A Raisin in the Sun

The Guthrie season includes a special presentation of Penumbra’s production of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun at the Guthrie Theater. This play tells the story of Lena Younger, a recent widow who wants to use her husband’s insurance money to buy a home for her family. But when a white representative of the neighborhood “welcoming committee” presents the Younger’s with an offer to buy them out of their home to prevent integration in their community, the dream of the house quickly becomes a nightmare.

This landmark play opened on Broadway in 1959 and was the first Broadway production to feature an all-black principal cast, a black playwright and a black director. It was nominated for four Tony awards. Penumbra’s production presented at the Guthrie will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the inspiring classic.