The opening scene of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun presents the Youngers, a poor and black family in 1950s America, with a tough decision: how to spend an insurance check worth $10,000 -- more money than any of them have ever had -- now that the patriarch of their family has died. How will this family cope with the loss of a loved one and the renewed hope for the future?
Find out at Live Arts' production of Hansberry's critically-acclaimed play, opening April 29.
A Raisin in the Sun was the first dramatic play written by an African American and performed on Broadway by an all African-American cast. First performed on Broadway in 1959, it realistically portrays the struggles of a black family in a white world.
The main conflict of the play centers on the Youngers decision of what to do with the insurance money. As the story develops, the Youngers are also confronted with difficult issues such as abortion, poverty, discrimination and African-American identity.
Live Arts Director Satch Huizenga said he continues to be impressed by Hansberry's serious yet poetic story and the fact that she was in her 20s when she wrote the play.
"For being as young as she was, the color she was and during those times ... it's phenomenal," he said.
In order to maintain the original beauty and naturalness of Hansberry's play, Huizenga has combined the 1960 Penguin edition of the play, now out of print, with the made-for-TV screenplay.
People familiar with the TV version will notice one character -- Mrs. Johnson -- missing from Live Arts' production. Mrs. Johnson was the Youngers' outspoken neighbor who threw around derogatory racial terms at the expense of whites. Huizenga said he believes the character was just included for comic effect and cut the role out altogether.
The production includes an all African-American cast from the Charlottesville community, including three University students. Graduate Acting student Ebenezer Quaye will step into the role of Walter Lee Younger, the play's protagonist. Fourth-year College student Erin Stewart will portray Walter's sister, Beneatha, and third-year College student Darren Nelson will play one of Beneatha's love interests, George.
Many people may be familiar with A Raisin in the Sun because of its recent success on Broadway in a revival featuring Sean "P. Diddy" Combs as Walter Lee.
However, the play's relevance to today's society should help to attract a larger audience to Live Arts' production than people who already know the play. When asked about his hopes for this production, Huizenga said diverse audiences would benefit from the play's racial themes.
"It'd be ideal to see people from down the road come to see it," he said.
Huizenga said he would also like to see more plays like A Raisin in the Sun that address complex social issues performed at Live Arts. Huizenga said that in order to make the community aware of the social injustices that still exist: "We have to keep doing this kind of work."
One play that Huizenga said he would like to see follow in the footsteps of A Raisin in the Sun is Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train, by Stephen Adly Guirgis, a story of two men in prison struggling with faith and the intricate workings of the criminal justice system.
The story of the Younger family will hopefully provide audiences not only with good drama but with a play that has a meaningful community impact. A Raisin in the Sun will be playing from April 29 to May 21 at Live Arts' Downstage. Tickets are $10-$17.
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