Anna-Deavere Smith News

Get a first look at the Signature Theatre production of FIRES IN THE MIRROR by Anna Deavere Smith featuring Michael Benjamin Washington and directed by Saheem Ali. 

In September, BroadwayWorld was saddened to report that opera singer Jessye Norman had died. Today we remember her by taking a look back in our photo archives.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the five award-winning artists who will lead the creative team for the world premiere of Swept Away.

a??a??a??a??a??a??a??The second performance for Brian Copeland Presents The Best of San Francisco Solo Series 2019/20 in partnership with The Marin Cultural Association at The Marin Center's Showcase Theater is Diane Barne's solo show My Stroke of Luck. A captivating tale of a harrowing recovery. Not everyone knows that the average person loses 1.9 million brain cells every minute a stroke goes untreated, but Diane Barnes did. As a radiologist who diagnoses strokes, Barnes did not deal with having a stroke very well; it was more than 20 hours before she went to the hospital. My Stroke of Luck follows Barnes as she recounts her experience of having a stroke, her path to recovery, and more. A spellbinding and funny look at love, family, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Barnes shares the story of a single adoptive mother of special needs and gifted sons and how she forges a new identity after a debilitating stroke. My Stroke of Luck, directed by Rebecca Fisher and developed with David Ford, will be presented on Sunday, November 10, 2019 (7pm) at The Marin Center's Showcase Theater.

The National Arts Club has selected Inda Craig-Galván for the 2019 Kesselring Prize for playwriting, for her tragicomic play Black Super Hero Magic Mama about a mother who magically turns into a super hero while mourning the shooting death of her unarmed teenage son by police. Craig-Galván officially receives the award, which includes $25,000 from the Club's Kesselring Fund and a residency at the historic clubhouse, during a special ceremony and reception. The evening features a staged reading of her work, directed by Michael Parva of The Directors Company, followed by a reception.

Director Mina Morita spoke with BroadwayWorld the day before Lloyd Suh's a?oeThe Chinese Ladya?? started performances at the Magic Theatre. Ms. Morita has a thriving career as a theatre maker, serving as Artistic Director of Potrero Hill's Crowded Fire Theater, which is devoted to the creation of challenging new work. Talking to her, it is clear that she is a very conceptual thinker, often weaving several complex ideas into a single sentence. Her passion for creating new forms of theater in the interest of fostering human connection is evident throughout the conversation.

Nicole, Ben, and newcomer Linda talk about 2 immersive shows and 2 shows Off-Broadway.

Signature Theatre has announced that its production of Fires in the Mirror, written by MacArthur Award-winner Anna Deavere Smith, featuring Michael Benjamin Washington and directed by Saheem Ali, has been extended by for an additional week and will now play through December 8, 2019.

Deadline reports that Tony winner Laura Benanti has joined the cast of Billy Crystal's 'Here Today,' also starring Tiffany Haddish, actress/playwright Anna Deavere Smith, and Nyambi Nyambi. 'Gossip Girl' actor Penn Badgley also joined the cast today.

Aurin, David, and Ben come together to talk about shows New York coming up in the next few months. Productions discussed include HALFWAY BITCHES GO STRAIGHT TO HEAVEN, FIRES IN THE MIRROR, IS THIS A ROOM, SOFT POWER, SCOTLAND, PA, THE UNDERLYING CHRIS, and more.

Signature Theatre presents Fires in the Mirror, by Obie, Drama Desk and MacArthur Award winner Anna Deavere Smith, featuring Michael Benjamin Washington (The Boys in the Band) and and directed by Saheem Ali.

The wait is finally over for the 10th anniversary of United Solo. With its most ambitious lineup yet, United Solo will once again unite solo performers from six continents in the heart of New York's theatre district. Over 130 productions will be presented at this year's United Solo, the largest festival of its kind in the world, celebrating its first decade of taking solo theatre to new heights. With up to five performances each day until November 24 at Theatre Row, this year's robust selection of one-person shows will attract thousands of theatregoers. Over 20 performances have sold out in advance, with more expected to follow. The festival will grant additional performance dates to its most popular productions. In addition to performances, United Solo also offers Master Classes with world-famous theatre creators and recognized experts, including acclaimed director Austin Pendleton, who will give his Master Class on October 8, with more Master Classes to follow.

On this day, we celebrate the birthday of playwright, activist, actor, and educator, Anna Deavere Smith.

Actress, Playwright, Teacher, and Author, Anna Deavere Smith, will be formally announced as the Atlantic Council's first Artist in Residence at the tenth annual Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards.

Crowded Fire Theater (CFT) Crowded Fire's Artistic Director Mina Morita unveiled the 2020 mainstage season lineup including two new plays that uphold the company's long tradition of collaborative work and boundary-pushing theater.

Last night was the American Theatre Wing's 2019 Gala, celebrating Jonathan Larson! Stars in attendance included Krysta Rodriguez, Andy Mientus, Joe Iconis, Brandon Victor Dixon, Christopher Jackson, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Karen Olivo, Jenn Colella, and many more!

Signature Theatre (Paige Evans, Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert, Executive Director) has announced that its production of Fires in the Mirror, written by MacArthur Genius Fellow Anna Deavere Smith, featuring Michael Benjamin Washington, and directed by Saheem Ali, has been extended by one week and will now play throughDecember 1, 2019. The production begins performances on October 22 with a November 11th opening night in The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10thAvenues).

United Solo, the world's largest solo theatre festival, is proud to present the nominees of the 2019 United Solo Special Award. The Special Award recognizes and celebrates outstanding solo performers. These are artists who create captivating performances outside the United Solo Festival and have brought the art of solo theatre to new heights. It is United Solo's mission to provide a platform to solo artists who are committed to creating solo theatre that focuses on the uniqueness of the human being. These artists have pushed the boundaries of solo theatre in unique ways and the Special Award will honor an artist whose work in the last year deserves particular recognition. Previous recipients of the Special Award include Anna Deavere Smith (2010), Patti LuPone (2011), John Leguizamo (2012), Fiona Shaw (2013), Billy Crystal (2014), James Lecesne (2015), Staceyann Chin (2016), Michael Moore (2017), and Renée Taylor (2018).

Beginning Oct. 12,L.A. Theatre Works will bring its signature style of radio-theater to 27 venues across the U.S. as part of the company's 16th annual national tour. Alexis Jacknow (LATW recordings of Tribes, Together Tonight and the Audie Award-winning Hound of the Baskervilles) directs Seven, a riveting documentary play by seven female writers, based on personal interviews with seven remarkable women who faced life-threatening obstacles before bringing heroic changes to their home countries of Pakistan, Nigeria, Ireland, Afghanistan, Guatemala, Russia and Cambodia.

The National Arts Club (NAC) has selected Inda Craig-Galván as the recipient of the 2019 Kesselring Prize for playwriting. Since 1980, the $25,000 award has been presented to an outstanding playwright deserving of national recognition.