In "An Evening with Anna Deavere Smith," the award-winning playwright, actor and professor brings various perspectives to the virtual stage for her storytelling presentation
Reclaiming Grace in the Face of Adversity.
February 4 | 8 p.m.
The live event will be moderated by Dr. Paulette Marty, Professor of Theatre Arts at Appalachian State University.
About “Reclaiming Grace in the Face of Adversity”
We live in a winner-take-all society. And yet, part of our potential as humans is our potential for compassion and our resilience in the face of adversity. While doing research for her play Let Me Down Easy, Anna Deavere Smith interviewed people in the US and abroad who demonstrated grace in the face of dramatic challenges. The speech celebrates the resilience of the human spirit, the power of empathy, the strength of imagination, and hope.
About Anna Deavere Smith: Playwright, Actor and Professor
Playwright, actor, and educator Anna Deavere Smith uses her singular brand of theatre to explore issues of community, character, and diversity in America. The MacArthur Foundation honored Smith with the “Genius” Fellowship for creating “a new form of theatre — a blend of theatrical art, social commentary, journalism, and intimate reverie.”
Best known for crafting more than 15 one-woman shows drawn from hundreds of interviews, Smith turns these conversations into scripts and transforms herself onstage into an astonishing number of characters. In her speaking events, Smith discusses the many “complex identities of America,” and interweaves her discussions with portrayals of people she has interviewed to illustrate the diversity of emotions and points of view on controversial issues.
This event is supported in part by the Hughlene Bostian Frank Visiting Writers Series.
Learn more at: https://theschaefercenter.org/event/an-evening-with-anna-deavere-smith
Anna Deavere Smith - Playwright, Actor and Professor. Photo Submitted.
An Evening with Anna Deavere Smith February 4 at 8 p.m. Schaefer Center virtual event