Anna Deavere Smith - of Nurse Jackie - to Perform in Chicago on Nation's Healthcare Crisis

Anna Deavere Smith - of Nurse Jackie - to Perform in Chicago on Nation's Healthcare Crisis

Caps Historic Day of Protest - MAY 18







The critically acclaimed actress and playwright Anna Deavere Smith, who portrays a nurse on the Emmy award winning Showtime dark comedy Nurse Jackie, will perform Tell Us Where It Hurts, America's Nurses are Listening, a theatrical piece derived from real-life stories of nurses and their patients gathered by the members of National Nurses United (NNU).

TIME: May 18 - 7:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Sheraton Chicago Hotel
and Towers Ballroom
301 East North Water
Street Chicago

PRESS AVAILABILITY: Ms. Smith will be available for
interviews after the performance. RSVP required as
seating is limited.
"I'm not a real nurse, I play one on TV," Smith said. "But as fans of the program know, we deal with real-life issues facing many Americans - hospital closures and cuts due to a healthcare system that puts profits before quality care. This hurts families with no healthcare and illness brought on by a faltering economy. It's a welcome creative challenge to tap into these experiences from the lives of nurses."

A Day of Action - The Rally: Noon-2:00 p.m. and features musician Tom Morello, The Nightwatchman.



The performance follows a protest by nurses' supporters from around the nation who are converging on Daley Plaza in support of a Robin Hood Tax - a small tax on Wall Street trades.

The rally in Daley Plaza almost didn't happen. Largely driven by the participation of another artist, musician Tom Morello, last week Chicago's Mayor Rahm Emanuel demanded an 11th hour change in the site from Daley Plaza to a far less visible location, despite the fact that nurses long held a permit for the plaza.

NNU Welcomes Anna Deavere Smith

"We are especially excited about this unique performance by Anna Deavere Smith, which will cap off a historic day," said NNU Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro. "Having such a talented artist capture this reality is a welcome relief, especially after a long day of protest."

Smith has performed in film and television, as well as on stage. She has been featured in several films, among them The American President, The Human Stain, Dave, Rent, and Rachel Getting Married. She currently plays Gloria Akalitus on Showtime's hit series, Nurse Jackie.



Contact: Joe Rubin (510) 316-1371, Liz Jacobs, RN (510) 435-7674,or Carl Ginsburg (917) 405-1060

/PRNewswire/ -- May 15, 2012/

SOURCE National Nurses United

National Nurses United

CONTACT: For media inquiries:
media_inquiries@osc.gov.on.ca Carolyn Shaw-Rimmington
Manager, Public Affairs
416-593-2361 Dylan Rae
Media Relations Specialist
416-595-8934 For investor inquiries: OSC Contact Centre
416-593-8314
1-877-785-1555 (Toll Free)


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