WHO:

Anna Deavere Smith, an actress, teacher and playwright, will discuss and perform selected scenes from her latest highly acclaimed piece, “Let Me Down Easy.”

Smith has had roles in the films “Philadelphia,” “An American President,” “The Human Stain” and “Rent,” and in television she has worked on “The Practice,” “The West Wing” and, currently, “Nurse Jackie.”

She is also founder and director of the Institute on the Arts and Civic Dialogue and teaches at New York University.

WHAT:

“Let Me Down Easy” is composed of a series of monologues based on the actress’s interviews with a wide range of individuals and focuses on the fragility and resilience of the human body and spirit.

WHEN:

7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 26

WHERE:

Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 3680 Walnut St.

DETAILS:

Sponsored by the Center for Public Health Initiatives at Penn's School of Medicine, complimentary tickets are available beginning Wednesday, Jan. 13, at the Annenberg Center box office, 215-898-3900, and in a limited distribution at Interact Theatre box office, 2030 Sansom St., 215-568-8079.