When the world premiere of CenterStage’s production of Beneatha’s Place by Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah joins with their production of Clybourne Park on May 15th, the full rotating repertory series which shares a single cast and set of designers will be complete.
This Fall, audiences around the world will be able to view this exciting achievement when a nationally broadcast PBS documentary examines the significance of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. The documentary special follows the process of mounting CenterStages’ The Raisin Cycle, from first rehearsal through the opening of both productions.
Beneatha’s Place is the story of Beneatha Younger (Jessica Frances Dukes), Lena’s intellectual and restless daughter in A Raisin in the Sun. “As a playwright of color, even in Britain, the legacy of Lorraine Hansberry and A Raisin in the Sun looms large for me. I may have seen the play more often than any other,” says Mr. Kwei-Armah. “In writing my own encounter with her seminal saga, I felt drawn to explore the nature of identity, community, and what it means to become a leader.”
“A Raisin in the Sun is a powerful story of perseverance that arts followers have come to know and love, and we think our viewers will be just as interested in learning more about the Clybourne Park and Beneatha’s Place storylines,” said PBS Vice President of Programming Donald Thoms. “PBS is committed to giving millions of viewers a front-row seat and a backstage pass to the best music, theater, dance, art, and cultural history programs on-air and online, and we’re excited that CenterStage will provide us with great content to feature this fall.”
“Bringing The Raisin Cycle, through television, to communities across the country is indicative of our belief in the power of theater to play a role in national conversations,” said Stephen Richard, CenterStage’s Managing Director.
Beneatha’s Place opens for previews May 8. Clybourne Park opened April 10th. The series concludes June 16, 2013.
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Couldn’t agree more with Jayne Blanchard’s remark about Jessica Frances Dukes, and with her review of the production (link above). Excellent cast; can’t wait to see them in Beneatha’s Place.