Lorraine Hansberry News

Racism in the housing market in the mid-20th Century was not limited to Detroit. In connection with Detroit's history of impact from race relations, urban renewal, and gentrification and in honor of Black History Month, Theatre and Dance at Wayne announces its presentation of THE RAISIN CYCLE, a series including and stemming from Lorraine Hansberry's A RAISIN IN THE SUN.

Ground-breaking American play A Raisin in the Sun begins its UK tour in the Studio Theatre from Thursday 28 January to Saturday 13 February. 

Kentwood Players proudly welcomed Mamie Hansberry, the sister of "A RAISIN IN THE SUN" playwright Lorraine Hansberry, to their production of the classic family drama on Sunday, January 10, 2016. Ms. Hansberry attended the play with several family members and shared how proud her entire family is of "everyone who has ever been a part of it." She has seen hundreds of productions in the past six decades and remarked that each member of the Kentwood Players cast "brought their own unique understanding and insights into her sister's remarkable characters."

The Matrix Theatre Company honors Black History Month with the Los Angeles premiere of The Mountaintop, directed by Obie Award-winner Roger Guenveur Smith and starring Larry Bates and Danielle Mone Truitt. Recipient of London's 2010 Olivier Award, Katori Hall's gripping and often humorous re-imagining of events the night before the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. takes on new meaning with the advent of the Black Lives Matter movement. The Mountaintop opens at the Matrix Theatre on February 6, with previews beginning January 28. (Scroll all the way down to view links to high resolution photos.)

Court's production of Satchmo will be part of a community-wide Louis Armstrong Festival, happening in partnership with The Beverly Arts Center, The Logan Center at the University of Chicago, The Promontory, South Shore Jazz Coalition, The Louis Armstrong House Museum and the Louis Armstrong Archives at Queens College New York. This community-wide festival will help audiences deepen their understanding of Armstrong's life through musical performances, historical exhibits, symposium, talk-backs and film.

Kentwood Players proudly presents Lorraine Hansberry's classic family drama "A RAISIN IN THE SUN" from Friday, January 8 through Saturday, February 13, 2016, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester, CA 90045. The production is directed by Harold Dershimer. Here's your first look at the cast! The production directed by Harold Dershimer and produced by Kathy Dershimer by special arrangement with Samuel French. Featured in the cast in alphabetical order are Rashod Davenport, Ruth Featherstone, Lawrence Hatcher, Daniel Kruger, Jean Michels, Patricia Newman, Shannon O'Connor, Damon Rutledge, Isaiah Suber, and Charlotte Williams.

With just over a week until Christmas, it is time for all of us pathological procrastinators to get our butts in gear. Whether it is braving the insanity of the mall or paying for express shipping, we need to suck it up and start Christmas shopping!

The Morrisson Theatre Chorus, under the musical direction of Cesar Cancino, will present its Holiday Concert: Special Songs for a Special Time of the Year this weekend, December 10, December 11 and December 12 at 8:00pm and December 13 at 2:00pm. The Holiday Concert will feature a selection of Classical Sacred works, Popular Holiday songs, Jazz and Gospel, as well as audience sing-a-long pieces.

THE WIZ was part of a growing trend of the 1970s when urban black stories and music were making their way to Broadway.

The Morrisson Theatre Chorus, under the musical direction of Cesar Cancino, will present its Holiday Concert: Special Songs for a Special Time of the Year on December 10, December 11 and December 12 at 8:00pm and December 13 at 2:00pm. The Holiday Concert will feature a selection of Classical Sacred works, Popular Holiday songs, Jazz and Gospel, as well as audience sing-a-long pieces.

La Jolla Playhouse, nationally-renowned for its development of new work, has announced four world-premiere productions for the 2016/2017 season, including works by Tony Award winner Joe DiPietro, Pulitzer Prize winners Quiara Alegria Hudes and Ayad Akhtar, and 2014 Barrie and Bernice Stavis Playwriting Award winner Jeff Augustin.

Court Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert, announces casting for the Midwest Premier of Terry Teachout's Satchmo at the Waldorf, directed by Charles Newell.

Following his successful directorial debut at Nuffield, Southampton, of The Glass Menagerie, Nuffield's Director Sam Hodges, announces the upcoming spring/summer 2016 season.  The new season will feature two new Nuffield co-productions, The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary! and Noises Off, alongside six visiting productions by nationally and interFollowing his successful directorial debut at Nuffield, Southampton, of The Glass Menagerie, Nuffield's Director Sam Hodges, announces the upcoming spring/summer 2016 season.nationally renowned companies.

The Secret Theatre and Artistic Director Richard Mazda are proud to announce that 19 solo shows have been chosen for the FLYING SOLO 3 festival at the Secret Theatre, the 3rd Festival of one-person shows at the theatre.

BootStrap Theater Foundation is pleased to announce the world premiere of 'Arctic Requiem: The Story of Luke Cole and Kivalina' created by Sharmon J. Hilfinger and Joan McMillen, directed by Tracy Ward. This multifaceted theatrical production will run October 23 - November 15 at San Francisco's Z Below Theater 450 Florida Street with an Opening Night on Sunday, October 25, 5 p.m.

The Secret Theatre and Artistic Director Richard Mazda are proud to announce that 19 solo shows have been chosen for the FLYING SOLO 3 festival at the Secret Theatre, the 3rd Festival of one-person shows at the theatre.

Sheffield Theatres' Artistic Director Daniel Evans today announces the company's most ambitious season to date. Highlights include three world premieres - of new plays from Richard Bean (One Man, Two Guvnors), Chris Bush and a co-production with Third Angel, a new British musical, Flowers For Mrs Harris, by Richard Taylor and Rachel Wagstaff, a regional premiere of Mike Bartlett's (Bull, Doctor Foster) Contractions and two major new productions of 20th century classics - A Raisin In The Sun and Waiting For Godot.

Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT - Founder/Producer Wren T. Brown) announced today that Garth Fagan Dance will bring to Los Angeles Fagan's tribute to the late Geoffrey Holder, 'Dance for/With Geoffrey.' Performances at the 400-seat Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (4718 W. Washington Blvd.) in Los Angeles will run this weekend, October 16-18, 2015.

Greenway Arts Alliance has announced a season of five world premieres kicking off today, September 25, with BREATHE by Javon Johnson which will run concurrently with BREATHING ROOM by Mary Lou Newmark (beginning October 3).

Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts announced playwright Christina Anderson as the 2015-16 Aetna New Voices Fellow at Hartford Stage.