A Raisin in The Sun at American Players Theatre

Dates: (8/5/2022 - 10/7/2022 )

Theatre:

American Players Theatre

5950 Golf Course Rd
Spring Green,WI 53588

SUBMIT UPDATES

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.

Authors

Lorraine Hansberry

News About A Raisin in The Sun at American Players Theatre

Photos: First Look at THE MOORS and LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST At American Players Theatre

August 18, 2022

American Players Theatre (APT) is preparing to enter tech rehearsals for the summer’s second rep of performances to join the five shows currently playing. Lorraine Hansberry’s classic, A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Tasia A. Jones, just opened, August 13, 2022, at 8:00 pm. See photos from both productions!

Photos: First Look At A RAISIN IN THE SUN At American Players Theatre

August 10, 2022

American Players Theatre is preparing to enter tech rehearsals for the summer’s second rep of performances to join the five shows currently playing. Lorraine Hansberry’s classic, A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Tasia A. Jones, will open Saturday, August 13, 2022, at 8:00 pm. See photos from the production.

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