Photographs by Sara Krulwich/The New York Times
Scene from the revival of Lorraine Hansberry's "Raisin in the Sun" and Tony Kushner's "Caroline, or Change."
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A Raisin in the Sun and Caroline, or Change present an unusual moment: a moment when political and theatrical interests mesh, producing something that is artistically satisfying and politically inspiring. Seen together, these works — one set partly in the basement of a middle-class Jewish household near a swamp in Louisiana in 1963, the other in a rundown apartment on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950's — offer a new and refreshing lens on our history and on the theater's potential...
Click here to read more.
Sanaa has fun in 'Sun'
Daily News Theater
Sean (P. Diddy) Combs has won critical praise in many quarters for his performance in the stage drama "A Raisin in the Sun." But to co-star Sanaa Lathan, he's just a guy who knows how to have fun. "Backstage he's like a cheerleader," says Lathan, a Tony nominee for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play.
Click here to read more.
Lorraine Hansberry (May 19, 1930 - January 12, 1965) |
The cast and creative team of A RAISIN IN THE SUN proudly honor the memory of Lorraine Hansberry on the occasion of her birthday.
"Ms. Hansberry's commitment of spirit, her creative ability and her profound grasp of the deep social issues confronting the world today will remain an inspiration to generations yet unborn."
Martin Luther King, Jr., 1965
THE CRITICS ARE RAVING ABOUT "RAISIN"
"Raisin is the smash hit drama of the spring" -- The New York Times
"A Raisin in the Sun is a hit, attracting a huge, new, young integrated audience to Broadway"
-- Entertainment Weekly
"Let's cut to the
chase: Sean Combs is damn good! Audra McDonald is glorious, Phylicia
Rashad is brilliant and Sanaa Lathan is Magnificent. Here is an
American document of time, place and relevance." --
Clive Barnes, New York Post
"Few plays have crystallized American history
as pungently as 'A Raisin in the Sun.' And Kenny Leon's production
captures Lorraine Hansberry's vision powerfully. Sean Combs exudes
charm. Phylicia Rashad brings galvanizing strength and dignity to
her role. Audra McDonald is rousing. Sanaa Lathan has joyful exuberance
and sassiness. Alexander Mitchell could not be better. Teagle F.
Bougere gives a marvelous performance. Bill Nunn has deep poignancy.
And David Aaron Baker is splendid. As solid a piece of theater as
has ever been written."
-- Howard Kissel, Daily News
Click here
to read more of what the critics had to say
photo courtesy of Fukada for NEWS |
A RAISIN IN THE SUN CELEBRATES OPENING
NIGHT
A Raisin in the Sun opened on April 26 at
the Royale Theatre. Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, Beyonce and Jay Z
were just a few of the stars to stand and cheer the most anticipated
theatrical event of the year. View photos and video clips from opening
night by selecting one of the links below.
The cast of Kenny Leon's Broadway
production of A Raisin in the Sun: Sanaa Lathan, Alexander
Mitchell, Audra McDonald, Phylicia Rashad, and Sean 'P.
Diddy' Combs photographed in New York City on March 11,
2004 by Annie Leibowitz. Read the complete story in the
May issue of Vanity Fair.
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'Recasting a Classic'
Essence Magazine Looks at Lorraine Hansberry's 'A RAISIN
IN THE SUN' - 45 Years Later.
Click
here to read more.
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'Raisin' director Kenny Leon Selected
to People Magazine's list of the 50 Most Beautiful
People
Click
here to read more.
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Sean Combs on ABC's THE VIEW
Sean Combs discussed "A Raisin in the Sun" on ABC's THE VIEW on Thursday, May 20.
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Sean Combs Discusses 'A Raisin in the Sun' on Live Regis and Kelly
Sean Combs discussed 'A Raisin in the Sun' on Live with Regis and Kelly on Friday, May 14th.
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CBS 2's Dana Tyler Interviews the Cast
of A RAISIN IN THE SUN
CBS 2's Dana Tyler sat down with Sean Combs,
Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald and Sanaa Lathan. Click
here here for a video stream of the interviews and clips from
the show.
The sun is shining on 'Raisin' this awards
season!
- Congratulations Phylicia Rashad! Drama Desk
Award -- Best Actress in a Play
- Congratulations Audra McDonald! Drama Desk
Award -- Best Featured Actress in a Play
- Congratulations Audra McDonald - Winner -
Outer Critics Circle Award--Outstanding Featured Actress in a
Play/'A Raisin in the Sun'
- Congratulations Sanaa Lathan - Theater World
Award winner for her Broadway debut in 'A Raisin in the Sun'
- 2004 Drama League Award nomination: Distinguished
Revival of a Play
Sean Combs & Sanaa Lathan discussed "A
Raisin in the Sun" with Tavis Similey on NPR.
Click
here to listen to the interview.
P. Diddy's Broadway Crash Course
New York Times
At the beginning of this year, Sean Combs,
who is not only one of the biggest, but also one of the
most frequently changed, names in hip-hop, underwent another
one of his famous transformations. He had already gone by
Puffy (starting in high school), Puff Daddy (in his early
days as an impresario) and P. Diddy (after he was acquitted
of charges of bribery and gun possession). But after prolonged
consultation with Susan Batson, the woman he calls "my
guru, coach, hero," he quietly started asking friends
to refer to him as Walter Lee.
Click
here to read more.
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Ruby Washington/The
New York Times
Sean Combs with his "guru, coach, hero" Susan
Batson at the Royale Theater. |
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Drama Queen
Musical darling Audra McDonald expands her range
with A Raisin in the Sun
As Audra McDonald's fans know, it's been
three long years since she was in a Broadway musical, Michael
John LaChiusa's bloody operetta Marie Christine.
Click
here to read more.
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Sean Combs Performs LIVE on MTV's TRL
Sean Combs discussed "A RAISIN IN THE
SUN" live on MTV's TRL on April 28.
Sean Combs and Sanaa Lathan appeared on BET's 106 and Park
on Wednesday April 21st. |
RAISIN cast appears on THE TODAY
SHOW
Sean Combs, Audra McDonald, Phylicia Rashad and Sanaa Lathan
appeared live on THE TODAY SHOW (NBC) on Monday, April 19th! |
Who Says Black Theater Is Having a Tough Time?
New York Times
This is, by most accounts, a tough time to be running a black theater
company in the United States. Nationwide, black companies have cut
programming and reduced staff. Some troupes have had to cancel shows
or, like the Tony Award-winning Crossroads Theater in New Brunswick,
N.J., suspend production in recent years. Other respected companies,
like the Freedom Theater in Philadelphia and the New Jomandi in
Atlanta, have struggled financially as public and private support
continues to dwindle.
In the midst of this downsizing,
however, Kenny Leon has decided to raise the stakes. Mr. Leon, the
director of a new $2.6 million Broadway revival of "A Raisin
in the Sun," which is to open April 26 at the Royale Theater
starring Sean Combs, Audra McDonald and Phylicia Rashad, faces the
biggest commercial challenge in his career, because "Raisin"
is probably the most closely watched revival on Broadway this spring.
Click
here to read more.
45 Years Ago, a 'Raisin' to Cheer
Revival of Hansberry Play Stirs Memories of a Racial Milestone
The Washington Post
There was nothing like it on Broadway, which made
it all the more powerful and beautiful and mesmerizing and tender.
A great billowing curtain had been thrown back on a whole people,
a whole race. The whole production had a leaping, antic, ferocious
quality to it, as if the playwright planned to split something wide
open, right in front of that first-night audience.
Click
here to read more.
Associated Press
A
day of long rehearsals for a revival of "A Raisin in the Sun"
have come to an end, and only one actor remains in the room: Sean
Combs.
Combs, tired and drained, sits by
a wooden table that is part of the bare-bones, makeshift set in
a rehearsal room at Radio City Music Hall. All traces of the hip-hop
mogul are gone - he's without his typical diamond stud earrings,
blinding watch and other remnants of bling-bling nation, and his
suit looks more Kmart than Versace. Only the "God's Child"
tattoo on his neck, peeking from behind his white shirt, reminds
us of the rap impresario.
Click
here to read more.
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