Accomplishing dreams and working hard have been primarily the basic fundamental of American society. Sadly enough for many African-Americans, these dreams were to be placed on the back burner for none to vision. That is the premise for “A Raisin in the Sun,” a play written by African-American author Lorraine Hansberry and performed by Mississippi State University theater students.
The award-winning emotional drama was loosely based Hansberry’s family’s experience of moving to the suburbs. The main characters deal with a variety of social issues, which contribute to their frustrations as they try to achieve their dreams.
The performances are presented through the MSU theater department, University Honors Forum and the Richard Holmes Cultural Diversity Center.
Philip Rose, one of the original producers of the Broadway show in 1959, will appear at the show’s opening and served as the featured speaker of the University Honors Forum program and the Holmes Center’s annual achievement awards banquet held Feb. 18. He also gave a guest lecture in English and theater classes Feb. 19 and 20.
The play is directed by M.J. Etua, the Louisville High School theater arts teacher and an active thespian of the Starkville Community Theater.
Cast member Regina Lattimore said it was a privilege to be a part of this landmark African-American play at MSU.
“This play is so special. It’s overwhelming that I get to be a part of this history,” Lattimore said.
“It feels good to be a part of this monumental play, especially because of the selection the play. It’s a big play in the African-American community, with Lorraine Hansberry as a black woman writing plays in her time and for us to bring it here to MSU,” Kendrick “Phat” Vivians said. “I felt honored when I heard about Mr. Rose coming. To know that he is coming to little ole’ Mississippi State University is quite an honor.
“We’re going to do our best to give him a pleasant performance. I do hope that it not only draws in the black community, but people of all races as well. The context makes it a boundary-breaking play. I hope everyone comes out.”
Cast members of the play include senior international business major Courtney Clark (Beneatha), senior communication major Marcus Daniels (Walter), junior psychology major Lattimore (Lena), John Noble, secondary education graduate student Claude McKinney (Bobo), senior Communication/theater student, senior landscape architecture major Lindsey Smith (George), senior communication major Michelle “Princess” Turner (Ruth) and senior communication major Vivians (Asagai).
Setting director Robert Durst said he hopes to portray the significance of the play to the audience.
“‘Raisin’ is the first widely accepted play done in America by a black playwright,” Durst said. “It was the first African-American voice. It is one the greatest plays written in the mid-20th century. It was before Thomas Wolfe and August Wilson.”
Durst and cast members agree that having Rose attend the MSU production is a privilege.
“We had been working on getting Mr. Rose since last fall and been keeping in touch with him since the summer,” Durst said. “We’re very happy that he is going to be a part of this. I hope that the audience will enjoy the significance of the play and that they enjoy the story. Plus, they’ll get to see what great students we have here at MSU.”
The show started last night and will run Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in McComas Theatre. General admission tickets are $10 for the community and $5 for MSU students, faculty and staff. For more information on the play, call the communication department at 325-3210.