A Raisin in the Sun

By Lorraine Hansberry, co-directed by Michelle Banks and Nayte Paxton.

Ran June 21 to July 2, 2023 at the Lang Theater, Atlas Performing Arts Center.

A Raisin in the Sun is a poignant drama that almost everyone can relate to, which is to pursue and live their American dream. The Youngers are an African-American family living in poverty on the South Side of Chicago. The family lives in a small apartment and struggles to make do with their little money. Nevertheless, they desire to pursue their American dreams like everybody else.

Lena Younger (Mama), the family's matriarch, receives a $10,000 life insurance check from her husband's death. Mama's American dream is to move her family into a new house in a nice neighborhood and help finance medical school for her daughter Beneatha. Her son Walter has his own American dream: to invest that money in a business proposition, a liquor store. Tension escalates among the family as Ruth, Walter's wife, is pregnant with their second child and the baby's future is uncertain. After losing his part of the investment money, Walter has to weigh what is best for the family, especially his young son Travis, who admires him. Ultimately they experience the bliss of living their American dream by moving into the house together.

The play was performed by a Deaf, hard of hearing and CODA (Child of a Deaf Adult) African-American cast, revealing the perspective of Black Deaf culture and the use of American Sign Language (ASL) and Black American Sign Language (BASL) during the 1950s. It was performed simultaneously in mixed ASL and BASL, SimCom (simultaneous communication), and spoken English.