PROJECTS
ABOUT JUSTIN
Justin Smusz is a Chicago born performer and avid entrepreneur. While pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre at Indiana University, he has started two businesses, Unmuted Productions and JUS Sites. When he is not producing video content or designing websites and graphics, he is a musical theatre performer at heart.
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In 2017, Justin made his "Broadway debut" at the Jimmy Awards, hosted by Ben Platt at the Minskoff Theatre. There, he represented his high school as Chad in All Shook Up.
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In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors and performing, Justin has established himself as a notable music director at Indiana University. Over the course of his college career, he music directed seven musicals. His favorites include The Hunchback of Notre Dame, where he remotely conducted a 13 piece orchestra that was located in a different room, and Into The Woods, because...Sondheim.
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During COVID-19, Justin founded Unmuted Productions, a production company that specializes in producing virtual theatre. Unmuted Productions offers services like video editing, audio engineering, production management and coordination assistance to theatre organizations for virtual theatre and quarantine entertainment productions. Justin's work on For Which It Stands, a new play by Lee Edward Colston II, was premiered by New York Theatre Workshop in February of 2021.
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As we work to immunize the world, Justin is planning his move to NYC. Until then, he continues to work remotely through his businesses and as an artistic assistant at DMR Adventures, a performing arts academy in Charlottesville, Virginia.
PROJECTS
BEFORE THAT...
Justin music directed a student independent production of Into The Woods, performed in-person in a socially distant and masked setting. He collaborated with musicians from Bloomington, Indiana and the UK to create a dynamic virtual orchestra in order to comply with capacity regulations in the performance space.
NOW
Justin produced a concert series with his friends in the living room of a college house where his fellow classmates performed original music and covers safely in a pre-recorded setting. Check out his cover of "Tennessee Whiskey" and the YouTube Channel for Unmuted Living Room Concerts produced by Justin's production company, Unmuted Productions.
...AFTER THAT
Justin is currently music directing Bright Star: Concert Version, produced by Indiana University Players. This production will be performed in an outdoor venue on the IU campus and will feature a full 9-piece orchestra. Performances will be in April, 2021. More info can be found at www.universityplayers.org.