Phylicia Rashad To Direct "A Raisin In The Sun"

 LOS ANGELES  -- Actress/Director Phylicia Rashad is set to make her Los Angeles directorial debut with the Ebony Repertory Theatre's production of Lorraine Hansberry's classic play A RAISIN IN THE SUN.  Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT) is proud to return this groundbreaking play to Los Angeles for its first fully-staged production in over twenty years.  Preview performances begin on March 23, 2011, Nate Holden Performing Arts Center with Opening Night on Friday, March 25th.  The play runs through April 17, 2011 in Los Angeles. 

"Ebony Repertory Theatre is deeply honored to have the inimitable Phylicia Rashad make her Los Angeles directorial debut with our production of A Raisin In The Sun," said Wren T. Brown, Ebony Repertory Theatre, Founder / Producer.  He added, "Our late Co-Founder and Artistic Director, the brilliant Israel Hicks, would be exceedingly proud of our choice of director for this production. Israel often spoke of his immense respect for Ms. Rashad's abundant artistry and her uncommon grace. Needless to say, we are tremendously excited about the opportunity to work with this great lady of the theater."  

Rashad is a critically-acclaimed and award-winning actress whose Broadway credits include:  August Osage County, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, A Raisin in the Sun (2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play, Drama Desk Award), Jelly's Last Jam, Into the Woods, Dreamgirls, The Wiz and Ain't Supposed To Die A Natural Death.

A RAISIN IN THE SUN originally opened on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in 1959 and starred Sidney Poitier(Walter Lee Younger), Ruby Dee (Ruth Younger), Diana Sands (Beneatha Younger) and Claudia McNeil (Lena Younger).  In 2004, the Broadway revival production opened at the Royale Theatre and starred Sean Combs (Walter Lee Younger), Audra McDonald (Ruth Younger) and Phylicia Rashad (Lena Younger). Set in 1950's Chicago, this classic play portrays an African-American family's pursuit of their shared dream for a better life amid conflicting aspirations, betrayal, and racism. This timeless classic continues to shine an unflinching spotlight on America's struggle to overcome its past, while paying tribute to those courageous enough to shape a future filled with an abiding faith in the fundamental decency and unlimited capacity of the human spirit.

PHYLICIA RASHAD made her directorial debut with August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean at Seattle Repertory Company.  Broadway: August Osage County, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Cymbeline, (Lincoln Center Theatre,)August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean (Tony nomination), A Raisin in the Sun (Tony and Drama Desk Awards), Into the Woods, Dreamgirls, The Wiz. Off-Broadway: The Story, Helen, Everybody's Ruby, Blue, Bernarda Alba. Regional theater: Every Tongue Confess, Blues for an Alabama Sky, Medea. Films: For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf, Frankie and Alice,Just Wright, Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored, Loving Jezebel, The Visit. Films for TV: A Raisin In The Sun (NAACP Image Award, Emmy and SAG nominations) The Old Settler, Free of Eden. TV series: The Cosby Show, Cosby. BFA degree from the College of Fine Arts at Howard University.

About the Ebony Repertory / Wren T. Brown, Founder and Producer

Ebony Repertory Theatre established in 2007 is Los Angeles's only African-American, professional theatre company committed to bringing diverse, high standard, professional performing arts to Los Angeles, making the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center one of Los Angeles' leading cultural destinations.

Ebony Repertory Theatre is the resident company and operator of the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, which is located at 4718 West Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016.  A RAISIN IN THE SUN plays March 23 – April 17, 2011.  The performance schedule is Thursday and Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.