Kenny Leon confirms cast for ‘Raisin’ 2014 Revival

Tony-nominated Kenny Leon will direct a revival of A Raisin in the Sun

Posted by | Ray Cornelius

Last night while attending a performance of Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company production of Shakin’ the Rafters, the Tony-nominated director confirmed the all-star cast for his upcoming revival of A Raisin in the Sun.

A very excited Kenny Leon announced before a sold out 14th Street Playhouse that his 2014 Broadway production of the Lorraine Hansberry classic would indeed star Denzel Washington as Walter Lee Young, Diahann Carroll as Lena Younger, Sophie Okenedo as Ruth Younger and Anika Noni Rose as Beneatha Younger. This was pretty big news considering, I had recently posted a story announcing that Washington was returning to Broadway in the revival and that Carroll was rumored to be playing his mother. This production will also be a homecoming of sorts for Carroll, considering the legendary TV and film actress hasn’t performed on the Broadway stage in over 30 years.

According to Broadwayworld.com, the show will be produced by Scott Rudin and is set to begin previews March 8, 2014. Opening night for the show is April 3 at the Barrymore Theater, the same house where the original production of A Raisin in the Sun  opened 55 years ago. The show is expected to run for 14 weeks through June 15, 2014.

As previously reported, A Raisin in the Sun  tells the story of a family’s shared dream for a better life that was almost deferred by conflicting aspirations, betrayal and racism.

According to Leon, tickets for the show will go on sale around the Labor Day Holiday!

Kudos to Leon and all the actors!

Photography Credit: OriginalPeople.org