Jan 16, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Scooter MacMillan, marketing director
Springer Opera House
706-256-0955
smacmillan@springeroperahouse.org
Columbus, GA—1.16.2014: On March 11, 1959, a play opened on Broadway that changed American theatre forever.
“A Raisin in the Sun” examined issues that had never been presented on Broadway. It was the first play written by a black woman to be presented on Broadway with Broadway’s first black director.
This heartwarming, hilarious, groundbreaking story of a family’s heroic efforts to make a better life for their children will run at the Springer Jan. 23 – Feb. 1.
It took producer Phillip Rose over a year to raise the money to produce “A Raisin in the Sun.” When it opened in 1959, both Rose and playwright Lorraine Hansberry didn’t think it would be a success, but it defied their expectations and ran for 530 performances and was nominated for four Tonys including Best Play.
“A Raisin in the Sun” has become one of history’s most loved plays. It was made into a movie in 1961, a musical in 1973 (which won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1974) and a made-for-TV movie in 1989 (which won three Emmy Award nominations).
A 2004 stage revival of “A Raisin in the Sun” with Sean “P. Diddy” Combs and Phylicia Rashād (Clair Huxtable from “The Cosby Show”) was nominated for four Tony Awards. The same cast from this production made another made-for-TV version in 2008.
The Springer’s version of “A Raisin in the Sun” features a number of actors who’ve won accolades at the State Theatre of Georgia. Playing Beneatha Younger is Cynthia Barker, who appeared at the Springer as Ophelia in “Hamlet” and Mrs. Kelley in “Lakebottom Proper.” This production is directed by Donna Biscoe who appeared in “Lakebottom Prime” last year.
Andrea Frye directed a production of “A Raisin in the Sun” here in 1996 and she returns to the Springer directly after the closing of the stage adaptation of “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., with Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show”).
“A Raisin in the Sun” will run at 7:30 p.m., Jan. 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 and Feb. 1, and at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 26. For tickets or more information, please call 706-327-3688 or visit springeroperahouse.org.
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