RAISIN (MUSICAL)

'''Raisin''' was a musical theatre adaptation of the Lorraine Hansberry play ''A Raisin in the Sun'', with songs by Judd Woldin and Robert Brittan, and a musical book by Robert Nemiroff (who was Hansberry's former husband) and Charlotte Zaltzberg. The Tony Award-winning musical was directed by choreographed by Donald McKayle.
It was opened on Broadway on October 18, 1973 at the 46th Street Theatre after being first presented in Washington D.C. ''Raisin'' ran for 847 performances, closing on December 8, 1975. ''Raisin'' won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1974.
Lead star Virginia Capers won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and stayed in the production for the entire run. She also headlined the national tour. Other notable cast members were Joe Morton, Debbie Allen, ''Good Times'' star Ralph Carter, ''227'' star Helen Martin and Ted Ross, who would win a Tony Award a few years later as the Cowardly Lion in ''The Wiz''. Morton and Carter were nominated for Tony Awards for this production, as was Ernestine Jackson.
In 2006 it was revived at Court Theatre in Chicago, with Ernestine Jackson, formerly Ruth, playing the role of Lena Younger.

Contents

Cast

Songs

Awards and Nominations

1974 Tony Award nominations

1974 Theatre World Awards

External links

Cast

★ Ernestine Jackson (Ruth Younger)

★ Ralph Carter (Travis Younger)

★ Helen Martin (Mrs. Johnson)

★ Joe Morton (Walter Lee Younger)

★ Debbie Allen (Beneatha Younger)

★ Virginia Capers (Mama Lena Younger)

★ Robert Jackson (Joseph Asagai)

Songs

;Act I ★ Prologue - Company ★ Man Say - Walter Lee Younger ★ Whose Little Angry Man - Ruth Younger ★ Runnin' to Meet the Man - Walter Lee Younger and Company ★ A Whole Lotta Sunlight - Mama ★ Booze - Bar Girl, Bobo Jones, Walter Lee Younger, Willie Harris and Company ★ Alaiyo - Asagai and Beneatha Younger ★ African Dance - Beneatha Younger, Walter Lee Younger and Company ★ Sweet Time - Ruth Younger and Walter Lee Younger ★ You Done Right - Walter Lee Younger

;Act II ★ He Come Down This Morning - Pastor, Pastor's Wife, Mama and Mrs. Johnson ★ It's a Deal - Walter Lee Younger ★ Sweet Time (Reprise) - Ruth Younger and Walter Lee Younger ★ Sidewalk Tree - Travis Younger ★ Not Anymore - Walter Lee Younger, Ruth Younger and Beneatha Younger ★ Alaiyo (Reprise) - Asagai ★ It's a Deal (Reprise) - Walter Lee Younger ★ Measure the Valleys - Mama ★ He Come Down This Morning (Reprise) - Company

Awards and Nominations

1974 Tony Award nominations

★ Tony Award for Best Musical - Produced by Robert Nemiroff ('WINNER')

★ Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical - Robert Nemiroff, Charlotte Zaltzberg

★ Tony Award for Best Original Score - Music by Judd Woldin; Lyrics by Robert Brittan

★ Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical - Joe Morton

★ Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical - Virginia Capers ('WINNER')

★ Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Ralph Carter

★ Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Ernestine Jackson

★ Tony Award for Best Choreography - Donald McKayle

★ Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical - Donald McKayle

1974 Theatre World Awards

★ Theatre World Award - Ralph Carter ('WINNER')

★ Theatre World Award - Ernestine Jackson ('WINNER')

★ Theatre World Award - Joe Morton ('WINNER')

External links

★

★ Raisin summary