A Raisin in the Sun
A Raisin in the Sun is a play by Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965)[1]
The original text
The play in 1959. The title comes from the poem "Harlem" (also known as "A Dream Deferred") by Langston Hughes. The story is based upon a black family's experiences in the Washington Park Subdivision of Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood.
Written and completed in 1957, the play had its debut on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on March 11, 1959. It went on to become the first play by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway and won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play and was nominated the Tony Award for Best Play. Within two years the play had been translated into 35 languages and was being performed all over the world.
Performance history in South Africa
1992: Performed by students of the Wits School of Dramatic Art, directed by Maishe Maponya, in 1992, starring, among others, Lindani Nkosi. Set designed by Paul Roumanoff. Lighting designer: Adam Steyn assisted by Gerry Coughlan.
2003: A production as part of the Basha youth programme at the State Theatre was directed by Jerry Mofokeng.
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Raisin_in_the_Sun
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorraine_Hansberry
Programme notes of the Wits production in 1992.
The Citizen, 21 August 1992.
The Star, 3 June 2003.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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