Photo Flash: First Look at PlayMakers Rep's A RAISIN IN THE SUN and CLYBOURNE PARK

PlayMakers Repertory Company, the professional theater in residence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, offers audiences two insightful looks at race and the meaning of home in productions of "A Raisin in the Sun" and "Clybourne Park," to be performed in rotating repertory now through March 3. Get a first look at both productions in the photos below!

First produced in 1959, Lorraine Hansberry's landmark drama "A Raisin in the Sun" has become an acknowledged American masterpiece. Nominated for multiple Tony Awards, "Raisin" was the first play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway. The New York Times proclaimed that it "changed American theater forever."

In the groundbreaking story proceeds from a life insurance policy give the Younger family hope for a better life. Can their "dreams deferred" be realized by moving into a home in an all-white neighborhood when they are confronted with conflicting desires within their family and racial prejudice outside their door?

Written by Bruce Norris in 2009, "Clybourne Park" takes up the story where "Raisin" leaves off, in 1959 with a white couple selling their home to the Youngers and causing uproar among their middle class neighbors. The second act fast-forwards 50 years with neighborhood demographics radically shifted and the first family of gentrifying whites about to move into what is now a predominantly black community. Times have changed, but what about the no-holds-barred conversation about race and the politics of community?

"Clybourne Park" has been honored with the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2012 Tony Award for Best Play.

"Raisin" director Raelle Myrick-Hodges also helmed "Topdog/Underdog" (2008) and "I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me by a Young Lady From Rwanda" (2010) at PlayMakers. "Clybourne Park" director TraCy Young's work has been called "true genius" by the Los Angeles Times.

PlayMakers is based in UNC's College of Arts and Sciences. New York's Drama League has named PlayMakers one of the best regional theater companies in America and The Independent Weekly calls PlayMakers the best live theater company in the Triangle.

For a complete performance schedule, to purchase tickets and to learn about community activities scheduled in connection with the run, call (919) 962-PLAY (7529) or visit www.playmakersrep.org.

Photo Credit: Jon Gardiner for PlayMakers Repertory Company

CONSTANCE MACY as Bev and RASOOL JAHAN as Francine in CLYBOURNE PARK.

JAY OBERSKI as Russ in CLYBOURNE PARK.

JOSH TOBIN as Tom, RASOOL JAHAN as Lena, NIlan Johnson as Kevin, KELSEY DIDION as Lindsey and CONSTANCE MACY as Kathy in CLYBOURNE PARK.

RASOOL JAHAN as Lena and KELSEY DIDION as Lindsey in CLYBOURNE PARK.

MIKAAL SULAIMAN as Walter Lee Younger in A RAISIN IN THE SUN.

MIRIAM HYMAN as Beneatha Younger, MIKAAL SULAIMAN as Walter Lee Younger, DEE DEE BATTEAST as Ruth Younger, VICTOR WADDELL as Travis Younger, and seated, Kathryn Hunter-WILLIAMS as Lena Younger in A RAISIN IN THE SUN.

MIKALL SULAIMAN as Walter Lee Younger and MIRIAM HYMAN as Beneatha Younger in A RAISIN IN THE SUN.

MIRIAM HYMAN as Beneatha Younger with DEE DEE BATTEAST as Ruth Younger, in the background in A RAISIN IN THE SUN.

DEE DEE BATTEAST as Ruth Younger, MATT GARNER as Karl Lindner, MIRIAM HYMAN as Beneatha Younger, and MIKAAL SULAIMAN as Walter Lee Younger in A RAISIN IN THE SUN.

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