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A Raisin in the Sun: A Deep Dive into Lorraine Hansberry's Masterpiece
Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" isn't just a play; it's a searing indictment of racial prejudice and the relentless pursuit of the American Dream in the face of insurmountable odds. This post offers a comprehensive exploration of the play, delving into its themes, characters, symbolism, and lasting impact. We'll unpack its complex narrative, analyzing its enduring relevance in contemporary society and providing you with the tools to understand and appreciate this theatrical masterpiece. Prepare to be moved, challenged, and inspired by the struggles and triumphs of the Younger family.
The Younger Family: A Portrait of a Struggling Community
At the heart of "A Raisin in the Sun" lies the Younger family, a Black family living in cramped, impoverished conditions in Chicago's South Side during the 1950s. The play masterfully portrays their internal conflicts and external pressures, showcasing the multifaceted nature of the human experience within a deeply stratified society.
Lena Younger (Mama): The matriarch, Lena, embodies strength, resilience, and unwavering hope. Her dreams, often juxtaposed against the harsh realities of her life, drive the narrative. She represents the weight of tradition and the yearning for a better future for her family.
Walter Lee Younger: Walter, Lena's son, is a complex character, caught between his aspirations and his frustrations. His desire to escape poverty leads him down a path of questionable choices, highlighting the corrosive effects of societal limitations and the pressure to provide for his family. His struggles resonate deeply with audiences, portraying the complexities of ambition and the dangers of desperation.
Ruth Younger: Walter's wife, Ruth, is a practical and resilient woman burdened by the weight of her responsibilities. Her quiet strength and unwavering support for her family are often overlooked, underscoring the strength of women navigating difficult circumstances.
Beneatha Younger: Walter's sister, Beneatha, represents the younger generation's aspirations. Her pursuit of education and independence clashes with the traditional expectations placed upon her, symbolizing the struggle for self-discovery and the pursuit of individual fulfillment within a restrictive societal framework.
Travis Younger: The youngest member of the family, Travis, represents innocence and the hope for a brighter future. His presence serves as a constant reminder of the stakes involved in the family's struggle for survival and advancement.
Themes Explored in "A Raisin in the Sun"
Hansberry masterfully weaves together several interconnected themes that resonate deeply with audiences across generations.
The American Dream: A Shattered Ideal?
The play powerfully explores the American Dream's elusive nature, particularly for African Americans facing systemic racism and economic disparity. The Younger family's pursuit of homeownership becomes a powerful symbol of this struggle, highlighting the obstacles they encounter in achieving their aspirations.
Racial Prejudice and Discrimination: An Unseen Oppressor
The play unflinchingly portrays the pervasive racism of the 1950s, exposing the insidious ways in which prejudice manifests itself. The Younger family faces open hostility and subtle discrimination, highlighting the systemic barriers they encounter in achieving their goals. The play serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight against racial injustice.
Family Dynamics and Intergenerational Conflicts: A Tapestry of Relationships
"A Raisin in the Sun" explores the complexities of family relationships, showcasing the tensions and reconciliations within the Younger household. The play highlights the differing perspectives and aspirations of each family member, revealing the challenges of navigating generational differences and shared experiences.
The Power of Hope and Perseverance: A Light in the Darkness
Despite the numerous obstacles they face, the Younger family's enduring hope and perseverance are central to the play. Their unwavering determination to overcome adversity serves as a testament to the human spirit's resilience and the power of collective effort in the face of immense challenges.
Symbolism and Literary Devices in the Play
Hansberry employs various symbols and literary devices to enrich the play's themes and enhance its emotional impact. The plant, representing Mama's hopes and dreams, is a powerful symbol of growth and resilience. The apartment itself symbolizes confinement and the limitations imposed by poverty and racism. The play's title, derived from Langston Hughes' poem "Harlem," sets the stage for the themes of deferred dreams and the potential for both destruction and rebirth.
The Enduring Legacy of "A Raisin in the Sun"
"A Raisin in the Sun" remains a relevant and powerful work of art because it explores timeless themes that continue to resonate with audiences today. The play’s exploration of racial inequality, economic disparity, and family dynamics continues to prompt crucial conversations about social justice and the human condition. Its impact on theater and society is undeniable, serving as a catalyst for change and a testament to the power of storytelling.
Conclusion:
Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" is more than just a play; it's a cultural touchstone, a testament to the enduring power of hope, and a powerful indictment of social injustice. Its enduring popularity lies in its relatable characters, its exploration of universal themes, and its unwavering commitment to portraying the human experience with honesty and compassion. It’s a play that deserves to be studied, discussed, and experienced by generations to come.
FAQs:
1. What is the central conflict in "A Raisin in the Sun"? The central conflict revolves around the Younger family's struggle to overcome poverty and racial prejudice while pursuing their individual dreams. This manifests in internal conflicts between family members and external conflicts with societal forces.
2. What is the significance of the play's title? The title, taken from Langston Hughes' poem, symbolizes the potential for dreams to wither and die if denied fulfillment, but also hints at the potential for growth and renewal.
3. How does the play depict the role of women? The play showcases strong, resilient women who navigate difficult circumstances with grace and determination. Ruth and Mama represent the strength and resilience of women in the face of adversity.
4. What is the significance of the setting in Chicago's South Side? The setting underscores the economic and social limitations placed upon African Americans in the 1950s, highlighting the realities of racial segregation and poverty.
5. Why is "A Raisin in the Sun" still relevant today? The play’s themes of racial inequality, economic disparity, and family dynamics continue to resonate with contemporary audiences, making it a timeless and relevant work of art that continues to spark crucial conversations about social justice and the human condition.
| raisin in the sun play: A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry, 2021 Set in 1950s Chicago, 'A Raisin in the Sun' is the classic play about a black family's struggle for equality. The play was originally published in the USA in 1959 but has since become a standard text in American schools. |
| raisin in the sun play: A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry, 2016-11-01 A Raisin in the Sun reflects Lorraine Hansberry's childhood experiences in segregated Chicago. This electrifying masterpiece has enthralled audiences and has been heaped with critical accolades. The play that changed American theatre forever - The New York Times. Edition Description |
| raisin in the sun play: Reimagining A Raisin in the Sun Rebecca Ann Rugg, Harvey Young, 2012-04-15 This book is a collection of four contemporary plays that reflect the themes of racial and cultural difference of Lorraine Hansberry's 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun. |
| raisin in the sun play: A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry, Jim Cocola, 2002 Get your A in gear! They're today's most popular study guides-with everything you need to succeed in school. Written by Harvard students for students, since its inception SparkNotes(TM) has developed a loyal community of dedicated users and become a major education brand. Consumer demand has been so strong that the guides have expanded to over 150 titles. SparkNotes'(TM) motto is Smarter, Better, Faster because: - They feature the most current ideas and themes, written by experts. - They're easier to understand, because the same people who use them have also written them. - The clear writing style and edited content enables students to read through the material quickly, saving valuable time. And with everything covered--context; plot overview; character lists; themes, motifs, and symbols; summary and analysis, key facts; study questions and essay topics; and reviews and resources--you don't have to go anywhere else! |
| raisin in the sun play: City of Gold MEYNE. WYATT, 2019-07-26 Young actor Breythe left Kalgoorlie dreaming of a dazzling career.Now he's found himself starring in a controversial Australia Day ad that pays big, but draws the ire of his mob. Racism is subtle but persistent in an industry where directors request he darken up for 'authenticity' and typecast him as 'tracker', 'drinker' or 'thief'. Returning home, Breythes just as alienated from country and lore. His cultural capital distances him from furious brother Mateo and activist sister Carina, all of them struggling with regret and responsibility after their fathers death. Meyne Wyatt burst onto the acting scene in 2011s Silent Disco at Griffin, going on to grace our screens (The Sapphires, Redfern Now, Mystery Road) and star on the Broadway stage (Peter Pan). Now he returns to the Stables as a playwright who is as courageous as he is merciless. It may be unclear where character ends and creator begins. City of Gold is a howl of rage at the injustice, inequality and wilful amnesia of this countrys 21st century. Its an urgent play for our moment from a vital new voice. As Childish Gambino sings across the Pacific This is America, Meyne Wyatt calls back loudly This is Australia. |
| raisin in the sun play: Lorraine Hansberry: The Life Behind A Raisin in the Sun Charles J. Shields, 2022-01-18 The moving story of the life of the woman behind A Raisin in the Sun, the most widely anthologized, read, and performed play of the American stage, by the New York Times bestselling author of Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee Written when she was just twenty-eight, Lorraine Hansberry’s landmark A Raisin in the Sun is listed by the National Theatre as one of the hundred most significant works of the twentieth century. Hansberry was the first Black woman to have a play performed on Broadway, and the first Black and youngest American playwright to win a New York Critics’ Circle Award. Charles J. Shields’s authoritative biography of one of the twentieth century’s most admired playwrights examines the parts of Lorraine Hansberry’s life that have escaped public knowledge: the influence of her upper-class background, her fight for peace and nuclear disarmament, the reason why she embraced Communism during the Cold War, and her dependence on her white husband—her best friend, critic, and promoter. Many of the identity issues about class, sexuality, and race that she struggled with are relevant and urgent today. This dramatic telling of a passionate life—a very American life through self-reinvention—uses previously unpublished interviews with close friends in politics and theater, privately held correspondence, and deep research to reconcile old mysteries and raise new questions about a life not fully described until now. |
| raisin in the sun play: The Sun-Maid Raisins Play Book B. Alison Weir, 1999 Invites little fingers to dive into a box of raisins as they help decorate everything from cookies to ladybugs to snowmen. |
| raisin in the sun play: Claudette Colvin Phillip Hoose, 2009-01-20 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER AND NEWBERY HONOR BOOK ● Before Rosa Parks, there was 15-year-old Claudette Colvin. Read the first in-depth account of an important yet largely unknown civil rights figure in this multi-award winning, mega-selling biography from the incomparable Phillip Hoose. “When it comes to justice, there is no easy way to get it. You can't sugarcoat it. You have to take a stand and say, ‘This is not right.’” —Claudette Colvin On March 2, 1955, an impassioned teenager, fed up with the daily injustices of Jim Crow segregation, refused to give her seat to a white woman on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Instead of being celebrated as Rosa Parks would be just nine months later, fifteen-year-old Claudette Colvin found herself shunned by her classmates and dismissed by community leaders. Undaunted, a year later she dared to challenge segregation again as a key plaintiff in Browder v. Gayle, the landmark case that struck down the segregation laws of Montgomery and swept away the legal underpinnings of the Jim Crow South. Based on extensive interviews with Claudette Colvin and many others, Phillip Hoose presents the first major biography of a remarkable civil rights hero, skillfully weaving her riveting story into the fabric of the historic Montgomery bus boycott and court case that would change the course of American history. Awards and Praise for Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice National Book Award Winner A Newbery Honor Book A YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Finalist A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book Amazon.com 100 Biographies and Memoirs to Read in a Lifetime “Hoose's book, based in part on interviews with Colvin and people who knew her—finally gives her the credit she deserves.” —The New York Times Book Review “Claudette's eloquent bravery is unforgettable.” —The Wall Street Journal ★ “This inspiring title shows the incredible difference that a single young person can make.” —Booklist, starred review |
| raisin in the sun play: Raisin Judd Woldin, Robert Nemiroff, Charlotte Zaltzberg, Robert Brittan, 1978 Based on Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun. Musical Drama / 9m, 6f, chorus and extras / Unit set This winner of Tony and Grammy awards as Best Musical ran for three years on Broadway and enjoyed a record breaking national tour. A proud family's quest for a better life meets conflicts that span three generations and set the stage for a drama rich in emotion and laughter. Taking place on Chicago's Southside, it explodes in song, dance, drama and comedy. Pure magic ... dazzling! Tremen |
| raisin in the sun play: Looking for Lorraine Imani Perry, 2018-09-18 Winner of the 2019 PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography Winner of the Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Nonfiction Winner of the Shilts-Grahn Triangle Award for Lesbian Nonfiction Winner of the 2019 Phi Beta Kappa Christian Gauss Award A New York Times Notable Book of 2018 A revealing portrait of one of the most gifted and charismatic, yet least understood, Black artists and intellectuals of the twentieth century. Lorraine Hansberry, who died at thirty-four, was by all accounts a force of nature. Although best-known for her work A Raisin in the Sun, her short life was full of extraordinary experiences and achievements, and she had an unflinching commitment to social justice, which brought her under FBI surveillance when she was barely in her twenties. While her close friends and contemporaries, like James Baldwin and Nina Simone, have been rightly celebrated, her story has been diminished and relegated to one work—until now. In 2018, Hansberry will get the recognition she deserves with the PBS American Masters documentary “Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart” and Imani Perry’s multi-dimensional, illuminating biography, Looking for Lorraine. After the success of A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry used her prominence in myriad ways: challenging President Kennedy and his brother to take bolder stances on Civil Rights, supporting African anti-colonial leaders, and confronting the romantic racism of the Beat poets and Village hipsters. Though she married a man, she identified as lesbian and, risking censure and the prospect of being outed, joined one of the nation’s first lesbian organizations. Hansberry associated with many activists, writers, and musicians, including Malcolm X, Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, Paul Robeson, W.E.B. Du Bois, among others. Looking for Lorraine is a powerful insight into Hansberry’s extraordinary life—a life that was tragically cut far too short. A Black Caucus of the American Library Association Honor Book for Nonfiction A 2019 Pauli Murray Book Prize Finalist |
| raisin in the sun play: A Reader's Guide to Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun Pamela Loos, 2008-01-01 Presents a critique and analysis of A Raisin in the Sun, discussing the plot, themes, dramatic devices, and major characters in the play, and includes a brief overview of Hansberry's other works. |
| raisin in the sun play: Sally's Baking Addiction Sally McKenney, 2016-10-11 Updated with a brand-new selection of desserts and treats, the fully illustrated Sally's Baking Addiction cookbook offers more than 80 scrumptious recipes for indulging your sweet tooth—featuring a chapter of healthier dessert options, including some vegan and gluten-free recipes. It's no secret that Sally McKenney loves to bake. Her popular blog, Sally's Baking Addiction, has become a trusted source for fellow dessert lovers who are also eager to bake from scratch. Sally's famous recipes include award-winning Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Cookies, No-Bake Peanut Butter Banana Pie, delectable Dark Chocolate Butterscotch Cupcakes, and yummy Marshmallow Swirl S'mores Fudge. Find tried-and-true sweet recipes for all kinds of delicious: Breads & Muffins Breakfasts Brownies & Bars Cakes, Pies & Crisps Candy & Sweet Snacks Cookies Cupcakes Healthier Choices With tons of simple, easy-to-follow recipes, you get all of the sweet with none of the fuss! Hungry for more? Learn to create even more irresistible sweets with Sally’s Candy Addiction and Sally’s Cookie Addiction. |
| raisin in the sun play: The Guest Book Sarah Blake, 2019-05-07 Instant New York Times Bestseller Longlisted for Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence 2020 New England Society Book Award Winner for Fiction “The Guest Book is monumental in a way that few novels dare attempt.” —The Washington Post The thought-provoking new novel by New York Times bestselling author Sarah Blake An exquisitely written, poignant family saga that illuminates the great divide, the gulf that separates the rich and poor, black and white, Protestant and Jew. Spanning three generations, The Guest Book deftly examines the life and legacy of one unforgettable family as they navigate the evolving social and political landscape from Crockett’s Island, their family retreat off the coast of Maine. Blake masterfully lays bare the memories and mistakes each generation makes while coming to terms with what it means to inherit the past. |
| raisin in the sun play: Spoon River Anthology Edgar Lee Masters, 2012-03-02 DIVAn American poetry classic, in which former citizens of a mythical midwestern town speak touchingly from the grave of the thwarted hopes and dreams of their lives. /div |
| raisin in the sun play: You Can't Go Home Again Thomas Wolfe, 2011-10-11 Now available from Thomas Wolfe’s original publisher, the final novel by the literary legend, that “will stand apart from everything else that he wrote” (The New York Times Book Review)—first published in 1940 and long considered a classic of twentieth century literature. A twentieth-century classic, Thomas Wolfe’s magnificent novel is both the story of a young writer longing to make his mark upon the world and a sweeping portrait of America and Europe from the Great Depression through the years leading up to World War II. Driven by dreams of literary success, George Webber has left his provincial hometown to make his name as a writer in New York City. When his first novel is published, it brings him the fame he has sought, but it also brings the censure of his neighbors back home, who are outraged by his depiction of them. Unsettled by their reaction and unsure of himself and his future, Webber begins a search for a greater understanding of his artistic identity that takes him deep into New York’s hectic social whirl; to London with an uninhibited group of expatriates; and to Berlin, lying cold and sinister under Hitler’s shadow. He discovers a world plagued by political uncertainty and on the brink of transformation, yet he finds within himself the capacity to meet it with optimism and a renewed love for his birthplace. He is a changed man yet a hopeful one, awake to the knowledge that one can never fully “go back home to your family, back home to your childhood…away from all the strife and conflict of the world…back home to the old forms and systems of things which once seemed everlasting but which are changing all the time.” |
| raisin in the sun play: A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry, 1995-08-22 The hopes and aspirations of a struggling, working-class family living on the South Side of Chicago. |
| raisin in the sun play: White Pearl Anchuli Felicia King, 2022-11-08 It's just a fun ad. Now the whole world is going crazy. In Singapore, Clearday(TM) has developed from a small startup into a leading international cosmetic brand in less than a year. But when a draft of the company's latest skin cream advert is leaked, the video goes viral globally for all the wrong reasons. YouTube views are in the thousands and keep climbing; anger is building on social media; and journalists are starting to cover the story. This is an international PR nightmare; the company cannot be seen to be racist, they've got to get it taken down before America wakes up. |
| raisin in the sun play: Half of a Yellow Sun Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 2010-10-29 With her award-winning debut novel, Purple Hibiscus, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was heralded by the Washington Post Book World as the “21st century daughter” of Chinua Achebe. Now, in her masterly, haunting new novel, she recreates a seminal moment in modern African history: Biafra’s impassioned struggle to establish an independent republic in Nigeria during the 1960s. With the effortless grace of a natural storyteller, Adichie weaves together the lives of five characters caught up in the extraordinary tumult of the decade. Fifteen-year-old Ugwu is houseboy to Odenigbo, a university professor who sends him to school, and in whose living room Ugwu hears voices full of revolutionary zeal. Odenigbo’s beautiful mistress, Olanna, a sociology teacher, is running away from her parents’ world of wealth and excess; Kainene, her urbane twin, is taking over their father’s business; and Kainene’s English lover, Richard, forms a bridge between their two worlds. As we follow these intertwined lives through a military coup, the Biafran secession and the subsequent war, Adichie brilliantly evokes the promise, and intimately, the devastating disappointments that marked this time and place. Epic, ambitious and triumphantly realized, Half of a Yellow Sun is a more powerful, dramatic and intensely emotional picture of modern Africa than any we have had before. |
| raisin in the sun play: Faith, Hope, and Ivy June Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, 2009-06-09 When push comes to shove, two Kentucky girls find strength in each other. Ivy June Mosely and Catherine Combs, two girls from different parts of Kentucky, are participating in the first seventh-grade student exchange program between their schools. The girls will stay at each other’s homes, attend school together, and record their experience in their journals. Catherine and her family have a beautiful home with plenty of space. Since Ivy June’s house is crowded, she lives with her grandparents. Her Pappaw works in the coal mines supporting four generations of kinfolk. Ivy June can’t wait until he leaves that mine forever and retires. As the girls get closer, they discover they’re more alike than different, especially when they face the terror of not knowing what’s happening to those they love most. |
| raisin in the sun play: Twelve Angry Men Reginald Rose, 2006-08-29 A landmark American drama that inspired a classic film and a Broadway revival—featuring an introduction by David Mamet A blistering character study and an examination of the American melting pot and the judicial system that keeps it in check, Twelve Angry Men holds at its core a deeply patriotic faith in the U.S. legal system. The play centers on Juror Eight, who is at first the sole holdout in an 11-1 guilty vote. Eight sets his sights not on proving the other jurors wrong but rather on getting them to look at the situation in a clear-eyed way not affected by their personal prejudices or biases. Reginald Rose deliberately and carefully peels away the layers of artifice from the men and allows a fuller picture to form of them—and of America, at its best and worst. After the critically acclaimed teleplay aired in 1954, this landmark American drama went on to become a cinematic masterpiece in 1957 starring Henry Fonda, for which Rose wrote the adaptation. More recently, Twelve Angry Men had a successful, and award-winning, run on Broadway. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. |
| raisin in the sun play: It's Raining Tacos! Parry Gripp, 2021-06-22 Wildly fun and full of laugh-out-loud antics, this interactive sing-along is a zany romp sure to capture fans of Giraffes Can’t Dance and Dragons Love Tacos. Shell we dance? Taco-bout irresistible! Jam out to the catchy, toe-tapping tune “Raining Tacos” from YouTube sensation Parry Gripp, featuring everyone’s favorite treat! This spec-taco-ular, goofy song, with new, never-before-sung lyrics, is perfect for sharing, so grab a few friends—young or old—and get ready to crunch your way to a good time! It's raining tacos, from out of the sky. Tacos, no need to ask why. Just open your mouth and close your eyes. It's raining tacos! |
| raisin in the sun play: Ah! Wilderness Eugene O'Neill, 1995 An affectionate and witty comedy of recollection from one of the twentieth century's most significant writers. This edition includes a full introduction, biographical sketch and chronology. |
| raisin in the sun play: Norah Jones - Come Away with Me Norah Jones, 2002-11-01 (Piano/Vocal/Guitar Artist Songbook). Come Away with Me stole the show at the Grammy Awards, winning an astonishing five major honors. We're proud to present piano/vocal/guitar arrangements to this bestselling debut album featuring the smash hit single and the Song of the Year Don't Know Why and 13 others: Cold, Cold Heart * Come Away with Me * Feelin' the Same Way * I've Got to See You Again * Lonestar * The Long Day Is Over * The Nearness of You * Nightingale * One Flight Down * Painter Song * Seven Years * Shoot the Moon * Turn Me On. |
| raisin in the sun play: Sidney Poitier Aram Goudsouzian, 2004 The life and career of Sidney Poitier are analyzed in this biography of the actor, highlighting his work as the only black leading man during the civil rights era and the honors he has received for his work for racial equality in Hollywood. |
| raisin in the sun play: The Westing Game Ellen Raskin, 2020-10-13 A Newbery Medal Winner For over thirty-five years, Ellen Raskin's Newbery Medal-winning The Westing Game has been an enduring favorite. This highly inventive mystery involves sixteen people who are invited to the reading of Samuel W. Westing's will. They could become millionaires-it all depends on how they play the tricky and dangerous Westing game, a game involving blizzards, burglaries, and bombings! Ellen Raskin has created a remarkable cast of characters in a puzzle-knotted, word-twisting plot filled with humor, intrigue, and suspense. Winner of the Newbery Medal Winner of the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award An ALA Notable Book A School Library Journal One Hundred Books That Shaped the Century A supersharp mystery...confoundingly clever, and very funny. —Booklist, starred review Great fun for those who enjoy illusion, word play, or sleight of hand. —The New York Times Book Review A fascinating medley of word games, disguises, multiple aliases, and subterfuges—a demanding but rewarding book. —The Horn Book |
| raisin in the sun play: Joe Papp: An American Life Helen Epstein, 2019-07-31 Joseph Papp (1921-1991), theater producer, champion of human rights and of the First Amendment, founder of the New York Shakespeare Festival and Public Theater, changed the American cultural landscape. Born Yussel Papirofsky in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, he discovered Shakespeare in public school and first produced a show on an aircraft carrier during World War II. After a stint at the Actors’ Lab in Hollywood, he moved to New York, where he worked as a CBS stage manager during the golden age of television. He fought Parks Commissioner Robert Moses (as well as Mayors Wagner, Lindsay, Beame and Koch) winning first the right to stage free Shakespeare in New York’s Central Park, then municipal funding to keep it going. He built the Delacorte Theater and later rebuilt the former Astor Library on Lafayette Street, transforming it into the Public Theater. In addition to helping create an American style of Shakespeare, Papp pioneered colorblind casting and theater as a not-for-profit institution. He showcased playwrights David Rabe, Elizabeth Swados, Ntozake Shange, David Hare, Wallace Shawn, John Guare, and Vaclav Havel; directors Michael Bennett, Wilford Leach and James Lapine; actors Al Pacino, Colleen Dewhurst, George C. Scott, James Earl Jones, Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Sam Waterston, and Denzel Washington; and produced Hair, Sticks and Bones, for colored girls, The Normal Heart, and A Chorus Line, the longest running musical in Broadway history. This first biography of the late Joseph Papp will be a hard act to follow. — Booklist The final portrait that emerges might have been jointly painted by Goya, Whistler and Francis Bacon. — Benedict Nightingale, front-page New York Times Sunday Book Review Playwright Tony Kushner called Papp one of the very few heroes this tawdry, timid business has produced and the book, a nourishing and juicy biography. Helen Epstein recounts [Papp's] career in [this] definitive, meticulously researched and highly readable biography. [...] It is a tribute to Epstein’s narrative skill that the detailed account of Papp’s decline and eventual defeat by cancer [...] reads as both riveting and horrifying. — Ellen Schiff, All About Jewish Theatre Oklahoma-born Paul Davis created 51 iconic posters for Joseph Papp, starting in 1975 with the New York Shakespeare Festival production of Hamlet starring Sam Waterston. It was inspiring to work with Joe, says Davis. We would discuss what he wanted to achieve in a production, and he trusted me to find a way to express it. And he respected the poster as its own dramatic form. The artist’s work has been exhibited in the U.S., Europe and Japan. He is a recipient of a special Drama Desk award created for his theater art. Davis was elected to the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame and the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame, and is a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome. |
| raisin in the sun play: Lorraine Hansberry's The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window Lorraine Hansberry, 1986 This is the probing, hilarious and provocative story of Sidney, a disenchanted Greenwich Village intellectual, his wife Iris, an aspiring actress, and their colorful circle of friends and relations. Set against the shenanigans of a stormy political campaign, the play follows its characters in their unorthodox quests for meaningful lives in an age of corruption, alienation and cynicism. With compassion, humor and poignancy, the author examines questions concerning the fragility of love, morality and ethics, interracial relationships, drugs, rebellion, conformity and especially withdrawal from or commitment to the world. |
| raisin in the sun play: The Duck Song Bryant Oden, 2014 A determined duck pleads for grapes at the most unlikely of places: a lemonade stand. The story and song in this comical, musical picture book will delight both adults and children, who can play the song aloud while learning important lessons about persistence and compassion. |
| raisin in the sun play: The Total Film-maker Jerry Lewis, 1971 A frank, personal story of the joys and pitfalls of making movies by a world famous film-maker. |
| raisin in the sun play: The Scarred Letter Val Muller, 2014-06-24 Heather Primm never anticipated that a single blog post could ruin her life. Heather's scoop about steroid use by key players on the school football team sets off an investigation that strips the Orchard Valley Thunderbolts of their state title-and earns Heather a coveted journalism prize. Hated by those involved in the scandal, despised by jealous members of the newspaper staff, ignored by her newly-popular ex-boyfriend, and even berated by her mother, Heather is attacked and a chilling T is carved into her face. Now stigmatized as a traitor, she becomes the object of scorn for nearly all of Orchard Valley High. But when the school offers to send her to a private academy to hush up the matter, Heather is forced to make a decision. Should she refuse to allow fear to control her life by holding to the truth, or accept the chance to escape and build a new life? Written by a veteran English teacher, The Scarred Letter weaves themes from Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter into an accessible, intelligent tale of modern isolation and a young woman's quest for truth and acceptance. Authentic reboot of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter for today's readers. Heather Primm publishes the truth on her blog and pays an appalling price. It's up to Heather's younger sister to remind her what's true and what's not--and help her find a way forward. A powerful book. -- Adele Abbot, author, Of Machines & Magics and Postponing Armageddon High school becomes the perfect substitute for Hawthorne's Puritan society in this accessible take on The Scarlet Letter. Surrounded by ruthless cliques and wannabe outsiders, Heather finds out just how hard standing up for yourself and your beliefs can be. A powerful message for readers of all ages. -- Sheri S. Levy, author, Seven Days to Goodbye |
| raisin in the sun play: The Girl Who Flew Away Val Muller, 2017-03-07 No good deed goes unpunished when freshman Steffie Brenner offers to give her awkward new neighbor a ride home after her first day at school. When her older sister Ali stops at a local park to apply for a job, Steffie and Madison slip out of the car to explore the park--and Madison vanishes. Already in trouble for a speeding ticket, Ali insists that Steffie say nothing about Madison's disappearance. Even when Madison's mother comes looking for her. Even when the police question them. Some secrets are hard to hide, though--especially with Madison's life on the line. As she struggles between coming clean or going along with her manipulative sister's plan, Steffie begins to question if she or anyone else is really who she thought they were. After all, the Steffie she used to know would never lie about being the last person to see Madison alive--nor would she abandon a friend in the woods: alone, cold, injured, or even worse. But when Steffie learns an even deeper secret about her own past, a missing person seems like the least of her worries... |
| raisin in the sun play: Behind the Bookcase Barbara Lowell, 2020-09-01 Anne Frank’s diary is a gift to the world because of Miep Gies. One of the protectors of the Frank family, Miep recovered the diary after the family was discovered by Nazis, and then returned it to Otto Frank after World War II. Displaced from her own home as a child during World War I, Miep had great empathy for Anne, and she found ways—like talking about Hollywood gossip and fashion trends—to engage her. The story of their relationship—and the impending danger to the family in hiding—unfolds in this unique perspective of Anne Frank’s widely known story. A historically accurate but relatively gentle introduction to the Holocaust for elementary-age readers.—Miriam Aronin, Booklist Author and illustrator do not deny Miep Gies’s extraordinary heroism but frame it as a natural response to the events of her life and the depth of her emotional involvement in her Jewish compatriots’ tragedy.—Emily Schneider, Jewish Book Council A solid, additional title that can serve as an introduction to Holocaust literature.—Kathleen Isaacs, School Library Journal |
| raisin in the sun play: Jet , 2004-05-17 The weekly source of African American political and entertainment news. |
| raisin in the sun play: Thronebreakers Rebecca Coffindaffer, 2021-10-12 Perfect for fans of Aurora Rising, The Hunger Games, and Three Dark Crowns, this electrifying duology closer is jam-packed with tension and thrills that will hook readers from its first page. Alyssa Farshot never wanted to rule the empire. But to honor her uncle’s dying wish, she participated in the crownchase, a race across the empire’s 1,001 planets to find the royal seal and win the throne. Alyssa tried to help her friend, Coy, win the crownchase, but just as victory was within their grasp, Edgar Voles killed Coy—and claimed the seal for himself. Broken-hearted over her friend’s death, Alyssa is hell-bent on revenge. But Edgar is well protected in the kingship. Alyssa will have to rally rivals, friends, and foes from across the empire to take him down and change the course of the galaxy. |
| raisin in the sun play: Banned Plays Dawn B. Sova, 2004 An alphabetical listing of plays that have been banned throughout history with a short synopsis and reason for banning as well as profiles of the playwrights and other resource material. |
| raisin in the sun play: Hansberry's Drama Steven R. Carter, 1991 This insightful study opens with an overview of Hansberry's cultural, social, political, and philosophical views and their relations to her artistic goals. |
| raisin in the sun play: A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry, 1958 |
| raisin in the sun play: Performing Feminisms Sue-Ellen Case, 1990-02 A valuable, provoking, important addition to any theatre scholar or practitioner's library, especially since feminist theory is a relative newcomer to the world of theatre. |
| raisin in the sun play: The Crisis , 1979-04 The Crisis, founded by W.E.B. Du Bois as the official publication of the NAACP, is a journal of civil rights, history, politics, and culture and seeks to educate and challenge its readers about issues that continue to plague African Americans and other communities of color. For nearly 100 years, The Crisis has been the magazine of opinion and thought leaders, decision makers, peacemakers and justice seekers. It has chronicled, informed, educated, entertained and, in many instances, set the economic, political and social agenda for our nation and its multi-ethnic citizens. |
| raisin in the sun play: Crownchasers Rebecca Coffindaffer, 2020-09-29 A deadly race across 1,001 planets will determine more than just the fate of the empire. This explosive first book in a duology jam-packed with tension and thrills is perfect for fans of The Hunger Games, Aurora Rising, and Three Dark Crowns. Alyssa Farshot has spent her whole life trying to outrun her family legacy, even leaving behind the Kingship and her uncle, the emperor, for a life of exploring. But when her dying uncle announces a crownchase—a search for the royal seal hidden in the empire that will determine the next ruler—Alyssa is thrust into her greatest, most dangerous adventure yet. |
A Raisin in the Sun - Wikipedia
A Raisin in the Sun is a play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959. [1] The title comes from the poem "Harlem" (also known as "A Dream Deferred" [2]) by Langston Hughes.
A Raisin In The Sun - Lorraine Hansberry - full text of play.pdf
A Raisin In The Sun - Lorraine Hansberry - full text of play.pdf - Google Drive.
A Raisin in the Sun: Full Play Summary - SparkNotes
A Raisin in the Sun. Full Play Summary. A Raisin in the Sun portrays a few weeks in the life of the Youngers, a Black family living on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. When the play opens, …
A Raisin in the Sun | Play, African-American, Drama, Social Issues ...
Oct 7, 2024 · A Raisin in the Sun is a drama in three acts by Lorraine Hansberry, first published and produced in 1959. The play’s title is taken from ‘Harlem,’ a poem by Langston Hughes. The play …
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry Plot Summary - LitCharts
A Raisin in the Sun examines the effects of racial prejudice on the fulfillment of an African-American family’s dreams. The play centers on the Youngers, a working-class family that lives in Chicago’s …
A Raisin in the Sun: Study Guide - SparkNotes
A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry and first performed in 1959, is a groundbreaking play that explores the struggles of a Black American family living in Chicago’s South Side during …
A Raisin in the Sun: Full Play Analysis | SparkNotes
A Raisin in the Sun is centered around the persistent deferral of the Younger family’s dreams. The Youngers are a working-class Black family with various dreams of upward mobility. Walter wants …
A Raisin in the Sun - CliffsNotes
A Raisin in the Sun. Play Summary. This play tells the story of a lower-class black family's struggle to gain middle-class acceptance. When the play opens, Mama, the sixty-year-old mother of the …
A Raisin in The Sun - Study Guide and Literary Analysis
A Raisin in The Sun is a popular play by Lorraine Hansberry. It was performed for the first time in 1959. Hansberry has borrowed the title from a popular poem by Langston Hughes, “ Harlem.”
'A Raisin in the Sun' Reveals Playwright Lorraine Hansberry's Black ...
Jan 29, 2021 · A Raisin in the Sun is a play about an African American family aspiring to move beyond segregation and disenfranchisement in 1950s Chicago. Despite its specific...
A Raisin in the Sun - Wikipedia
A Raisin in the Sun is a play by Lorraine Hansberry that debuted on Broadway in 1959. [1] The title comes from the poem "Harlem" (also known as "A Dream Deferred" [2]) by Langston Hughes.
A Raisin In The Sun - Lorraine Hansberry - full text of play.pdf
A Raisin In The Sun - Lorraine Hansberry - full text of play.pdf - Google Drive.
A Raisin in the Sun: Full Play Summary - SparkNotes
A Raisin in the Sun. Full Play Summary. A Raisin in the Sun portrays a few weeks in the life of the Youngers, a Black family living on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. When the play opens, …
A Raisin in the Sun | Play, African-American, Drama, Social Issues ...
Oct 7, 2024 · A Raisin in the Sun is a drama in three acts by Lorraine Hansberry, first published and produced in 1959. The play’s title is taken from ‘Harlem,’ a poem by Langston Hughes. The play …
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry Plot Summary - LitCharts
A Raisin in the Sun examines the effects of racial prejudice on the fulfillment of an African-American family’s dreams. The play centers on the Youngers, a working-class family that lives in Chicago’s …
A Raisin in the Sun: Study Guide - SparkNotes
A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry and first performed in 1959, is a groundbreaking play that explores the struggles of a Black American family living in Chicago’s South Side during …
A Raisin in the Sun: Full Play Analysis | SparkNotes
A Raisin in the Sun is centered around the persistent deferral of the Younger family’s dreams. The Youngers are a working-class Black family with various dreams of upward mobility. Walter wants …
A Raisin in the Sun - CliffsNotes
A Raisin in the Sun. Play Summary. This play tells the story of a lower-class black family's struggle to gain middle-class acceptance. When the play opens, Mama, the sixty-year-old mother of the …
A Raisin in The Sun - Study Guide and Literary Analysis
A Raisin in The Sun is a popular play by Lorraine Hansberry. It was performed for the first time in 1959. Hansberry has borrowed the title from a popular poem by Langston Hughes, “ Harlem.”
'A Raisin in the Sun' Reveals Playwright Lorraine Hansberry's Black ...
Jan 29, 2021 · A Raisin in the Sun is a play about an African American family aspiring to move beyond segregation and disenfranchisement in 1950s Chicago. Despite its specific...
