Stephen Gregory Smith

Libretto & Lyrics

Stephen Gregory Smith has been writing and performing in the D.C. area for more than 25 years. A multiple Helen Hayes Award recipient as a performer, he also earned a Charles MacArthur Award nomination for Best Adaptation of Ichabod: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Creative Cauldron in 2022.

Stephen collaborates with composer Matt Conner in creative partnership. Together since 1998 and married since 2013, Conner and Smith have developed a remarkable catalog of original musicals that blend literary inspiration, gothic imagination, and emotional depth. Their works include Night of the Living Dead: The Musical (2010), The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (2014), The Turn of the Screw (2015), Monsters of the Villa Diodati (2016), The Silver Belles (2016), Kaleidoscope (2017), Witch (2018), On Air (2019), The Christmas Angel (2021), and Whitechapel (2025). Their musicals have been developed and produced by theaters throughout the region, earning praise for inventive storytelling, and emotionally resonant characters

Among their projects in development are The House of Booth (commissioned by Emergent TheatreWorks, NYC) and Emily, a musical inspired by the life and words of poet Emily Dickinson written for Susan Derry. Stephen’s writing is marked by a deep love of language, literary adaptation, and character-driven storytelling

In addition to his work in full-length musical theater, Stephen has written lyrics for more than a dozen children’s musicals as part of Creative Cauldron’s acclaimed Learning Theater program, helping introduce young audiences and performers to the joy of live theater through original works crafted specifically for educational and family settings.

Stephen also co-hosts The Conner & Smith Show, a weekly podcast exploring theater, creativity, collaboration, and the arts, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other streaming platforms. More information about Stephen, Matt Conner, and their body of work can be found at Conner & Smith Musicals.