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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
News About A Raisin in the Sun at A Noise Within
Playwrights' Arena Honors Denise Blasor, Gregg Daniel, And C. Raul Espinoza At Annual Brunch Gala At LA LGBT Center
March 28, 2024Join Playwrights' Arena for their Annual Gala on April 28, 2024. Celebrate the art of playwriting and support the development of new plays in this festive event.
A Noise Within to Present KING HEDLEY II This Spring
February 20, 2024A Noise Within is continuing its commitment to August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle” with a new production of King Hedley II. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.
Gregg T. Daniel To Direct CAN I TOUCH IT at Rogue Machine Theater
May 05, 2023Award winning theater director Gregg T. Daniel is set to direct the new play 'Can I Touch It' written by Francisca Da Silveira at the Rogue Machine Theater.
Hugo Armstrong, Lovensky Jean-Baptiste, and More to Star in TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992 at CTG
February 18, 2023Originally performed solo by Smith, “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992” has been reimagined for a cast of five performers. Thirty years after its world premiere, Center Theatre Group will celebrate the West Coast premiere of the revised production by giving away 1,000 tickets to Angelenos.
Gregg T. Daniel to Direct TWILIGHT: LOS ANGELES, 1992 at the Mark Taper Forum
January 05, 2023NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Graduate and NAACP Best Director winner Gregg T. Daniel will direct the new production of “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992” by Anna Deavere Smith presented by Center Theatre Group at the Mark Taper Forum from March 8 through April 9, with opening set for March 15, 2023.
Sue Cremin, Michael Manuel and More Complete Casting of THE FATHER Starring Alfred Molina at Pasadena Playhouse
December 12, 2019Pasadena Playhouse, The State Theater of California, has completed casting for The Father, written by Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by Jessica Kubzansky, that comes to the Playhouse February 5 to March 1, 2020.
A Noise Within Offers Pay What You Can Night For GEM OF THE OCEAN
September 12, 2019A Noise Within (ANW) presents the first chronological chapter in Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson's American Century Cycle, Gem of the Ocean, directed by Gregg T. Daniel. Daniel previously directed ANW's Ovation Award and Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award-nominated production of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun for the theatre's 2017-2018 season.
A Noise Within Will Produce First August Wilson Play GEM OF THE OCEAN
August 30, 2019A Noise Within (ANW), California's acclaimed classic repertory theatre company, is proud to present the first chronological chapter in Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson's American Century Cycle, Gem of the Ocean, directed by Gregg T. Daniel. Daniel previously directed ANW's Ovation Award and Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award-nominated production of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun for the theatre's 2017-2018 season. Gem of the Ocean will run Sept. 22 through Nov. 16, 2019 with press performances on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m.
Single Tickets Now On Sale For A Noise Within's 2019-2020 Season
June 11, 2019A Noise Within (ANW), California's acclaimed classic repertory theatre company, is proud to announce that single tickets are now on sale for its 2019-2020 season, THEY PLAYED WITH FIRE. ANW's 28th season will run August through June and will feature seven productions: Frankenstein, Gem of the Ocean, Buried Child, The Winter's Tale, Alice in Wonderland, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, plus the return of holiday favorite Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol in December. New and renewing season passholders had the first opportunity to access priority seating last month. Single tickets, which are now on sale and start at $25, can be purchased at ANW's Box Office or online at anoisewithin.org.
A Noise Within Announces 2019-2020 Season
May 01, 2019A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classic repertory theatre company, is thrilled to announce its 2019-2020 season with the theme, THEY PLAYED WITH FIRE. A Noise Within's current season subscribers and donors were invited to hear the news first at an exclusive event held last night on A Noise Within's Redmond Stage.
Videos
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What The Constitution Means To Me
International City Theatre (5/2 - 5/19) | |
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Change The Game
McCadden (6/9 - 6/16) NEW MUSICAL
PHOTOS
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Mt. Joy
Hollywood Bowl (8/25 - 8/25) | |
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Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long
Hollywood Bowl (9/21 - 9/21) | |
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A Strange Loop
Ahmanson Theatre (6/5 - 6/30) | |
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Girl From the North Country
Pantages Theatre (5/14 - 6/2) | |
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Curious George: The Golden Meatball
Lewis Family Playhouse (5/11 - 5/18) | |
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Mitski
Hollywood Bowl (9/28 - 9/28) | |
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Othello
Whitmore-Lindley Theatre Center (5/10 - 5/19) | |
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