Vote for Jordan Roth and Anna Deavere Smith for SXSW!

Session ideas for SXSW Film 2014, SXSW Interactive 2014, SXSW Music 2014, and SXSWedu 2014 are now open for voting. Click HERE to cast your vote for Broadway icons Jordan Roth and Anna Deavere Smith for SXSW Interactive 2014!

Their presentation is described as: "Every year, People selects its World's Most Beautiful People, Time dubs its Person of the Year and Rolling Stone crowns its Albums of the Year. But, does having a small elite choose the best make sense when the barriers to declaring the vox populi's personal preference have fallen so low?

"Originally a means for keeping loose ties among people, social media has become a way for all of us to showcase our expertise. With everyone grabbing the open microphone of the Internet, society has more data points to develop a more accurate, representative and definitive list of preferences on any topic.

"This presentation will explore how the ubiquity of cultural expertise impacts the culture, from what is created to how it is discussed and valued."

Jordan Roth is the CEO and Founder of Culturalist, a new social network that empowers people to share their expertise on pop culture through their own top 10 lists. Roth is also the President of Jujamcyn Theatres where he overseas five Broadway theatres that present some of the most influential and successful musicals and plays on Broadway today, including Tony Award-winning Best Musicals The Book of Morman, Kinky Boots and Jersey Boys. Roth is by far the youngest leader of any major Broadway theatre-owning organizations and he is widely recognized as an industry innovator, championing new shows that push the boundaries of Broadway and create new experiences for audiences.

Anna Deveare Smith is two-time Tony nominated actress, playwright and professor. Perhaps most recognized for her role as Gloria Akalitus on Showtime's hit series Nurse Jackie, her work in theatre has been a central part of her artistic life. Her transformational one-woman shows, including On the Road: A Search for American Character and Twilight: Los Angeles, have been celebrated for their blend of art and journalism.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride