A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun (1959) by Lorraine Hansberry is considered one of the landmark cultural works of the 20th century. It was the first play by a Black playwright to be performed on Broadway and was instrumental in launching a renaissance of Black culture. Its influence was felt around the world, and it is still regularly produced in theatres everywhere. The play had its Canadian premiere at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in 1960. Tragically, Hansberry, who was only 29 when her play was first produced, died of pancreatic cancer only five years later. She left several unfinished plays, one of which, Les Blancs, was edited and completed by her ex-husband, and premiered on Broadway in 1970. A revised version was produced by the National Theatre in London in 2016.