How well do you know the musical *Ruy Blas and the Blas Roue*? Test your knowledge and explore the deeper connections in this fascinating production. This page provides trivia about its historic Broadway debut, themes of race and dreams deferred, and influential cast members like Sidney Poitier. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to *Ruy Blas and the Blas Roue*, discover more about this important work and its lasting impact today.
Adaptations
- The 1961 film adaptation of 'A Raisin in the Sun' retained its original Broadway cast, including Sidney Poitier and Ruby Dee, and was directed by Daniel Petrie.
- The 2008 TV film adaptation of 'A Raisin in the Sun', featuring the cast from the 2004 Broadway revival, was watched by 12.7 million viewers according to Nielsen Media Research.
International Productions
- A Raisin in the Sun had a brief run in London's West End shortly after its Broadway debut, maintaining the critical acclaim.
Musical Composition
- The title 'A Raisin in the Sun' is derived from Langston Hughes' poem 'Harlem' which questions what happens to a dream deferred.
Production Facts
- The Raisin Cycle was produced together during the 2012–2013 season by Baltimore's Center Stage.
- A Raisin in the Sun, a play by Lorraine Hansberry, debuted on Broadway in 1959 and is notable for being the first play on Broadway written by a Black woman.
- The plays A Raisin in the Sun, Clybourne Park, and Beneatha's Place collectively are known as 'The Raisin Cycle.'
- In Beneatha's Place, Beneatha Younger becomes the Dean of Social Sciences at a prestigious university in California.
- Beneatha's Place, a play by Kwame Kwei-Armah, continues the story of Beneatha Younger from A Raisin in the Sun, showing her life after moving to Nigeria and not pursuing a medical career.
- Clybourne Park specifically deals with the white family that originally sold the house to the Younger family in A Raisin in the Sun.
- The play Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris, a part of 'The Raisin Cycle,' portrays the events just before and 50 years after the story of A Raisin in the Sun.
- The off-Broadway revival of 'A Raisin in the Sun' in 2022 at The Public Theater was noted as closely aligned to Lorraine Hansberry's vision by Hansberry biographer Imani Perry.
- The Arena Stage revival of 'A Raisin in the Sun' in 2017 was directed by Tazewell Thompson.
- The 2016 BBC Radio play of 'A Raisin in the Sun' restored previously cut scenes and characters from earlier productions.
- The second Broadway revival of 'A Raisin in the Sun' in 2014 won three Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Play.
- The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester's 2010 production of 'A Raisin in the Sun' was highly acclaimed and won multiple MEN Awards.
- The 2004 Broadway revival of 'A Raisin in the Sun' won two Tony Awards: Best Actress in a Play (Phylicia Rashad) and Best Featured Actress in a Play (Audra McDonald).
- 'A Raisin in the Sun' was adapted into a TV film by PBS's American Playhouse in 1989, starring Danny Glover and Esther Rolle.
- The 1973 musical version of 'A Raisin in the Sun', titled 'Raisin', won the Tony Award for Best Musical.
- Director Daniel Petrie received the special 'Gary Cooper Award' at the Cannes Film Festival for the 1961 film version of 'A Raisin in the Sun'.
- The screenplay for the 1961 film 'A Raisin in the Sun' was written by Lorraine Hansberry, who was also the playwright of the original play.
- Ruby Dee won the National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 1961 film 'A Raisin in the Sun'.
- The drama’s influence was profound, with Frank Rich of The New York Times stating in 1983 that A Raisin in the Sun 'changed American theater forever.'
- Some scenes and a character named Mrs. Johnson were omitted from the Broadway performance due to time constraints, although they appeared in the written script.
- In 1960, the play was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Play, Best Actor for Sidney Poitier, Best Actress for Claudia McNeil, and Best Direction for Lloyd Richards.
- A Raisin in the Sun was directed by Lloyd Richards, marking the first time a play on Broadway was directed by a Black director.
- In 1959, the New York Drama Critics' Circle named A Raisin in the Sun the best play of the year.
- The play was initially considered a risky investment on Broadway due to its predominantly black cast and challenging themes, but ultimately received critical and commercial success.
- The main story of A Raisin in the Sun revolves around the Younger family’s struggle to deal with poverty and racism in South Chicago after receiving a life insurance payout.
