BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//jEvents 2.0 for Joomla//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20241103T010000 RDATE:20250309T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:America/New_York EST END:STANDARD BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20251102T010000 RDATE:20260308T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:America/New_York EST END:STANDARD BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20261101T010000 RDATE:20270314T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:America/New_York EST END:STANDARD BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20271107T010000 RDATE:20280312T030000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:America/New_York EST END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20240918T000000 RDATE:20241103T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:America/New_York EDT END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20250309T030000 RDATE:20251102T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:America/New_York EDT END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20260308T030000 RDATE:20261101T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:America/New_York EDT END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20270314T030000 RDATE:20271107T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:America/New_York EDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT UID:8aff89b7f07692b47fa752e7a9fec610 CATEGORIES:Family Fun SUMMARY:A Raisin in the Sun LOCATION:Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts 100 East McDowell Street Matthews , NC 28105 DESCRIPTION;ENCODING=QUOTED-PRINTABLE:A gripping domestic drama that captures the African American experience thr ough the pursuit of the American Dream.\n\nMATTHEWS, NC — Matthews Playhous e of the Performing Arts, in partnership with BNS Productions, proudly open s its 30th Mainstage Season with Lorraine Hansberry’s seminal drama A Raisi n in the Sun, directed by Dr. Corlis Hayes. Performances will run from Sept ember 19 through September 28, 2025, at the Matthews Community Center Theat re.\n\nWhen A Raisin in the Sun was produced in 1959, Hansberry became the first Black woman to have a play produced on Broadway. Celebrated writer Ja mes Baldwin said that “never before in the entire history of the American t heatre had so much of the truth of Black people’s lives been seen on the st age.”\n\nSet on Chicago’s South Side in the 1950s, A Raisin in the Sun foll ows the Younger family as they contend with inherited dreams, generational divides, and systemic injustice. When an insurance check arrives following the death of the family patriarch, each member must decide how to move forw ard—and whether their dreams can survive a harsh and often discriminatory w orld. Hansberry’s groundbreaking work remains one of the most influential A merican plays of the 20th century, rich in emotional depth, racial truth, a nd familial resilience.\n\n“What drew my interest in directing A Raisin in the Sun is its similarities to August Wilson's Fences,” said Director, Dr. Corlis Hayes. “Family matters and power relations are two themes shared by both masterpieces. Clearly, in these two dramas, The Youngers go through is sues like the death of a loved one, just like Troy's family in Fences. Han sberry's classic work A Raisin in the Sun, like Wilson's Fences, proves tha t a play set in 50's with themes that portray the black experience are just as relevant today,” says Dr. Hayes. “Now you know the story..... Now come check out the play!” continues Dr. Hayes.\n\nDr. Hayes has received numerou s awards for her work. They include two Best Drama Awards from Creative Loa fing: 2014's SIZWE BANSI IS DEAD (Carolina Actors Studio Theatre), and 2017 's JITNEY (Brand New Sheriff Productions). She received a 2020 Broadway Wor ld Award (Best Play and Director) for FENCES, and a 2019 Metrolina Theatre Association Award (Best Play and Director) for TWO TRAINS RUNNING, both wit h Brand New Sheriff Productions. In 2022, she received another Metrolina Th eatre Association Award (Best Director) for MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM. Born and raised in "The Gateway City" of St. Louis, Dr. Hayes now resides in Cha rlotte. She holds a PhD from Southern Illinois University, where she also r eceived a Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Liberal Arts.\n\nA Raisin in the Sun broke down barriers on and off stage. Each of the Younge rs, a Black family, has a different view of how to spend their father’s lif e insurance settlement to better the family. Will they open a business, sen d Beneatha to medical school, or move to an all-white suburb? Hansberry’s m asterpiece seeks answers to the still-relevant questions posed in Langston Hughes’ poem Harlem: What happens to a dream deferred?\n\nCAST\n\nRuth You nger – Renee Welch Noel / Nasha Shandri\nWalter Lee Younger – Jonavan Adams '/ Justin Peoples\nLena “Mama” Younger – Lillie Oden\nTravis Younger – Thad deus Faustin / Solomon Doleman\nBeneatha Younger - Mikayla Broome / K. Alan a Jones\nJoseph Asagai – Dionte Darko / Kahlil Allen\nGeorge Murchison – Sh a’Heed J. Brooks\nBobo – Bobby Tyson\nKarl Lindner – Henk Bouhuys\nMrs. Joh nson – Shar Marlin / Ericka Ross\nMovers – Robert Rankin, Dionte Darko, Ror y Sheriff\n\nPerformance Schedule\nAll evening shows at 7:30 PM; matinees a t 2:00 PM\n\n• Fri, Sept. 19 | Sat, Sept. 20 | Sun, Sept. 21\n• Thu, Sept. 25 (Pay-What-You-Can)\n• Fri, Sept. 26 | Sat, Sept. 27 | Sun, Sept. 28\n\nP ay‑What‑You‑Can Night - Thursday, September 25 at 7:30 PM – General admissi on seating; suggested donation of $10.\n\nEvents:\nSaturday, September 20, from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM - Character Analysis workshop.\nSaturday, Septembe r 27, after the 2 PM Matinee - Panel Discussion - Black home ownership disp arity and additional themes from A Raisin in the Sun.\n\nTickets:\n\nAdults – Premium: $30 | Zone 2: $26 | Zone 3: $23\n\nSeniors / Military / Student s / Children – Premium: $27 | Zone 2: $23 | Zone 3: $20\n\nTickets can be p urchased online at matthewsplayhouse.com or at the door (door sales are Pre mium price only).\n\nRun Time & Audience - Approximately 2 hours and 15 min utes. Recommended for ages 13 and up.\n\nAbout Matthews Playhouse\n\nMatthe ws Playhouse of the Performing Arts is a nonprofit community theater dedica ted to enriching lives through the performing arts. Now celebrating its 30t h Mainstage Season, the Playhouse provides high-quality productions, theatr e education, and outreach in the Charlotte-Matthews area.\n\nAbout BNS Prod uctions\n\nBNS is an award-winning professional theatre company, and the on ly Black repertory theatre company in the greater Charlotte area. Their mis sion is to inspire, help, teach, and learn together as we heal and love eac h other. They aspire to educate, amaze, and inform through the creation and performance of relevant and provocative African American theater productio ns. Learn more at bnsproductions.org.\n\n\nThis is a Weekly Recurring Event \nRuns from Sep 19, 2025 to Sep 28, 2025 and happens every:\nFridays: 7:30p m - 9:30pm Timezone: EDT\nSaturdays: 2:00pm - 4:00pm Timezone: EDT\nSaturda ys: 7:30pm - 9:30pm Timezone: EDT\nSundays: 2:00pm - 4:00pm Timezone: EDT\n X-EXTRAINFO:Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts 100 East McDowell Street Matthews , NC 28105 DTSTAMP:20260627T154109Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York;VALUE=DATE:20250919 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York;VALUE=DATE:20250920 SEQUENCE:0 RRULE:FREQ=DAILY;COUNT=1;INTERVAL=1 TRANSP:OPAQUE END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR