Ellington

• Ongoing: until Sunday, February 6, 2011
• Sunday: 2:00pm
• Sunday: 7:00pm
• Wednesday: 7:00pm
• Thursday: 7:00pm
• Friday: 8:00pm
• Saturday: 8:00pm
• Where: Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Little Rock
• Cost: Not available
• Age limit: Not available

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Opening January 21, 2011 “A play that changed American theater forever.” – New York Times A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry “Pay What You Can” Night: Jan. 19 | Curtain 7 p.m. Preview Performances: Jan. 19 and Jan. 20 | Curtain 7 p.m. Pre-Show Director Talk 6:15 p.m.- 6:45 p.m. in the Theatre Run: Jan. 21 – Feb. 6, 2011 Times: Wednesday Curtain | 7 p.m. Thursday Curtain | 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday Curtain | 8 p.m. Sunday Curtains | 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Ticket Info: Advance Tickets: $10 off A Seating, $5 off B Seating. Advance Tickets are on sale now until Jan. 20 and cannot be combined with any other discount. Regular tickets go on sale Opening Day, Jan. 21, and start at $25 - $40. Call The Rep Box Office at (501) 378-0405 or visit www.therep.org for complete ticketing details. (Little Rock, Arkansas) – Little Rock native and 1998 Black Hall of Fame inductee Phyllis Yvonne Stickney returns to Arkansas for a debut appearance on The Rep stage in the Tony-award nominated classic A Raisin in the Sun, opening January 21. Stickney’s career in Hollywood has spanned several Spike Lee films, including “Malcolm X” and “Jungle Fever,” in addition to the films “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” and “New Jack City.” This will be the first time Stickney has performed in her home state. Stickney will play Lena, the Younger family matriarch, who she calls a beautifully written character. “I was drawn to Lena because of who she is and what she represents…women who held it together no matter what.” Playwright Lorraine Hansberry captures so much of the pathos of living in the 1950s, Stickney says. “So much of life is there in these words and on the pages and the stage allows the cast and the audience to take a journey at that time.” When A Raisin in the Sun first premiered on Broadway in 1959, there had been nothing like it. Playwright Lorraine Hansberry was only 28 years old, and her debut work would go on to receive four Tony nominations and to win the New York Drama Critics Circle award for best American play of the season, beating out Tennessee Williams's "Sweet Bird of Youth," and Eugene O'Neill's "A Touch of the Poet." Hansberry would become the first African-American to receive the honor, and the youngest woman. The play would become a classic, one the Washington Post would later call “One of a handful of great American plays – it belongs in the inner circle, along with Death of a Salesman, Long Day's Journey Into Night and The Glass Menagerie.” A Raisin in the Sun will also bring New York based director Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj back to Little Rock at the helm of the production. No stranger to this play, Maharaj worked as the Assistant to the Director for the 2004 Tony Award–winning Broadway revival starring Sean (P. Diddy) Combs as Walter Lee and Phylicia Rashad as Lena Younger. Maharaj is the founder and artistic advisor of Voices at the River, The Rep’s African American Latino playwriting festival, and also directed Dreamgirls, Intimate Apparel and It Happened in Little Rock at the theatre. Maharaj says A Raisin in the Sun changed the reality of how African-Americans were viewed in the American theater, representing the first time they were seen on Broadway as fully realized human beings, effectively changing American theater forever. “The play is timeless because the themes it touches upon are what all people face in their daily lives in one way or another,” says Maharaj. “I had the opportunity to work on the creative team of the recent Broadway revival and had many opportunities to direct the show thereafter but I passed. It never felt right, but directing it at the Arkansas Repertory Theater, a theater that has been so important in my artistic growth, it feels like a full circle moment and a dream come true." Joining Maharaj as Assistant Director is Spirit Trickey. Trickey is the playwright for One Ninth, an exploration of human dignity and racial conflict as seen through the eyes of Minnijean Brown Trickey, Spirit’s mother and one of the Little Rock Nine who desegregated Little Rock Central High School in 1957. One Ninth was selected by The Rep for the playwriting festival Voices at the River, and was subsequently mounted as a statewide residency tour across the state, reaching 15,000 students and members of the community through interactive workshops, performances and community discussions. “I am completely enamored with Lorraine Hansberry, and her masterpiece A Raisin in the Sun,” said Trickey. “Hansberry was a true visionary, her words are as meaningful today as when she wrote A Raisin in the Sun.” Trickey describes Hansberry as an incredible artist, great thinker, powerful voice and passionate human being. “It is a privilege to be involved in the production of this inspiring, chilling and timeless play.” “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-- And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?” - A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes A Raisin in the Sun, the title taken from Langston’s Hughes’s poem “A Dream Deferred,” depicts a few crucial weeks in the life of the Youngers, an African-American family living on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. When the play opens, the Youngers are about to receive an insurance check for $10,000 from the deceased Mr. Younger’s life insurance policy. Each family member has an idea as to what he or she would like to do with the money. The matriarch of the family, Mama, wants to buy a house to fulfill a dream she shared with her husband. Mama’s son, Walter Lee, wants to use the money to invest in a business, believing that the investment will solve the family’s financial problems. Walter’s wife, Ruth, agrees with Mama, but hopes that she and Walter can provide more space and opportunity for their son, Travis. Finally, Beneatha, Walter’s sister, wants to use the money to attend medical school. In the struggle that ensues, one dream will be fulfilled, another deferred, resulting in a powerful and unforgettable portrait of one family’s quest for the American dream. The Rep’s production of A Raisin in the Sun includes 12 actors, with rehearsals beginning on Tuesday, Dec. 28. Original set design and construction will be created by Set Designer and Technical Director Mike Nichols, with props design by Properties Designer Lynda J. Kwallek, costume design by Trish Clark, sound design by Jason Pruzin and lighting design by Matt Webb. The production will open on Jan. 21, with two public previews on Jan. 19 and Jan. 20, which will include a preshow discussion with A Raisin in the Sun Director Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, Assistant Director Spirit Trickey and Rep Producing Artistic Director Bob Hupp at 6:15 p.m. in the theatre. A Raisin in the Sun will run from Jan. 21 through Feb. 6. Tickets are available at The Rep Box Office at (501) 378-0405 or online at tickets.therep.org. THE DIRECTOR Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj (Director) is an Indo-Caribbean playwright, director and choreographer. He is the Artistic Director of Rebel Theater, and was founder and artistic advisor of Voices at the River, an African American Latino playwriting festival in collaboration with Arkansas Repertory Theatre. Maharaj was the Assistant to the Director on the 2004 Tony Award–winning Broadway revival A Raisin in the Sun, and also is a former director in training for the Emmy Award winning directing team at ABC's “All My Children.” He has been featured in American Theatre Magazine, Yale Review, New York Times, The Star Ledger, The NAACP Crisis News, Chicago Sun Times, Ebony, Arkansas Times, Uptown Magazine and has been featured on the Hot List as a New York Theater Artist to Watch, Amsterdam News and Variety for his work in the American theatre. Maharaj holds a BS from St. John's University and an MFA from Brooklyn College. Regional credits include: Syracuse Stage (Godspell and Putting It Together with Tony Award recipient Lillias White and Chuck Cooper), Freedom Theatre (Walk Through Time, by Lynn Nottage -world premiere), Actors Theatre of Louisville (Nightswim and Classyass), St. Louis Black Rep (Damn Yankees), Arkansas Repertory Theatre (Dreamgirls, Intimate Apparel, Little Rock, A Raisin in the Sun), Crossroads Theatre (History of the Word, The Colored Museum), Alabama Shakespeare Festival (Sanctified), Prince Musical Theatre (From the Hip), Theatre of the Stars (Dreamgirls the 25th anniversary production starring Tony Award recipient Jennifer Holiday), The Goodman Theatre (The Black Nativity) and Portland Stage Company (Master Harold and the boys). New York City credits: the Public Theatre (365 Days, Memphis Minnie workshop), Classical Theatre of Harlem (Marat Sade), Lark Play Development Center (Man Measures Man, Breathe), New Federal Theatre (Diss Diss and Diss Dat), Rebel Theatre (Ghosts, world premiere adaptation), Making Books Sing (Band of Angels, Shelter in my Car, Chachajis Cup), Amas Musical Theatre (Bubbling Brown Sugar, Damn Yankees, Mamma I Want to Sing, Magpie) and HERE (The Little Playhouse). Featured CAST Phyllis Yvonne Stickney (Lena Younger) is proud to be a native of Little Rock and extremely grateful to Rajendra for bringing her home to perform Ms. Hansberry’s classic piece A Raisin in the Sun for family and friends. Ms. Stickney is known for her portrayals in Hollywood films such as New Jack City, Malcolm X, What’s Love Got to Do With It?, The Inkwell, How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Die Hard With A Vengance among others. As an author, Ms. Stickney’s work Big Momma and ‘Nem is included in the 9th anthology of Black Comedy Plays, and she has published Loud Thoughts for Quiet Moments which is a collection of her poetry and personal perspectives. Yvonne Stickney was inducted in The Arkansas Black Hall Of Fame in 1998. Her stage credits began in New York in the mid 80’s working and developing her craft with University of the Streets Theater Company, The Caribbean American Repertory Theater, Woody Kings production of Dreams Deferred, and a production of Ed Bullin’s two character play Michael. Lynnette R. Freeman (Ruth Younger) is thrilled to be part of this terrific cast, and to do this show with the Arkansas Rep. She hails from the great state of Ohio. Previous roles have included: Esther in Intimate Apparel (New Century Theatre), Mrs. Muller in Doubt (Music Theatre of Connecticut), Ruth in A Raisin in the Sun, and Sally Bowles in Cabaret (Trinity Repertory Company). She trained at the Brown University/ Trinity Rep MFA Program. Hisham Tawfiq (Walter Lee Younger) is a native of New York City, and has appeared in various television shows such as “Law and Order SVU,” “Law and Order Criminal Intent,” “Guiding Light” and “Kings.” He will appear in the new TV show “Lights Out” which will air on January 11, 2011. He has worked locally on the stage in the Bow Wow Club and regionally, with the Arkansas Reparatory Theatre in Intimate Apparel. He is proud to be a part of the cast in the short film “Crazy beats strong every time,” which has been selected to Sundance 2011. Myxolydia Tyler (Beneatha Younger) This is Myxolydia Tyler's first show at Arkansas Rep. Some of her more memorable performances are The Narrator in A Season to Unravel at New York's Signature Theatre; Addy in the world premiere and national tour of Addy: An American Girl Story By Cherryl West; Harriet Tubman in Dreamprints: A Conversation with Harriet Tubman, a self-written play at Syracuse Stage. She has also toured with The Acting Co. and German Theatre Abroad in the U.S. and Germany. She is a Graduate of The Brown/ Trinity MFA program. Performances & Special Events CLINTON SCHOOL PANEL Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. The Clinton School of Public Service will host a free panel discussion on “A Raisin in the Sun: A play that changed the face of American theatre” on Tuesday, Jan. 18 at the Clinton School of Public Service, Sturgis Hall. Producing Artistic Director Bob Hupp will lead a panel discussion with actors and members of the creative team from Arkansas Repertory Theater’s upcoming production of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, discussing how historical events are reflected and refracted in dramatic literature. Panelists will take you behind the scenes as they address the play’s themes and discuss the struggle that ensues when one dream is fulfilled, and another deferred, in this powerful and unforgettable portrait of one family’s quest for the American dream Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011 | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. * Lunch & Free Lecture (Bring your own lunch. Drinks provided.) Clinton School of Public Service, Sturgis Hall *Reserve seats by emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or calling (501) 683-5239. PREVIEW PERFORMANCES Wednesday, Jan. 19 | 7 p.m. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette presents The Rep’s “Pay What You Can Night” on Wednesday, Oct. 27. Patrons can pay any amount they wish for their ticket. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Box Office at 601 Main Street the day of the performance. The Box Office will be open from 9 a.m. until curtain. Tickets are limited to (2) two per person. Offer is based on seating availability. No SRO tickets will be issued. Wednesday, Jan. 19 | 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 20 | 7 p.m. Previews for A Raisin in the Sun are on Wednesday and Thursday nights, and include a pre-show discussion at 6:15 p.m. in the Theatre with A Raisin in the Sun Director Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, Assistant Director Spirit Trickey and Rep Producing Artistic Director Bob Hupp. OPENING NIGHT Friday, Jan. 21 | 8 p.m. Opening Night for A Raisin in the Sun will include a post-show reception with the cast immediately following the show. Complementary champagne and light hors d'oeuvres will be provided. PERFORMANCE RUN A Raisin in the Sun will run for three weeks, with Preview Performances on Jan. 19 and Jan. 20, Opening Night performance on Jan. 21, and performances through Feb. 6, Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets Advance Tickets are on sale now and include a discount of $10 off A Seating and $5 off B Seating. Advance Ticket discounts cannot be combined with any other discount. Advance Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at (501) 378-0405 or by buying online at https://tickets.therep.org. Regular tickets go on sale on Jan. 21 and start at $25 - $40. “Pay What You Can” Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 19 and must be purchased in person at 601 Main Street. Group Tickets are on sale now and available for groups of 10 or more. Group tickets can be purchased by contacting Jeff Roper, Group Sales Manager, at (501) 378-0405. Call The Rep Box Office at (501) 378-0405 or visit www.therep.org for complete ticketing details.

This event was posted Jan. 4, 2011 and last updated Jan. 27, 2011