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A Raisin in the Sun

The third season of the Oberlin Summer Theater Festival will continue on July 8, with the opening of A Raisin in the Sun. One of the most significant plays in the history of American theater, this professional production is free to everyone and runs for a total of ten performances throughout July (see schedule). Justin Emeka, who kicked off OSTF's inaugural 2009 season with an unforgettable performance as Tom in The Glass Menagerie, will direct.

A Raisin in the Sun changed the face of theater when it opened in 1959. Not only did it showcase the talents of Broadway's first African-American playwright and director, but it told a relatable story that was able to transcend the cultural barriers of the time to become a smash hit. The stubbornly ambitious Younger family comprises three struggling generations living in a shabby apartment on Chicago's South Side. At the beginning of the play, Walter Lee's father has died and left his mother with $10,000 in life insurance — a small fortune that threatens to tear the family apart as they fight to realize their individual dreams. "It's a resonant theme in American culture," declares Emeka, who will direct the play for his second time this summer. "We're all driven by grandiose visions for ourselves that we often have to compromise at some point in our lives."

"In America, a man's life is measured by his ability to make money," Emeka continues. "Walter Lee's struggle is still essentially the struggle of many American men in 2011. We've all seen how economic burdens impact relationships." As Walter Lee fights to prove himself to his wife and son, his sister Beneatha defies the historical limitations of race and gender in her quest to become a doctor. Meanwhile, their mother takes the ultimate gamble by putting a down payment on a house in a white neighborhood, determined to provide a secure and happy home for her grandson Travis.

"The strength of the characters and relationships is what makes the play so intimate and complex," Emeka explains. The dynamic cast includes OSTF veterans David Bugher, last seen as Benedick in last summer's Much Ado About Nothing, as well as Nicholas Sweney and Debra Rose, who gave memorably moving performances in Our Town. Felicia Loud, an accomplished Equity actress from Seattle, will provide "the backbone of the play" as Ruth, alongside Darryle Johnson as her husband Walter Lee. Johnson returns to his alma mater from a thriving career in New York, eager to tackle the iconic role that made Sidney Poitier a star.

All performances in Hall Auditorium. For a complete list of dates and times, see the season calendar.

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Company

Director	Justin Emeka
Assistant Director	Cornelius Graves IV
Cast
Walter Lee Younger	Darryle Johnson
Ruth Younger	Felicia Loud*
Lena Younger	Debra Rose
Beneatha Younger	Karyn Todd
Bobo	Anthony Osei
Karl Lindner	David Bugher
Joseph Asagai	Nicholas Sweeney
Travis Younger	King Emeka
George Murchinson	Ralph Johnson
Moving Man	Cornelius Graves IV
*This actor appears courtesy of The Actor's Equity Association. For cast bios, see the complete company.