A Raisin in the Sun at Arena Stage

Dates: (3/31/2017 - 4/30/2017 )

Theatre:

Arena Stage

1101 Sixth Street, SW
Washington,DC

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Phone: 2024883300

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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.

Authors

Lorraine Hansberry

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Where is Arena Stage located?

Arena Stage is at 1101 Sixth Street, SW, Washington, DC.

What is the history of Arena Stage ?

Arena Stage is alive as a center for American theater. The Artistic Development Department operationalizes the artistic vision and mission of Arena by stewarding the current season and imagining and building a robust pipeline for a bright artistic future for the company and field. Guided by the vision of Artistic Director Molly Smith, and funded in part by Arlene and Robert Kogod, our American Voices programs and initiatives focus on advancing artists and audiences.

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