Mr. Derome Smith teaches drama and has been a member of the George Wythe arts staff since the fall of 1997. He holds a BA degree in theatre from James Madison University. Mr. Smith is working toward a masters degree in theatre at Antioch University in Yellowsprings, Ohio.

Mr. Smith has been a member of the Jazz Actors Theatre for seven years. He has acted in numerous theatrical works throughout the city and state. Among his many performance credits are the following: Bojangles at the Barksdale Theatre, two touring shows at Theatre Four, the lead in The Piano Lesson at Dogwood Dell, the lead in Driving Miss Daisy at James Madison University, one of the leads in The Three Musketeers at Virginia Commonwealth University. Mr. Smith has also directed and performed in several original productions at his church. He has also had an original show performed in the Richmond Parks and Recreation Show Mobile.

In October, 1997, Mr. Smith and his drama students conceived and developed an original production, Picture Me Rollin.

In the summer of 1998, Mr. Smith was the recipient of a $25,800 grant from the Governor's Safe and Drug Free School program. With his grant money, Mr. Smith founded Richmond City Works, a theatrical training program for inner city youth. He housed the program at George Wythe and involved 20 students in learning every imaginable aspect of the theatre.

On November 12, 1998, Mr. Smith and his drama students entered their original production, Sugar in the Raw, in the Virginia Theatre Association's One-Act Play Festival. They won the state championship and will now go on to Greensboro, North Carolina in March to compete in the Southeastern Regional Competition.

When he is able to find a few moments to spare, Mr. Smith enjoys working on the computer, experimenting with videography, and taking classical guitar lessons.

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