Photograph by Joan Marcus
Emma Elizabeth Smith, a native of Alpharetta, grew up going to performances at the Fox Theatre—from An American in Paris to Les Miserables. She remembers telling her parents, “I would love to perform here one day.”
One day has arrived: April 28 to May 3, Smith will take to the Fox’s legendary stage playing Catherine of Aragon in Six, the Tony Award-winning musical that reimagines the wives of Henry VIII as pop stars. Here are five things to know about the hometown actor who’s enjoying a full-circle moment.
She got her start singing at church.
Smith was raised singing at First Baptist Church of Alpharetta. While she was a college student at Texas State University, she led worship at several North Point Community Church locations on her breaks. She says the experience was invaluable: “Church world trained me to sing with a band every day—which you need for Six,” she says. “I learned that through leading worship.”
She was a standout in musical theater at Kings Ridge Christian School.
Smith’s mom, Holly Krig-Smith, is the director of fine arts at Alpharetta’s Kings Ridge Christian School. “They’re about to become a full conservatory—they have an amazing arts program,” Smith says.
Likening the program to a “mini BFA,” she says she could work on her singing, dancing, and acting skills throughout her high-school days. “It was really a personalized education,” she says. Smith starred in several plays at Kings Ridge, including Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie), Newsies (Catherine), and Crazy for You (Polly).
This is her first post-college role.
“It’s kind of crazy to say that this is my first job, but nothing else I’ve done comes near this,” she says. She began the audition process for Six in 2023, when she attended an open call in Boston. The next year was a blur of follow-up auditions, until she finally got the news in spring 2025 that she’d been cast as Catherine of Aragon. “I sobbed and fell to the floor,” she says. “I was in shock. I literally didn’t have words.”
The next day, she told her family the news in person. “They were so happy for me, so supportive,” she says. “I could never have done this without them.”
She’s having the time of her life.
“Oh my gosh, going to work is the highlight of my day,” she says. “I love my job. Getting to be the first song out of the gate and getting the audience excited and used to the vibe and world of our show is special.”
She says she’s found a bit of herself in her character. “This role is confident and sure of herself but loving and fun as well. I resonate with that,” she says. “The creative team encouraged me to do this character like I’ve never seen it done before. That freedom and permission to just be me was difficult at first. They knew there was a closeness between me and the character, even more than I could see. I figured it out as we went along.”
She’s excited to sleep in her own bed.
“Touring is no joke,” she says. “Being in a new place every week is an adjustment. But I have the best support system. I don’t go too long without seeing someone from home.”
During her time in Atlanta, she plans to stay at her house in Alpharetta on days when she doesn’t have matinee performances. “I have a puppy at home who would hate me if she knew I was downtown,” she says. “Plus, I sleep better at home.”
She’s pumped for her friends and family to see her on stage at the Fox. “Oh my gosh, I can’t even tell you who’s coming—so many people!” she says. “I’m so excited to have my community and support system there.”
