The SML Center: An Update

I’m sure by now you have heard the news that the Smith Mountain Lake Center signed a letter of intent to purchase the Westlake Cinema and further the vision that the Center has nurtured for years. This unwavering vision focuses on the tenets of connection, education, and the arts within our lake community.

Board President, Matt Karris, is thrilled with the partnership that has been formed with The Willard Companies, which he describes as an incredibly positive and encouraging step in the right direction. The theatre will continue on in its role as an eclectic small-town cinema — not unlike the historic Grandin Theatre in Roanoke. But the facility will also become a fine arts and education hub, morphing into a multi-use facility, which will include Smith Mountain Lake’s first performing arts theatre.

Though it may seem like things have gone quiet after the big announcement in March, the Center Board is in the middle of a several-month feasibility study with a nationwide fundraising organization they have hired to help steer the planning toward long-term success. The overarching goal is to have visible movement on the buildout by the beginning of 2026, but the direction of that movement will be strongly influenced by the needs and values that rise to the top of the community study.  

A few things are certain:

One is that they will be working within the infrastructure (footprint) of the cinema that already exists. Another is that the Center Board consists of members who bring with them a diverse pool of experience and a passion to see the arts and education thrive in our area. The planning is in good hands. Lastly, building a solid foundation is made up of lots of (seemingly) small bricks — bricks like establishing a physical office in Westlake, which not only gives the Center a homebase but also opens doors to apply for new grants that were previously unattainable.

To whet the collective local appetite with a peek into what’s to come, Karris and the SML Center have joined forces with The Westlake Cinema, The Willard Companies, and SML Lake Players to mount a production of The Addams Family Musical in September. It is to be The Lake Player’s first production held in a theatre auditorium and will include full sets, costuming, sound, etc. Casting will take place in July via auditions.

Besides acting roles, there will be loads of other opportunities for SML residents to get their hands into the excitement of a live show, so if you have a background in theatre production, or maybe you’re just handy with a paintbrush and would enjoy working on set creation, reach out to: thelakeplayers@gmail.com and they will be sure to keep you in the loop!

One last note: just because The Smith Mountain Lake Center hasn’t settled into its new home yet doesn’t mean that this purveyor of the arts is not continually on the lookout for how programming can be expanded to meet the needs of our town. Recently, Karris, a professional theatre veteran with deep ties to the Broadway community, wrapped up a series of acting classes at the Kaleidescope Center, leaving enthusiastic participants asking for more.

Stay tuned for all of the exciting developments to come via the Center’s website and Facebook page.