Terrah Bennett Smith
Bennett, a Native New Yorker, has enjoyed a rich and multi- faceted career in the entertainment industry having worked as a director, producer, actress, singer/songwriter and screenwriter.Bennett career began as a dancer at the tender age of five. She later began auditioning for musical theatre performing Off Broadway for many years. She spent most of her teen years at the prestigious Henry Street Settlement, where she studied acting and performed in various musicals. Bennett would land her first Broadway role at the age of 19, which was followed by her first national commercial for Levi's Jeans. Along with her God-Father Bennett formed a management company and independent record label, which launched her singing career. They released a single which afforded her the opportunity to perform around New York City and the Tri-State areas, as well as travel abroad. After returning to the states, Bennett took a trip to Los Angeles to promote herself and other clients at their management company. The sunny weather in January won her over, and after returning to NYC, she packed up and moved to Los Angeles in the hopes of doing more television.After moving to Los Angeles, Bennett's first roles were in theatre, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. Within her first year, she landed her first television pilot. Bennett is also an accomplished singer/songwriter having toured as one of three singers in the pop group "Altitude" for RCA records. Also an ASCAP songwriter, several of Bennett's songs have been recorded by celebrity music artists, as well as, featured on sound tracks for both film and television." One of the highlights of her music career was singing on Soul Train, and being interviewed by Don Cornelius. She went on to land several pilots, guest star roles, commercials, films and stage productions. Her career began to shift when Bennett and friend wrote a two person stage play which ended in them being pitched for a television series. Although acting was her first love, after the birth of her daughter, Bennett found herself transitioning to a career behind the camera. She has over fifteen stage directing & producing credits in including such the critically lauded musical, "Dick And Don's Fabulous 60's Rock And Soul Spectacular," which she also created, the riveting musical, "This Is My Story, This Is My Song," a semi-autobiographical musical based on the life of recording artist Brenda Lee Eager, and Miss Eager's one-woman show entitled, "Grace". She's directed and produced feature films, commercials, and web series. This mother of three now mentors her children and other teens, runs her own production company and is happy life has taken her full circle, back to in front of the camera.