Tomorrow actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith joins writer Frank Rich for a discussion on the critical nature of art in a democratic society, how it broadens mutual understanding, and inspires civic engagement. The discussion, located at Stanford’s contemporary Bing concert hall, will take a look at how the arts are advancing the public dialogue on race and equality in America today.

Anna Deavere Smith is an artist-in-residence at the Center for American Progress. Smith is widely known for her roles as National Security Advisor Dr. Nancy McNally in The West Wing (2000–06), and as hospital administrator Gloria Akalitus in the Showtime series Nurse Jackie (2009–15). Today Anna works primarily in the theatre. The hybrid artist collects stories through recorded interviews and then portrays the tellers on stage in curated displays of American character organized around pressing questions of our time.

Frank Rich is a writer-at-large for New York magazine covering politics and culture. He is also a commentator on New York Magazine’s online portal engaging in regular dialogues on the news of the week. Rich joined the magazine following a distinguished career at the New York Times, where he had been an op-ed columnist since 1994.

‘Art, Race, and Citizenship: Anna Deavere Smith in conversation with Frank Rich’ is free open to the public.