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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
Authors
Tony Awards and Nominations for A Raisin in the Sun
| Year | Category | |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Best Revival of a Play | |
| 2014 | Best Revival of a Play | Winner |
News About A Raisin in the Sun at Two River Theater
Two River Theater Appoints Seven New Board Members
November 29, 2023Two River Theater has appointed seven new board members, including Crystal A. Dickinson, Delisha Grant, Kenny D. King, Tony Meneses, Cathy Pugliese-Sivo, Joanne Spears, and Susan Whyman.
World Premiere of Kate Hamill's THE SCARLET LETTER & More Set for Two River Theater 2023/2024 Season
May 18, 2023Two River Theater has announced its 2023/2024 30th Anniversary Season. This will be the first slate of programming at Two River for new Artistic Director Justin Waldman and Managing Director Nora DeVeau-Rosen.
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Tick, Tick...Boom!
George Street Playhouse (4/23 - 5/19) | |
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Choice
McCarter Theatre Center (5/8 - 6/2) | |
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Patti LuPone
Mayo Performing Arts Center (3/8 - 5/17) | |
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Proof
Roxbury Arts Alliance (5/10 - 5/19)
PHOTOS
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Woe! Misery! Children's Theater
Clifton Arts Center (5/31 - 6/9)
PHOTOS
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Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (5/15 - 6/9) | |
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The Godfather Live in Concert
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (8/16 - 8/16) | |
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Becoming Dr. Ruth
Cape May Stage (6/5 - 6/30)
VIDEOS
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Warner Bros. Discovery presents Bugs Bunny at the Symphony
Count Basie Center for the Arts (2/14 - 2/14) | |
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American Menu
Middletown Arts Center (5/17 - 5/26) | |
| VIEW SHOWS ADD A SHOW | ||
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