Deavere Smith to Appear in Ailey's Hymn at City Center

By Adam Hetrick
11 Dec 2009

Obie Award-winning actress Anna Deavere Smith will join the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for Hymn, which plays City Center Dec. 16-20.

Deveare Smith, who is currently performing her acclaimed solo show Let Me Down Easy Off-Broadway at Second Stage, will appear in the work that is choreographed by Judith Jamison. Deveare Smith penned the libretto for Hymn, which celebrates Ailey's life.

According to press notes, "Ms. Jamison's tribute to Alvin Ailey is a choreographic tapestry featuring the entire Company while Smith as actress/raconteuse has gathered personal vignettes of the dancers and interspersed them throughout the work, creating a picture-biography of Mr. Ailey's loving legacy."

Deveare Smith has penned the plays Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992; Fires in the Mirror (Pulitzer Prize finalist); and House Arrest; as well as the books "Talk To Me" and "Letters to A Young Artist."

She appeared in Showtime's "Nurse Jackie," as well as "The West Wing," "The Practice" and the films "Rachel Getting Married," "The American President," "Philadelphia" and "Dave."

For tickets phone (212) 581-1212, or visit NYCityCenter.