Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun debuted on Broadway in 1959 and later received two staged revivals in 2004 and 2014. Raisin, the musical adaptation of the play, won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1974, but ask yourself the last time you’ve seen it on stage in NYC.
The answer: 35 years ago (35!?!?!).
Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) proudly presents a strictly limited engagement this month, and we couldn’t be more excited to see the stirring story of a Black family’s struggle, in the face of change, back on stage.
With a book by Robert Nemiroff and Charlotte Zaltzberg, Raisin tells the story of Walter Lee Younger and his mother, Lena, as they argue over the spending of insurance money. He wants to start a business with friends, while she eagerly hopes to move the family out of the South Side and into Clybourne Park, a middle-class white neighborhood. Pulsing with the beat of Judd
Pulsing with the beat of Judd Woldin’s music and lyrics penned by Robert Brittan, Raisin shows two sides of a coin on the idea of the “American Dream” in the context of the segregated 1950s Chicago.
Under the direction of APAC’s Artistic Director, Dev Bondarin, the cast includes: Maia Bedford, Aaron Casey*, Shabazz Green*, Chris Gwynn*, Marcie Henderson*, Greg Horton*, Brandi Knox*, Billy Lowrimore, Ebony Marshall-Oliver*, Sarita Amani Nash, Warren Nolan, Jr.*, Chinua B. Payne, Tony Perry*, Joi Danielle Price*, Vanessa Robinson, Alicia Thomas, Cartreze Tucker.
This program is supported in part by public funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and NYSCA, with special thanks to Council Member Costa Constantinides. This program has been proudly supported by a grant from Investors Foundation. APAC presents Raisin by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.
Raisin runs from May 4 through May 27, at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent Street at 30th Road, Astoria, Queens. Performances take place on Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $18, with $12 tickets for students and seniors.
But for our dedicated Broadway Black followers:
APAC is so excited to see you at the show that they’re teaming up with Broadway Black to offer readers a special discount of $3 off adult tickets — just enter code BWAYBLACK at checkout to get your discount!
Purchase tickets and learn more information at APAC.
(* denotes member of the Actor’s Equity Association)
