[NEohioPAL]A Raisin in the Sun Opens at the Beck Center Tomorrow

Thu Feb 3 15:24:49 PST 2005

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 3, 2005

Direct questions to: (216) 521-2540

Yvette Hanzel, extension 225

Scott Spence, extension 239

=20

OPENING TOMORROW

The Beck Center for the Arts=20

Honors Black History Month

with

Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun

February 4 - 27, 2005

=20

            Cleveland, OH - "In 1956, Lorraine Hansberry sat down to
write a play which, as she later wrote to her mother, 'tells the truth
about people, Negroes and life.' The play, A Raisin in the Sun, opened
March 1959 - and, as The New York Times summarized on its 25th
anniversary, it 'changed American theatre forever.'" - excerpt from To
Be Young, Gifted and Black.  The Beck Center for the Arts is proud to
present the epic drama ~ A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Margaret Ford
Taylor and opening February 4 on the Main Stage.

            A Raisin in the Sun tells the tale of the Youngers, an
African-American family struggling to escape the ghetto and truly
realize the American dream, as well as each of their own.  This is an
honest show that deals with real people and real problems, all bound
together by the love of family.  Set in the mid-1900's, A Raisin in the
Sun examines the reality of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness." =20

Director Margaret Ford Taylor says "It has been an honor to direct
Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun.  Boasting many 'firsts' in its
original Broadway production in 1959 and launching the careers of some
of America's most prestigious acting talent including Ruby Dee, Sidney
Poitier, Douglas Turner Ward, Louis Gossett, and Ivan Dixon, A Raisin in
the Sun has been continuously lauded, applauded and produced throughout
the world since that history-making event...This examination and
celebration of the human spirit is what I value most in A Raisin in the
Sun because I passionately believe, along with millions of others, that
this is ultimately what theatre is all about."

The cast for A Raisin in the Sun includes (in order of appearance) Conni
Blair* as Mama, Michael May as Walter Lee Younger, Evelyn Stewart as
Beneatha, Sonia N. Bishop as Ruth, Jonathan Wray as George, Doug Pratt
as Bobo, John Polk as Lindner, Jason Samuel as Asagai, Major Fisher as
Asagai (understudy), and Anthony Nickerson as Travis.

Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00
p.m.  A special Thursday night performance is scheduled for February 24
at 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are $26 for adults, $23 for seniors 65 and older, and $15 for
students (22 and under with ID). Group discounts are available for
parties of 12 or more. For tickets call 216/521-2540 or log onto
www.beckcenter.org <http://www.beckcenter.org/> . The Beck Center for
the Arts is located just 10 minutes west of downtown Cleveland at 17801
Detroit Avenue in Lakewood.=20

=20

* Actor appears courtesy of Actor's Equity Association.

###

=20

=20

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<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Arial Narrow"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";font-weight:bold'>FOR IMMEDIATE =
RELEASE:<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Arial Narrow"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";font-weight:bold'>February 3, =
2005<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Arial Narrow"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow";font-weight:bold'>Direct questions to: =
(216)
521-2540</span></font></b><font face=3D"Arial Narrow"><span =
style=3D'font-family:
"Arial Narrow"'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Arial Narrow"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Yvette Hanzel, extension =
225<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Arial Narrow"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"'>Scott Spence, extension =
239<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3D"Arial Narrow"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:"Arial Narrow"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><b><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>OPENING
TOMORROW<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>The <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName
 w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
for the Arts <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>Honors Black =
History
Month<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>with<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:State
 w:st=3D"on"><b><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
  =
font-weight:bold'>Lorraine</span></font></b></st1:State></st1:place><b><s=
pan
style=3D'font-weight:bold'> Hansberry’s </span></b><b><i><span
style=3D'font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>A Raisin in the =
Sun<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center'><st1:date Year=3D"2005"
Day=3D"4" Month=3D"2" w:st=3D"on"><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New =
Roman"><span
 style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'>February 4 – 27, =
2005</span></font></st1:date><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:150%'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>    &nbsp=
;       <st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:City w:st=3D"on"><b><span =
style=3D'font-weight:bold'>Cleveland</span></b></st1:City><b><span
 style=3D'line-height:150%;font-weight:bold'>, <st1:State =
w:st=3D"on">OH</st1:State></span></b></st1:place></span></font><b><span
style=3D'line-height:150%;font-weight:bold'> </span></b><span =
style=3D'line-height:
150%'>– “In 1956, Lorraine Hansberry sat down to write a =
play
which, as she later wrote to her mother, ‘tells the truth about =
people,
Negroes and life.’ The play, <i><span =
style=3D'font-style:italic'>A Raisin
in the Sun</span></i>, opened March 1959 – and, as <i><span
style=3D'font-style:italic'>The New York Times</span></i> summarized on =
its 25<sup>th</sup>
anniversary, it ‘changed American theatre forever.’” =
–
excerpt from <i><span style=3D'font-style:italic'>To Be Young, Gifted =
and Black.</span></i> 
The <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
 w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> for the Arts is proud to =
present
the epic drama ~ <i><span style=3D'font-style:italic'>A Raisin in the =
Sun</span></i>,
directed by Margaret Ford Taylor and opening February 4 on the Main =
Stage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:150%'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>    &nbsp=
;       A
<i><span style=3D'font-style:italic'>Raisin in the Sun</span></i> tells =
the tale
of the Youngers, an African-American family struggling to escape the =
ghetto and
truly realize the American dream, as well as each of their own.  =
This is
an honest show that deals with real people and real problems, all bound
together by the love of family.  Set in the mid-1900’s, =
<i><span
style=3D'font-style:italic'>A Raisin in the Sun</span></i> examines the =
reality
of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>Director
Margaret Ford Taylor says “</span>It has been an honor to direct =
Lorraine
Hansberry’s <i><span style=3D'font-style:italic'>A Raisin in the =
Sun. 
</span></i>Boasting many ‘firsts’ in its original Broadway
production in 1959 and launching the careers of some of America’s =
most
prestigious acting talent including Ruby Dee, Sidney Poitier, Douglas =
Turner
Ward, Louis Gossett, and Ivan Dixon, <i><span =
style=3D'font-style:italic'>A
Raisin in the Sun </span></i>has been continuously lauded, applauded and
produced throughout the world since that history-making event…This
examination and celebration of the human spirit is what I value most in =
<i><span
style=3D'font-style:italic'>A Raisin in the Sun</span></i> because I =
passionately
believe, along with millions of others, that this is ultimately what =
theatre is
all about.”<o:p></o:p></font></p>

The cast
for A Raisin in the Sun =
includes
(in order of appearance) Conni Blair* as Mama, Michael May as Walter Lee
Younger, Evelyn Stewart as Beneatha, Sonia N. Bishop as Ruth, Jonathan =
Wray as
George, Doug Pratt as Bobo, John Polk as Lindner, Jason Samuel as =
Asagai, Major
Fisher as Asagai (understudy), and Anthony Nickerson as Travis.<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%'><font =
size=3D3
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>Show
times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at <st1:time =
Minute=3D"0"
Hour=3D"15" w:st=3D"on">3:00 p.m.</st1:time>  A special Thursday =
night
performance is scheduled for February 24 at 8:00 =
p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

Tickets
are $26 for adults, $23 for seniors 65 and older, and $15 for students =
(22 and
under with ID).  Group discounts are available for parties of 12 or
more.  For tickets call 216/521-2540 or log onto <a
href=3D"http://www.beckcenter.org/">www.beckcenter.org</a>. The =
<st1:PlaceName
w:st=3D"on">Beck</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType =
w:st=3D"on">Center</st1:PlaceType>
for the Arts is located just 10 minutes west of downtown <st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Cleveland</st1:City>
at <st1:Street w:st=3D"on"><st1:address w:st=3D"on">17801 Detroit =
Avenue</st1:address></st1:Street>
in <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:City =
w:st=3D"on">Lakewood</st1:City></st1:place>. =
<o:p></o:p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:150%'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'><o:p> </o:p></span></fon=
t></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal style=3D'line-height:150%'><font size=3D3 =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>* Actor appears courtesy of
Actor’s Equity Association.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter =
style=3D'text-align:center;text-indent:.5in;
line-height:150%'><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;line-height:150%'>###<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D2 face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>

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