of passion and devotion. His commitment to the organization, its people, and its programs is steadfast, and his leadership heartfelt and enthusiastic. It’s to Rand’s credit that the historic Renaissance Theatre is still serving the community with the very best in arts and culture experiences today as it prepares to celebrate its 95th year. We would not be the thriving and growing organization that we are without Rand’s dedication! — Chelsie Thompson, Renaissance president and CEO
At a private reception in the upstairs ballroom at the Renaissance on Saturday night, it was standing-room only.
Smith wore a bowtie and a cream-colored tuxedo jacket with a faint lipstick stain on the left shoulder, no doubt a leftover from one of the many hugs he shared throughout the room. Each guest was greeted with joy, and despite the crowd, Smith talked to each attendee as if they were the only person in the room.
This ability to create intimacy is perhaps why Smith made fast friends with so many in attendance who knew of him before they met the man himself.
“I didn’t know Rand well until I came on the board,” said Rick Kleshinski of KM&M. “I knew of Rand, because everybody knows of Rand, but I didn’t know him until I got on the board and saw him in action. We’re very similar-minded, we think about things in a very similar way. It was like I’ve known him all my life.”
Many of Smith’s close friends shared his love of the outdoors, particularly golf, skiing, hiking and water sports. Once a year, an outdoor adventure is planned (usually led by Smith) with a group of friends — but camping usually isn’t the only goal of the trip.
“We would take these outdoor trips, and if he could squeeze out an hour or so, he would go find the local community-based theater, because he would want to compare them to the Ren,” said John Hire. “These trips were supposed to be a release, but he found a way to make the most of these trips in a way that helps the Ren. That’s how he relaxes.”
Cook said her friendship with Rand was a bit unexpected; he is approximately 40 years her senior, and their political leanings couldn’t be more different. But he became an important mentor in her life, and they even took in a few Cleveland Guardians games together in “the best seats in the world.”
“He was one of the first people in my life to notice I had something to say worth hearing,” Cook said. “He would call me up sometimes and we’d talk for an hour about the Ren and Mansfield and work. We’d have great, energizing conversations. It made me feel important in a time where I was pretty early in my career.
“That’s something Rand does for people; he’s a straight-shooter, and he freely shares his opinion — not because he wants you to hear his, but because he genuinely wants to hear yours.”
Local businessman Rick Taylor first met Smith during the fundraising process for Theater 166, but got to know him better as a frequent diner at Hudson & Essex.
“We’d talk about a variety of things, from politics to business to what’s going on in the community; he’s a real dynamo when it comes to the Renaissance Theatre,” Taylor said. “He’s just a great man, he’s very articulate. I think he could probably get money from anyone in town; if he believes in a cause, he’s very tenacious. Mike was the artistic one and Rand was the business head, and together they made a great team.”
Smith’s friends and colleagues also describe him as one of the most generous people they’ve ever met.
“He’s so community-minded, and his philanthropy reaches way beyond the Renaissance, to make the lives of everyone in Richland County better,” Boll said. “He has a big vision, and he sees the whole picture. He’s a man who won’t take no for an answer if he wants to make the world better, and we are all better because Rand Smith lives in our community.”
As friends and colleagues spoke words of praise for Smith on Saturday evening, he muttered, “This is the part where they try to make me cry.”
Mission accomplished: By the end of the evening, there was nary a dry eye in the room. But according to Smith, it could’ve been much worse — which is why his family insisted he be told of the “surprise” dedication in advance.
“If you’d surprised me tonight, all I would do is stand in front of you and cry. And there’s too much good things to tell about the Renaissance to stand in front and cry about,” Smith joked to the group of friends gathered in the ballroom.
Amidst the appreciation and accolades given to Smith, he insisted that throughout his journey at the Renaissance, he has gained more than he has given.
“I found out what the world of art is and how competitive it is, and how important it is to people’s lives,” Smith said. “I learned the difference it made to children. I learned that the opportunity for them to step on the stage and discover something that was in them that they didn’t know about — the ability to sing or act or dance — is just one of the many reasons there’s a Renaissance Theatre.”
Though he may be less “artsy” and more business-minded, Miller said Smith fell in love with the Renaissance and took it upon himself to learn more about the industry and become an expert in the history of the theater itself. For Smith, it was because he sees the big picture.
“(The Renaissance) makes our community whole,” he said. “We’re not a flat canvas, we’re three-dimensional with color, and arts and entertainment and education are what make those colors and have that depth.”
Smith left those in the room with an edict: Life’s better if you participate.
“Go participate in something, whether it be this or sports or education or politics or helping others cross the street,” he said. “Everyone’s better if you’re involved, and your life is fuller.”
