Stephanie S. Hughley, a graduate of Kent State Universty and Antioch College was the executive producer of the National Black Arts Festival and vice president of programming for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. She also served as theater and dance producer for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Cultural Olympiad.

Hughley was born in Canton, Ohio to Lillie Mae and Robert Lee Smith, Sr. on October 16, 1948. In 1971, Hughley became a dance instructor and taught at Smith College as well as Northeastern, Brandeis and Harvard Universities. She danced with the Dance Theatre of Boston and the National Center of Afro American Artists. In 1976, Hughley moved to New York City, auditioned for a part in the Broadway production of Bubbling Brown Sugar, studied dance at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance and the Little Red School House and apprenticed under the directorship of Ashton Springer in order to expand her theatre management skills. She became General Manager of the Negro Ensemble Company in 1982. Hughley managed and supervised the production of over twelve Broadway shows including, Your Arms Are Too Short To Box With God, Ain't Misbehavin' andBubbling Brown Sugar and toured the United States and Europe as the Company Manager of For Colored Girls.