Barry Smoot
Abilene, TX
Artistic Associate of the Paramount Theatre in Abilene, TX and the Festival Director of the 24fps International Short Film Festival
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Biography

BARRY SMOOT is the Artistic Associate of the landmark Paramount Theatre in Abilene, Texas and the Festival Director of the 24fps International Short Film Festival.  He is a writer, director and designer for theatre, digital media, and film.  He was born in Childress, Texas and grew up in the Austin, Texas area.  He attended Abilene Christian University before interning with Manhattan Theatre Club at City Center in New York City, as well as PBS (NYC) where he worked on the documentation of the Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival of New American Plays.  He was the Artistic Director of Historic Paramount Theatre, Inc., from 1992 to 2020.

His stage directing credits for Paramount Productions include A Grand Night for Singing, Hello, Dolly!, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Big River, Jekyll & Hyde, The Producers, The Drowsy Chaperone, Parade, Young Frankenstein, Bonnie & Clyde, Les Miserables, Into the Woods, The Robber Bridegroom, August: Osage County, Fiddler on the Roof, Peter and the Starcatcher, Our Town, NEWSIES, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.  For the Paramount he has also directed the US Regional Premieres of Adam Guettel's Myths and Hymns and Frank Wildhorn's The Civil War, as well as the World Premiere of A Texas Christmas Carol.

His other theatre credits include the US Regional Premiere of Adam Guettel's Floyd Collins, and directing the American Festival of New American Plays workshop and premiere of Brock Walsh's Bullies.  On the University level he has directed West Side Story, Diamond Studs, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Parade, And the World Goes Round, Reckless (McMurry University), and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Three Birds Alighting on a Field, and A Feast of Snacks (Hardin Simmons University).

Barry is a lighting and projection designer for the theatre as well, and his design credits include Carmen, La Boheme, Tosca, La Traviata, The Girl of the Golden West, The Magic Flute, The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovani, Pump Boys and Dinettes, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Floyd Collins, Myths and Hymns, Les Miserables, Ragtime, Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The Secret Garden, Annie, The Music Man, Forever Plaid, Myths and Hymns, Smokey Joe's Cafe, The Producers, Parade, The Drowsy Chaperone, Young Frankenstein, Bonnie & Clyde, Into the Woods, Fiddler on the Roof, Pippin, Our Town, August: Osage County, Newsies and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. He has designed lighting for Paramount Productions, Chameleon Performing Arts Company, The Abilene Opera Association, Abilene Ballet Theatre, McMurry University, Abilene Christian University, and  Hardin Simmons University.

His work in film and digital media includes web design and video design and editing.  He founded the 24fps International Short Film Festival, now in its 23rd year, which was recently named one of the Top Ten Short Film Festivals in North America.  Its unique and challenging competition programs are widely recognized as some on the best in the world.  Past 24fps Jury Prize winners have gone on to receive major awards at Sundance, Toronto, Berlin, Tribeca, and Cannes.

Barry's writing credits include work for Paramount Productions, Young Audiences (the National Arts in Education program), Playmakers (Baton Rouge, LA), and The National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature.  His play, REVELATIONS, was a finalist in the 2023 Del Shores Foundation Writers Search. In addition to REVELATIONS, he is the author of three plays--A TEXAS CHRISTMAS CAROL, KINGDOM OF ANIMALS and DANIEL.

Plays

Kingdom of Animals
by Barry Smoot

Sam ends up in his apartment after a night of partying with a guy he knows nothing about. The dynamic between the two men explores acceptance, religion, connection, violence, subjugation and fate.

Cast:
SAM (24) is a lonely guy who moved to Austin, Texas from a small community close to Oklahoma. Since his arrival in the city, he has focused on his job, avoiding coming to terms with the fast paced city life and finding himself mostly alone—with no close friends for support. He is religious. BRIAN (28) is a mysterious guy who moved to Austin at the age of 18 when his parents divorced. A bartender by trade, he has now become what we call an “Austinite.” He is also a failed artist, who has lost focus and drive after a string of professional disasters. He is promiscuous and easily distracted The two characters can be any ethnicity. They can also be binary or non-binary.
Revelations
by Barry Smoot

REVELATIONS is a play in two acts by Barry Smoot. At its core, it is about the loss of a promising and innocent life. The lead character, Joshua Faizan, represents what is best and worst about this nation. He is intelligent, vain, blindly loyal, difficult and full of a fire that makes him unique. Above all—he is the son of immigrants. His death and its revelation says much about who we are and what we have become.

Cast:
JOSHUA FAIZAN— (18) Full of fire and bravado. Third generation Arab American. Very physical. Estranged from his father and his mother. Best friend to Cade. He says exactly what he thinks. He may be the only one in the Faizan family who truly understands his mother. EVA FAIZAN— (38) Joshua’s mother. A native Texan. Frail, thin, and worn. A highly devout follower of the Church of Christ. She quotes the bible as easily as she speaks. Probably abused by her husband, if not physically then verbally. She has taken a back seat in raising their children. She had a difficult childhood. She has lived in the same house since she was a child. DAMIEN FAIZAN— (41) Joshua’s father. A second generation Arab American. Like his son in many ways but somewhat faded. He shows signs of former physical glory. He lives in the past. Since the lynching of his father after he immigrated to America he has become a different person. He is a farmer. He oppresses his wife. He met his bride through her father. SARAH FAIZAN— (14) Joshua’s younger sister. Third generation Arab American. Smart way beyond her years. She is a writer. Curious. She sees everything. ELIZABETH FAIZAN— (20) Joshua’s older sister. Third generation Arab American. Growing up she completely bought into the small-town community. After her senior year she unexpectedly ran away to a large city. She, like her sister, speaks her mind. CADE MADDOX— (17) Joshua’s best friend. A typical, popular young man. The only child in the Maddox family. He plays baseball and is very good at it. He has had a strained relationship with his father since his mother passed away. Quiet in some ways, and mysterious. A non-believer. LES MADDOX— (40) Cade’s father. The sheriff. He has had a friendly relationship with Damien Cates, but they no longer have that that affinity. He has a tough job in a small town where everyone knows everyone. He is still grieving over the loss of his wife. He has high expectations for Cade.

Successes

REVELATIONS, was a finalist in the 2023 Del Shores Foundation Writers Search.