Leslie Louis Smith IV

He is survived by his father, Leslie L. Smith III of Perryville, AR, sister, Statia Smith of Benton, AR, Uncle, Forrest (Sherry) Smith of Tarboro, NC, Uncle James Barnett of Little Rock, Uncle Hugh (Jeanette) Irby of Benton, AR, Cousins Judy (Jim) Feimster of Katy, Tx and Maidra (Tommy) Trosclair of Mt. Holly, AR, Jay (Kari) Barnett of Fayetteville, AR, Jennifer (Matt) Reed of Little Rock, AR, Jill Sorrows of Little Rock, AR, Todd (Dawn) Irby of Maumelle, AR, and Donna (Yancey) Royal of Bryant, AR.

Leslie is preceded in death by his mother, Caroline Irby Smith, his paternal grandparents, Leslie L. Smith Jr. and Dorothy E. White, his maternal grandparents Howard Irby and Opal Irby, his Aunt Tina Osborne and his Aunt Janice Barnett.

Leslie received his Bachelors in Creative Writing and MA in Educational Theater from NYU. Leslie was earning a PhD in Interdisciplinary Media Arts and Sciences from the School of Arts, Media + Engineering (AME) at Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Design and Arts. He worked through a series of ever more ambitious projects, exploring how to create whole, meaningful experiences that combine fresh thought with experimental electronic media, expressive technologies, and speculative engineering. At the time of his death, Leslie was newly appointed as the Program Manager of the Synthesis Center at Arizona State University where he coordinated the uniquely diverse, international activities of the Center while at the same time pursuing his ambitious PhD.

He began his career as a literary intern at the 1991 Young Playwrights Festival. His career includes positions with the New York Theater Workshop, The Public Theater, The Theater Development Fund, and Jujamcyn Theaters. He curated materials for LA Independent Film Festival, and The Sundance Institute

and worked as a development consultant to Mirimax, FineLine Features, and Paramount Classics. As a playwright, his works include Somewhere In Between(Carousel Theater Co) and a one-man show, was in workshop for NYTW and at The Public Theater. Leslie founded Revelation Theater, which he operated as Artistic Director and as Producing Artistic Director from 2000-2005. There he directed Temporary Help off-Broadway in 2002. Leslie was a member of the League of Off-Broadway Theaters and Producers where he served on the Administration Committee for the Lucille Lortel Awards from 2004-2008.

His social services experience includes senior strategy positions for the American Red Cross (9/11-Katrina), United Way of New York State's 2-1-1 Initiative and managing inter-agency initiatives for government and nonprofit corporations in social service fields in New York City. He served on the board of The Trevor Project for the agency's first five years. He has produced special events that have raised more the $25 million for various charities close to his heart.

His cultural fiction novel was named a 2015 Readers Favorite Finalist. As a filmmaker, Smith wrote, produced and directed David Searching which received a 1997 US theatrical release, played over 45 Domestic and International Film Festivals, and was added to the UCLA Film Archives Legacy Project permanent collection in 2011.

Leslie was highly intelligent, clever and insightful. He always questioned the rules and norms in his life and his writing. Always attending to each individual station, Leslie was as comfortable organizing benefits with Hollywood elites or backstage with Broadway royalty as he was waiting tables. He never met a stranger and had a way of listening with care. He was able to love you through the hard stuff as he challenged you to dig deeper and get real. He was a true and devoted friend as evidenced by his many lifelong friendships that fill both coasts. Leslie was a caring, compassionate, conscientious man whose greatest gift was to leave this world better than he found it.

There will be a memorial visitation in Phoenix, AZ on Saturday, February 2, 2019 at noon hosted by his Sha Xi Wei. If you are interested in attending, please contact him directly [email protected] for location details.

There will be a memorial visitation in Benton, Arkansas on Saturday, February 9, 2019 from 1-3 at the Fairfield Inn and Suites 17320 Interstate 30 North, Benton, Arkansas 72019 followed by a private graveside service at the family cemetery on Wye Mountain.

There will be a memorial visitation in NYC this summer.

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