landmark work

One of the first mainstream plays to seriously grapple with the African American experience, Lorraine Hansberry's bold Tony-nominated A Raisin in the Sun follows Walter and the Younger family, and the troubles which befall them when his elderly mother inherits a large sum of money. First produced in 1959, it was the first Broadway show to feature an all-Black principal cast, director, and playwright. Since then, it has become a classic of American Literature, with its central theme of racism in the face of the 'American Dream' still sadly relevant today.

What is the story? 

When the Young family inherit a substantial amount of money, each of them is at odds with what to spend it on. Walter wants to invest in a liquor store, while his daughter Bennie dreams of going to medical school. However, neither of them gets their choice when Lena, Walter's mother puts the money down on a new home in a white neighborhood, beginning a tumultuous new chapter for the family.