John R. Smith, Jnr
Co-Founder/Co-Artistic Director at The Vagabond Theater Company
Actor and Theatrical Producer
Bridgeport, Connecticut
April 2021
today
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About John
John is a classically-trained, dynamic, character actor who’s worked in CT theatre for over 25 years.
He & his wife, Tanya Feduik-Smith, are the Founders and Artistic Directors of Vagabond Theatre Company, which they spun out of The Bijou Actors Guild, the resident troupe at The Bijou Theatre in Bridgeport CT. They had just taken the reins of The Guild when The Bijou's management called it quits. With a full season already planned, they decided to just take the plunge and do it themselves.
Until the last few years, John had focused exclusively on stage work. Then his friend asked him if he'd be willing help him with a small role (the aptly named Mooner) in some wraparound footage to finish his satire of the 90's Film Industry: Kissy Cousins Monster Babies.
When Covid shut down live theatre, John began film work in earnest. Playing supporting roles in several films, including Moka Joe in the recently completed short: The Red Reina.
He is also attached to play the lovable, foul-mouthed, catcher, John Faiella, in Omnes Films' upcoming baseball feature Eephus, written and directed by Carson Lund (acclaimed Cinematographer of Ham on Rye) and starring former BoSox pitcher Bill "Spaceman" Lee. Principal photography is scheduled to start in October 2022.
John has been addicted to performing since childhood. First, improvising puppet shows with his brother & cousin, and later superhero adventures for captive family audiences. Over time he hit the harder stuff: school plays & memorizing standup albums.
In his teens, he lucked out his local HS had one of the best theatre programs in the state, allowing him to attend student workshops & and perform at festivals at The Folger Library in DC and Ball State in IN.
He dabbled briefly in college. Quickly realizing academics were not for him. He stuck it out a couple years just in case, but learned to trust his first instincts.
After marrying Tanya & moving to her native CT, they became involved in one of many doomed efforts to reopen Stratford’s legendary (and now sadly, destroyed) Shakespeare.
Through this effort, they were invited to Playing Shakespeare USA, a weekend intensive, with RSC Co-Founder, the late John Barton. John was also included in a reading series of new, un-produced plays: Monsters w/ James Earl Jones, Whitechapel w/ Julie Harris, & Voodoo Mambo w/ Millicent Martin
So the time spent wasn't a total loss.
He has appeared in productions for theaters around CT including: The Bijou Theatre, Algonkuin Theatre Company, Godlight Productions at Long Wharf’s Stage II, Wilton Playshop, Eastbound Theater, & Town Players of New Canaan.
He has been nominated for multiple OnStage Critics' & Awards for his performances around CT. As a producing team, John & Tanya's shows have garnered over 70 nominations for OnStage Critics' & Awards, including 20 in BroadwayWorld's 2020 - Best of the Decade.
Unique traits: Long (past shoulders), curly, lt brown/dark blonde hair Long grey & blonde goatee
Badges
Links
Credits
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Eephus (
2022 )
Film by Omes Films John Faiella A film about a New England rec baseball league's final game. Kinda like The Sandlot for grown-ups. -
Hunt a Killer: Renfaire Regicide (
2022 )
Video Game by Hack|Stone Film Group / Keith Tralins Morgan (Supporting) -
Forgotten Room Radio Show (Ep:2-Theives of the Temple) (
2022 )
Voice-over by Litvincapers/Peter Litvin Butch (LEAD) Noir "Radio Play" Podcast -
The Sparking Ruby Phenomenon (
2022 )
Commercial by Andre Bato Corp./Drew Korn Professor Stallcroft (LEAD) -
WORLDS (
2022 )
Film by Unreality Productions/Christopher Hammarberg (Horror and Sci-Fi) Jonathan Fischer (Supporting) Found Footage Alien Mockumentary - The story is outlined, but all the dialogue is improv -
The Woodsman (Short) (
2021 )
Film (short) by OTC Industries / Kyle Kuchta (Comedy and Horror) Bernie (Lead) Can a drunken, bedraggled Christmas Tree seller keep his family's streak of 90+ Sold Out years going? WINNER: Best Male Performance (Comedy) ... Bridgeport Film Fest ... 2022 Best Comedic Actor ... Tabloid Witch Awards ... 2022 Best Psychological Thriller (Short) ... Southeast Regional FF ... 2022 NOMINEE: Best CT Film ... Bridgeport Film Fest ... 2022 Best Local Horror ... Shawna Shea Film Fest ... 2022 -
The Red Reina (short) (
2021 )
Film (short) by Ridgeway Films / Sophia Ciampaglia, Nick Pithis (Western) Moka Joe (Supporting) A badass, Latina vigilante leads her gang of outlaws on a mission of vengeance against vile land baron who wronged them all -
Death & Company (short) (
2021 )
Film (short) by Hofstra University / Michael Acciarino Booker (Supporting) A man considers retiring and selling the family hardware store to a sleazy developer, and faces pushback from his family and staff. Story and Script created through Character Based Improvisation (CBI) -
Pan American (Feature) (
2021 )
Film by Burton Pictures / Andrew Burton Paparazzi 2 (Supporting) Clandestine efforts within the so-called intelligence community precipitate the third World War. -
Evil Lives Here: Shadows of Death (Ep 502) (
2021 )
Television by Phoebe Kwong/Red Marble Media Tim (Lead) True Crime interview and re-enactment show on Investigation Discovery -
There is a Reaper (Short) (
2019 )
Film (short) by Enormity Pictures/Flip Andrade (Horror) Bum (Lead) A dying man wants to learn what awaits in the afterlife. A homeless man ensures he finds out. -
The History of Everything Circa 1993: F/K/A Kissy Cousins Monster Babies (
2018 )
Film by Wayne Keeley - Siberian Films / Someday Productions (Comedy) Mooner Two Hollywood Producers try to save their dying careers by creating a blockbuster out of old movies and their warped imaginations. What they don't know is that they are being mined for their creative and technological ideas. The film was in production for 25 years and shot in seven states including Washington D.C. (Linklater eat your heart out!). Homages galore. -
SWINK (Short) (
2018 )
Film (short) by Pickle Productions / Analisa Robertson (Comedy) Ben Tuck (Supporting) Love. Romance. Your heart's desire. All at your fingertips. This is SWINK!!!! -
Curdled Cafe (short) (
2016 )
Film (short) by Caution Cube / Michael Acciarino Buddy (Lead) A chance encounter at a diner, between a slacker and recently fired businessman, takes an unexpected turn
Awards
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2022 Bridgeport Film Fest: Best Male Performance (Comedy) for Bernie in The Woodsman
(2022) -
Nominee - Broadwayworld 2020 Best of the Decade (CT): Best Performer: Katurian in The Pillowman
(2020) -
Nominee - Broadwayworld 2020 Best of the Decade (CT): Best Performer: Judas/Last Days Judas Iscariot
(2020) -
Nominee - Broadwayworld Awards (CT): Best Actor (play): Gaston in Picasso at The Lapin Agile
(2019) -
Nominee - Broadwayworld Awards (CT): Best Featured Actor (play):Judas in Last Days of Judas Iscariot
(2017) -
Nominee - Onstage Critics Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actor (play): Harding in Cuckoo's Nest
(2016) -
Nominee - Onstage Critics Awards: Outstanding Actor (play): Katurian in The Pillowman
(2016) -
Nominee - Broadwayworld Awards (CT): Best Featured Actor (play): Harding in Cuckoo's Nest
(2016) -
Nominee - Broadwayworld Awards (CT): Best Actor (play): Katurian in The Pillowman
(2016) -
Nominee - Onstage Critics Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actor (play): Claudius in Hamlet
(2015)
Education
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Playing Shakespeare USA (Inst. John Barton)
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Shakespeare Technique - Inst. Louis Burke
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