ABOUT US
As an agent, Russell has guided clients straight out of college into making West End debuts and receiving Broadway World award nominations before even graduating. Clients have worked in West End, UK Tours and International productions such as My Fair Lady, Moulin Rouge!, Cabaret, 9 to 5, The Book of Mormon, 42nd Street, Disney's Aladdin, Beautiful, Kinky Boots, Starlight Express, A Chorus Line, The Lion King, Evita, CATS, Mamma Mia, Carousel, Singin' in the Rain, Chicago, Dancing in the Streets, Grease the Musical, The Divide at the Old Vic, Mary Poppins, Our House, Sunshine on Leith, Loserville, Whistle Down the Wind, West Side Story, Thriller Live, The Producers, The Wizard of Oz, Pride & Prejudice, Tanz Der Vampire, Le Bals Des Vampires, Jesus Christ Superstar, Fame the Musical, plus filming for the BBC, ITV, and endless television commercials. Russell's creative clients have work including Associate Director on UK Tours such as Thoroughly Modern Millie, Avenue Q, Little Shop of Horrors and Resident Director on Hair the Musical.
Russell's dancers have had success with companies such as Matthew Bourne's New Adventures, Spirit Productions, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Lines, The Walt Disney Company, Princess Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Lines, P&O, Belinda King Creative Productions and filming music videos for the likes of Mika, Cher Lloyd, Will Young and Jennifer Hudson.
Having successfully made the transition from a student and performer, to choreographer and teacher, Russell knows exactly how it feels to not only be personally represented as a client (by a grand total of five agents!) but also how to manage and nurture new talent himself - drawing from his personal experiences to deliver a truly personal management service.
Russell Smith Associates is a member of the PMA.
MEET THE TEAM
RUSSELL SMITH
SENIOR AGENT
& COMPANY DIRECTOR
With over 20 years of professional experience as a successful creative and performer in the industry, Russell’s career includes working as Choreography Supervisor for the record-breaking production of Dirty Dancing – Live on Stage, Dance Captain for Rock of Ages, Mamma Mia, Grease The Musical, Fame the Musical and also as Dance Captain for the UK Arena Tour & DVD of Jesus Christ Superstar (Universal Pictures).
As a performer, Russell received job offers from renowned casting directors such as Debbie O'Brien, Pippa Ailion, James Orange, Jill Green and David Grindrod Associates.
Russell has worked as a teacher for colleges such as Laine Theatre Arts, Italia Conti Academy, Urdang Academy, Millenium Performing Arts School, D&B, Bodywork Company Dance Studios, Central School of Ballet and many more. Choreography credits include The Wedding Singer, A Little Night Music, Ushers: The Front of House Musical - West End, Miracle on 34th Street UK Tour, The Marriage of Figaro, The Snow Queen and assistant choreographer for Dirty Dancing - Live on Stage.
Russell is a member of the PMA - Personal Managers' Association.
RICHARD JOHNSTON
ASSOCIATE
Since training at Laine Theatre Arts, Richard has professionally worked in the Musical Theatre & Dance industry with top creatives such as Stephen Mear,
Will Tuckett and Jason Gilkison through shows such as Top Hat the Musical, Will Tuckett's Nutcracker and BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.
Richard is Associate Casting Director at Pippa Ailion Casting and has most recently finished working on two new major feature films -
Disney's Snow White & Wonka for Warner Brothers.
In addition to film & TV, he works on the following shows;
Moulin Rouge! (Piccadilly Theatre), The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre), Get Up, Stand Up! (Lyric Theatre), The Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales & UK Tour), Come From Away (Phoenix Theatre), Tina, The Tina Turner Musical (Aldwych Theatre), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (UK Tour),
Hello Dolly (Adelphi Theatre), Legally Blonde (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), Spring Awakening (Almeida Theatre), Dreamgirls (UK Tour).
Richard previously worked as Casting Associate at Stuart Burt Casting and for several other casting offices such as The National Theatre, Jill Green Casting,
Debbie O'Brien Casting and Victoria Roe Casting.
Richard is a probationary member of the CDG - Casting Directors' Guild.
DEANS ACCOUNTANTS
Gibson House,
Hurricane Court,
Hurricane Close,
Stafford
ST16 1GZ
01785 258 311