Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965) was one of the major playwrights of the 20th century. Her groundbreaking play, A Raisin in the Sun, was the first play produced on Broadway that was written by an African-American woman. It was a huge success, and it ran for 530 performances. A Raisin in the Sun won a New York Drama Critics Circle Award. It also was nominated for four Tony Awards for Best Play, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress.
A Raisin in the Sun opened up a new era of opportunity for Black female playwrights. In 1961, the play was made into a film with Sidney Poitier and Claude McNeil in the starring roles.
Lorraine Hansberry was a native of Chicago, Illinois. Her second play, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window opened on Broadway in 1964 and ran for 100 performances. The last performance was in January 12, 1965, and Lorraine died on that same day from complications arising from pancreatic cancer.
In 1973, Lorraine Hansberry’s ex-husband, Robert Nemiroff, adapted A Raisin in the Sun into a musical, and it played on Broadways for three years.
