A Black History Month Special
A Raisin In The Sun Was First Made Into A Film In 1961. Sidney Poitier (Who Would Become The First Black Man To Win An Oscar Three Years Later) Starred Alongside Ruby Dee, In The Led Roles. Nearly 30 Years Later In 1989 Danny Glover (From The Original 1985 Alice Walker Movie The Colour Purple) And Esther Rolle Take On Those Roles.
In 2008 Sean Coombs And Audra Mcdonald Took On The Roles This Time (Supported By Phylicia Rashad And Sanaa Latha). (Alas Both Sean Coombs And Bill Cosby (Who Starred Opposite Phylicia Rashad In The Cosby Show) Have Since Been Convicted of Sexual Offences. Despite Having Starred In Such Great Roles Which Should Have Caused Them To Grow And Develop As Human Beings, They Attacked And Traumatised Their Victims. It Is Wholly Devestating.).
The Play Has Had Many Iterations Over The Years.
A 2014 Revival Starring Oscar Winner Denzel Washington As Walter Lee Younger And LaTanya Richardson Jackson (Samuel’s L. Jackson’s Wife) As Mama ‘Lena’ Younger Saw The Play Win A Tony Award For Best Revival of A Play, Whilst British Actress Sophie Okonedo Also Won A Tony For Her Portrayal of Ruth Younger, In A Cast That Also Included Sean Patrick Thomas ( CBS’s The District) And Anika Noni Rose (Disney’s The Princess And The Fro) As ‘Beneatha Younger’ @anikaaroundtheworld hamiltonhodell.co.uk/talent/sophie-okonedo @seanpthomas @officialbrycejenkins
Despite Great Social And Political Progress Over The Decades, The Fight Against Discrimination Has Proven Neverending And Necessary To Continue. Globally!
The Black British Theatre Awards @thebbtas Were Founded Just Seven Years Ago By Omar Ofai And His Business Partner Solange Urdang (Whose Parents Fled Apartheid South Africa) Because Here In Britain Discrimination, Inequity And Misrepresentation Remained A Problem. Now The Awards Are One of The Hottest Events In The British Theatre Calender (And Attract International Attendees).
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