Actor and Playwright, Anna Deavere Smith, to Present at UH Manoa

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
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Posted: Mar 25, 2003

The University of Hawaiʻi and PBS Hawaiʻi will present "Twilight: Los Angeles," an adaptation of a play conceived, written and performed by Anna Deavere Smith. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Smith on April 3, at 6 p.m. in the Campus Center Ballroom at UH Mānoa.

"Twilight: Los Angeles" is a powerful one-woman piece about the Rodney King beating, the violent aftermath of the verdict, and the lasting impact of the L.A. riots on America‘s conscience. A virtuoso performance meant to encourage dialogue across lines of power and race, Smith transforms herself into scores of individuals directly impacted by the civil disturbances.

Smith, who has been hailed as "the most exciting individual in American theatre," by Newsweek magazine, has been profiled in People magazine, The New Yorker and "60 Minutes." Her work explores the American character and our multifaceted national identity. She has received numerous accolades from the media, critics, and audiences across the country.

In addition to "Twilight: Los Angeles," other theatrical works include "On the Road: A Search For American Character," "Fires in the Mirror" and "House Arrest." Many of Smith‘s theatre presentations document change in racial identity, sexual politics, multiculturalism and our national identity.

A self-described "experimentalist," she is best known to television audiences for her recurring roles on "The Practice," "The West Wing" and "Presidio MD." She has also appeared in films such as "Dave," "Philadelphia," "The American President" and "Twilight: Los Angeles" the film of her play by the same name that was directed by Marc Levin and shown at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival.

Smith has received several awards and nominations including an Obie, a Drama Desk Award, two NAACP theatre awards, two Tony nominations and was the runner up for the Pulitzer Prize in 1993.

She was included among the Utne Reader‘s list of "100 Visionaries Who Could Change Your Life." The MacArthur Foundation awarded Smith its prestigious "Genius" fellowship and the Ford Foundation named her its first Artist In Residence.

In 2003, Ms. Smith will be seen in the film adaptation of Philip Roth‘s novel "The Human Stain" starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman.