ECC Theatre presents Lorraine Hansberry's 'To Be Young, Gifted, and Black' Oct. 30-Nov. 8
Elgin Community College Theatre's fall production of "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black: A Portrait of Lorraine Hansberry in Her Own Words" will be held Friday, Oct. 30, through Sunday, Nov. 8.
The production, a celebration of the life and work of "A Raisin in the Sun" playwright Lorraine Hansberry, is directed by Susan A. Robinson, ECC theater instructor and program coordinator. Performances will be held at the ECC Arts Center, Building H on the Spartan Drive campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3 p.m. Sundays.
Adapted by Robert Nemiroff, Hansberry's friend and husband, "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black" weaves together Hansberry's plays, letters, diaries, and poems into a stunning collage that tells the life story of this groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright. Born on the South Side of Chicago in 1930, Hansberry received the 1959 Pulitzer Prize and widespread acclaim for her play "A Raisin in the Sun." Hansberry was the first African-American woman writer to have her work produced on Broadway, was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, and continued to write and produce until her untimely death at age 34.
"While I was searching through our small theater library at ECC, I found this script that included scenes not only from 'A Raisin in the Sun' but from all of Lorraine Hansberry's other plays as well, and it featured a diverse cast," says director Susan A. Robinson. "The first time I read it I was struck by the beauty of her words, the range of her work and characters, and the relevance of the play to today. This play provides a chance for discussion of important issues of race, social justice, and the power of art."
Asked what she'd like audiences to take away from the production, Robinson says, "'To Be Young, Gifted, and Black' is beautifully crafted together to present a picture of issues that all of us need to come to terms with. It is also a portrait of hope, of belief in the power of art, and of our responsibility to embrace and empower all artists, and in particular, our young artists of color."
Tickets for ECC Theatre's production are $11 or $9 for students and seniors. Note: this production contains mature content and language. Tickets for all performances at the ECC Arts Center are available online at tickets.elgin.edu or at the ECC Arts Center box office. Box office hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. To purchase tickets by phone, call (847) 622-0300. All major credit cards are accepted.
"To Be Young, Gifted, and Black" is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc.