Happy birthday Anna Deavere Smith! Born September 16, Anna Deavere Smith is an African American playwright, actress, author, journalist, and educator, who is best known for her one-woman plays that examine the social issues behind current events. She is credited with having created a new form of theater. Smith’s work combines the journalistic technique of interviewing her subjects with the art of interpreting their words through performance. She was a pioneer in what is now called “verbatim theater.”
View one of Anna Deveare Smith’s performances here:
