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Set on Chicago’s South Side, Lorraine Hansberry's celebrated play concerns the divergent dreams and conflicts in three generations of the Younger family: son Walter Lee, his wife Ruth, his sister Beneatha, his son Travis, and matriarch Lena. When her deceased husband’s insurance money comes through, Mama Lena dreams of moving to a new home and a better neighborhood in Chicago. Walter Lee, a chauffeur, has other plans: buying a liquor store and being his own man. Beneatha dreams of medical school. Hansberry's portrait of one family’s struggle to retain dignity in a harsh and changing world is a searing and timeless document of hope and inspiration.
. Upon its Broadway premiere in 1959, the play was a groundbreaking success for being the first play on Broadway written by an African American woman and the first with a Black director, Lloyd Richards. It brought to life the story of the Younger family's aspirations and struggles in Chicago's South Side, resonating deeply with audiences and critics alike. In 1960, the play was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Play, Best Actor in Play for Sidney Poitier, Best Actress in a Play for Claudia McNeil, and Best Direction of a Play for Lloyd Richards.
The play's significance extends beyond its Broadway success. It won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle award for best play in 1959, marking a major achievement for Hansberry and a pivotal moment for African American storytelling in the theater. "A Raisin in the Sun" not only ran for 19 months on Broadway but was also adapted into a 1961 movie starring Sidney Poitier and other members of the original Broadway cast. This adaptation further cemented the play's legacy, with Ruby Dee winning the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress, and both Poitier and McNeil receiving Golden Globe nominations.
- Lorraine Hansberry
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News About A Raisin in the Sun at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Announces Double Bill of I SHALL NOT BE MOVED and YOUR NEGRO TOUR
March 30, 2022Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (ETC) will present two one-act productions with the newly commissioned world premiere of I Shall Not Be Moved followed by the return of Your Negro Tour Guide, which has been revamped since it last appeared on ETC’s stage in 2010.
Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati Presents SKELETON CREW
April 17, 2019It's time to walk the line. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati presents the regional premiere of Skeleton Crew, a compelling drama about a driven team of autoworkers trying to navigate a cutthroat industry. This searing new play is by Dominique Morisseau (Detroit '67 ), a 2018 recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Foundation Fellows Program (unofficially referred to as a Genius Grant). Skeleton Crew is the final installment of Morisseau's powerful Detroit Project, which was inspired by August Wilson's landmark Century Cycle. Playing April 13-May 11, 2019. Directed by Stori Ayers. Production Sponsor is The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation.
Ensemble Theatre Presents Regional Premiere of SKELETON CREW
March 26, 2019It's time to walk the line. Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati presents the regional premiere of Skeleton Crew, a compelling drama about a driven team of autoworkers trying to navigate a cutthroat industry.
Photo Flash: Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Presents August Wilson's FENCES
January 23, 2019Cincinnati Shakespeare Company continues its 25th Anniversary Season at The Otto M. Budig Theater with August Wilson's "Fences", directed by Christopher V. Edwards and features "ranney" [sic] as Troy Maxson, Torie Wiggins as Rose and Crystian Wilshire as Cory. This production is generously sponsored by Frost Brown Todd, BB&T, and Johnson Investment Council.
August Wilson's FENCES Opening Soon And Cincinnati Shakespeare Company!
January 07, 2019Cincinnati Shakespeare Company continues its 25th Anniversary Season at The Otto M. Budig Theater with August Wilson's "Fences", directed by Christopher V. Edwards and features "ranney" [sic] as Troy Maxson, Torie Wiggins as Rose and Crystian Wilshire as Cory. This production is generously sponsored by Frost Brown Todd, BB&T, and Johnson Investment Council.
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is at 719 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH.
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a resident ensemble theatre company bringing Shakespeare and the Classics to life for all. We will be a Company that is participating in the global dialogue by producing the classic canon, commissioning the next generation of classics, and engaging the artists, schools, and communities of Cincinnati.
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CCM Prep: Spring Youth Ballet
CCM Patricia Corbett Theater (4/26 - 4/27) | |
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The Red Velvet Cake War
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Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (6/8 - 6/30) | |
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Kimberly Akimbo
Aronoff Center (2/18 - 3/2) | |
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Don Giovanni
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