A Kansas City, Kan., student is in the cast of the production “A Raisin in the Sun” at the University of Kansas, Lawrence.
Orlando Newton, Kansas City, Kan., senior, is playing the role of George Murchison in the play.
The production, which was a hit on Broadway and also was a movie by the same name, will open Feb. 27 in Lawrence.
Two other Kansas City, Kan., students are assisting with the crew of the play. Casey McNamara, Kansas City, Kan., a graduate student, is the lighting designer; and Jenifer Harmon, Kansas City, Kan., graduate student, is the scenic designer.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27-28 and March 6-7, and at 2:30 p.m. March 1 and 8 in the Crafton-Preyer Theatre at Murphy Hall.
“This play has a timeless quality that can speak to struggles across racial, class and gender lines, while also specifically speaking to challenges that African-Americans face in this country to realize the fullness of their humanity,” said Nicole Hodges Persley, director and assistant professor in theatre.
“Hansberry pushes us to think about who has access to the American dream narratives, how it is our collective responsibility as human beings to make sure that everyone has a shot at obtaining their version of it,” Persley said.