A Raisin in the Sun
Full Length Play, Drama / 7m, 3f, 1boy(s)
"Pivotal play in the history of the American Black theatre." - Newsweek
A Raisin in the Sun
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Cast Size
7m, 3f, 1boy(s)Subgenre
PeriodAccolades
Tony, From BroadwaySuggested Use
- Cutting Approved for Competition
- UIL Approved
- Competition or audition material
Target Audience
- Adult
Additional Info
Set on Chicago’s South Side, the plot revolves around the divergent dreams and conflicts within 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. The tensions and prejudice they face form this seminal American drama. The Younger family’s heroic struggle to retain dignity in a harsh and changing world is a searing and timeless document of hope and inspiration.
Accolades
- Winner! 2014 Tony® Awards: Best Revival of a Play, Best Director of a Play, Best Supporting Actress
Nominee! 2014 Drama Desk Awards: Best Actor & Best Supporting Actress in a Revival
Nominee! 2014 Outer Critics Circle, Best Supporting Actress in a Revival
Winner! 1959 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, Best Play of the Year
Reviews
REVIEWS
"Pivotal play in the history of the American Black theatre." - Newsweek
"A milestone in the American Theatre." - Ebony
Videos
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Denzel Washington & Co. on "A Raisin in the Sun" - Broadway.com
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A Raisin in the Sun - Timeline Theatre Company
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A Raisin in the Sun: An Introduction
Considerations
Performing Groups
- High School/Secondary
- College Theatre / Student
- Community Theatre
- Professional Theatre
- Reader's Theatre
Cautions
- Mild Adult Themes
License details
- Minimum Fee: $100 per performance
Production
Details
- Time Period: 1950s
- Setting: The Youngers' apartment in the slums of Chicago's Southside, 1950s.
- Features / Contains: Period Costumes
Music
- Musical Style: N/A (Not a musical)
- Vocal Demands: N/A (Not a musical)
- Chorus Size: N/A (Not a musical)
Casting
7m, 3f, 1boy(s)RUTH YOUNGER
TRAVIS YOUNGER
WALTER LEE YOUNGER
BENEATHA YOUNGER
LENA YOUNGER (MAMA)
JOSEPH ASAGAI
GEORGE MURCHISON
BOBO
KARL LINDER
MOVING MEN
Cast Attributes
- Role(s) for Black Actor(s)
- Multicultural casting
- Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle)
Resources
Scripts
More
Authors
Lorraine Hansberry
When Lorraine Hansberry’s (1930-1965) A Raisin in the Sun appeared on Broadway in 1959, the artist became at twenty-nine the youngest American playwright, the fifth woman, and the only African American to date to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play of the Year. The play represented a landmark. In ...
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A Raisin in the Sun was first presented at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City on March 11, 1959. Directed by Lloyd Richards.
Community Experiences