• Through May 15 at the Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, award-winning playwright Anna Deavere Smith (“Fires in the Mirror,” “Twilight: Los Angeles”) presents her latest one-woman show, “Let Me Down Easy,” for which she interviewed more than 300 people, including cyclist Lance Armstrong. The concern is the vulnerability of the human body, the resilience of the human spirit and the cost of healthcare. Nothing could be timelier or more important. Visit www.sdrep.org (619) 544-1000 for tickets. • May 14-22 at the Civic Theatre, San Diego Opera presents that sultry siren of grand opera, a gypsy named Carmen, who is loved excessively by two men, a toreador and an AWOL soldier. Sung by an international company of outstanding singers, Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” is a visual and aural spectacle, lusty and full of familiar melodies not to be missed, accompanied by San Diego Symphony under the baton of resident conductor Karen Keltner. Visit www.sdopera.com to hear excerpts and order tickets. • May 7 through June 12, The Old Globe presents Tracy Letts’ Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning “August: Osage County,” directed by Sam Gold and featuring a stunningly talented ensemble. When dear old dad goes missing, the huge and hugely dysfunctional Weston family reunites and it’s no-holds-barred, skeletons-out-of-the-closet togetherness that the New York Times called “the most exciting play Broadway has seen in years.” Warning: contains strong language. www.theoldglobe.org or (619) 23-GLOBE. • May 27-29 at Copley Symphony Hall (Seventh Avenue and B Street) San Diego Symphony presents all-Beethoven concerts with guest artist Gil Shaham playing the Violin Concerto in D Major with the orchestra under the baton of artistic director Jahja Ling. Also programmed are Beethoven’s Overture to “Coriolan” and the famous Symphony No. 5 in C minor, with its unforgettable “fate” motif. Go to the website for tickets and an audio preview from Nuvi Mehta, the voice of San Diego Symphony, www.sandiegosymphony.org or call (619) 235-0804.