A Raisin in the Sun
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A Raisin in the Sun is a play from 1959 by Lorraine Hansberry. It is the story of the Younger family, based on Hansberry's own experiences growing up in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood. A Raisin in the Sun was the first play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway. The title comes from a poem by Langston Hughes.
The play concerns the working-class Younger family, who dream of leaving behind the dilapidated tenement apartment where they have lived for decades. Son Walter, a chauffeur, dreams of making a fortune by investing in a liquor store, but foolishly gives his money to a con artist. His sister Beneatha, a somewhat flighty college student, tries to find her identity and embraces a "back to Africa" philosophy of a Nigerian friend. Their mother, the matriarch, realizes her late husband's dream of buying a home, but the house is in an all-white neighborhood. A racist neighbor who feigns friendliness and shows good intentions tries to buy them out to prevent the neighborhood's integration. However, Walter takes a stand and refuses to be intimidated or bought out; in this, he stops deferring his family's dreams and helps them advance.
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Other versions
In 1961, A Raisin in the Sun was adapted into a feature film starring its first-run Broadway cast of Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Roy Glenn and Claudia McNeil.
In 1973, the play was turned into an acclaimed musical, Raisin.
In 1989, it was adapted into a made for TV movie starring Danny Glover and Esther Rolle.
Revival on Broadway
The play was revived for a limited run of fifteen weeks on Broadway in 2004 at the Royale Theatre. The revival featured Tony Award winning performances from Phylicia Rashad and Audra McDonald, a Tony Award nominated performance from Sanaa Lathan and the well publicized performance of Sean Combs. The show recouped quickly and became the second highest grossing play in Broadway history. The production was noted for attracting a diverse audience and repeatedly breaking ticket sale records at the Royale.
Trivia
Spike Lee's 1994 film Crooklyn is heavily influenced by A Raisin in the Sun.