Lorraine Hansberry's “A Raisin in the Sun” Plays Feb. 9-24 at the Roxy Regional Theatre

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. –Lorraine Hansberry made history as the first black female playwright to have her work produced on Broadway. In celebration of Black History Month, Hansberry’s award-winning “A Raisin in the Sun” plays Feb. 4-24 at the Roxy Regional Theatre.

Offering an insightful look at race and the meaning of home, this groundbreaking story follows three generations of the Younger family, each yearning for a better life far from their crowded, dilapidated apartment on Chicago's south side. An unexpected financial windfall offers the Youngers the opportunity to rise from poverty and better their lives, but the family struggles with conflicting ideas about how to use the money. Unflinching in its vision of what happens to people whose dreams are constantly deferred, this enduring portrait of the African-American experience has themes of identity, justice and moral responsibility.

Starring Ricardo Blagrove as Walter Lee Younger, “A Raisin In The Sun” features Dwan Hayes as Lena "Mama" Younger; DaNiesha Carr as Beneatha Younger; DaMya Gurley as Ruth Younger; Clarksville Academy student Jeremiah West as Travis Younger; Rakeem Lawrence doubling as Joseph Asagai and George Murchison; and Ryan Bowie as Karl Lindner.

Directed by Ryan Bowie, “A Raisin In The Sun” is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., and is made possible in part through the generous support of Hugh & Joy Hatcher. Additional funding support has been provided by Bob Houston, Kurt and Kerri Kowalski and John and Cathy Stanton.

Performances run 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Feb. 17.

Friday, Feb. 9, is the traditional pay-what-you-can preview of “A Raisin in the Sun.” All tickets not pre-sold at the regular ticket price will go on sale at 7:30 p.m. that evening for a $5 minimum donation.

Tickets are $20 (adults) and $15 (ages 13 and under) and may be reserved online at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org, by phone at 931-645-7699, or at the theatre during regular box office hours (9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, and one hour prior to curtain). Military, APSU students and CitySaver coupon holders can receive two tickets for the price of one to Wednesday and Thursday performances during the run.

The Roxy Regional Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to producing professional live theatre and promoting the arts, with emphasis on education, in Clarksville, Middle Tennessee and the Southeast. The theatre is located at 100 Franklin Street in Historic Downtown Clarksville. 

For more information, visit www.roxyregionaltheatre.org.

Photo: Clockwise from top left: Ricardo Blagrove, Dwan Hayes, DaNiesha Carr, Rakeem Lawrence, Jeremiah West and DaMya Gurley star in Lorraine Hansberry's award-winning classic “A Raisin In The Sun” Feb. 9-24 at the Roxy Regional Theatre.

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