Ann Deavere Smith’s solo show Let Me Down Easy has been selected to be part of the “Great Performances” series on PBS. PBS crews will be on hand this Friday and Saturday, February 4 and 5, to capture her performance before the nearly sold out houses in Arena Stage’s Kreeger Theater at the Mead Center for American Theater.
Next season, audiences from around the country will be able to witness Ms. Smith’s signature meditation on the health care system and end of life, performing sections of interviews with 20 people as diverse as a bull rider, her aunt, and the Texas Governor Ann Richards. The stage version has been directed by Leonard Foglia. Directing for television will be Matthew Diamond (Great Performances: Cyrano de Bergerac, From Broadway: Fosse, Swan Lake with American Ballet Theatre).
This will mark Ms. Smith’s third appearance on “Great Performances”, which has previously featured Fires in the Mirror and Twilight: Lost Angeles.
Let Me Down Easy, which ends its DC run February 13th, will then leave on a national tour to The Wexner Center for the Arts; Philadelphia Theatre Company; a collaborative presentation of San Diego REPertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, and the Vantage Theatre; and Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
“Great Performances“, produced for PBS by Thirteen of WNET.org, is now in its 38th season of showcasing performances across the performing arts spectrum including classical music, musical theatre, dance, opera, and drama.
Related:
DCTS review of Let Me Down Easy
DCTS interview with Anna Deavere Smith
We thought you would enjoy watching a segment of their tribute to Stephen Sondheim, “Sondheim! The Birthday Concert”, with David Hyde Pierce moderating.
Watch the full episode. See more Great Performances.
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