One-Woman Play Appeals to Houston Theater, Community and Cancer Survivors

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center presents The Wisdom of WIT: An Artistic Portrayal of Life, Relationships and the Human Spirit, at 6 p.m., Sept. 18 at the institution’s Cancer Prevention Building, 8th floor conference center at 1155 Pressler St.

The provocative program offers insight into the mental, emotional and spiritual issues that cancer patients often face.

Performed by Megan Cole, The Wisdom of WIT is a solo version of WIT, the Pulitzer Prize winning play by Margaret Edson. WIT tells the story of a brilliant scholar’s personal transformation as she faces a terminal cancer diagnosis and suddenly finds the tools of academia useless in her end of life journey. Instead, she discovers the importance of family and friends and comes to terms with her own journey through life.

Cole leads the audience on a guided tour of this sardonic, funny and heart-rending exploration of the simplicity and complications of our irrevocable fate.

Cole has had a long acting career on the professional stage and has also made television guest-star appearances on Seinfeld, ER, The Practice, Star Trek, Judging Amy, Las Vegas and others.

Following her performance, a panel of M. D. Anderson experts will participate in a “talk-back” session with the audience and Cole. Panelists include: Robert C. Bast, Jr., M.D., vice president of translational research; David Jenkins, D.Min., director of chaplaincy and pastoral education; and Martin Raber, M.D., clinical professor in the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology. The panel will be moderated by Lois Ramondetta, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Gynecologic Oncology.

Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. and the program and discussion are from 6 to 8 p.m.

Admission is free, but registration is required. To register, call 713-745-0549 or e-mail publiced@mdanderson.org by Sept. 14.