Centerstage > 2012-13 Season > The Raisin Cycle

Beneatha’s Place and Clybourne Park will be produced in rotating repertory as The Raisin Cycle, using a single company of actors and shared design team, under the direction of Derrick Sanders. In presenting Clybourne Park and Beneatha’s Place side by side, CENTERSTAGE will explore with its audiences the monumental legacy of A Raisin in the Sun and, through the conversation among these plays, a range of perspectives on the state of race and class in our contemporary communities.

Though each production runs through June 16, please check the calendar for specific performance dates.

PLEASE NOTE The plays in The Raisin Cycle can be seen in any order. Both plays were inspired by A Raisin in the Sun and characters from that play are seen in both Clybourne Park and Beneatha’s Place. Their story lines, however, do not depend on previous experience with A Raisin in the Sun and the plays each present different stories and themes. While Beneatha's Place was written in response to Clybourne Park and A Raisin in the Sun it is not necessary to have seen either of those plays first.

Clybourne Park

The Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning play taking America by storm, Clybourne Park picks up where Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun left off, in a satiric look at race and gentrification.

Approximate running time is two hours including one 15-minute intermission. Latecomers will be seated at the house manager's discretion.

Beneatha's Place

Beneatha Younger, the intellectual and restless young woman in A Raisin in the Sun, is given a new life and path far beyond that iconic Chicago living room. From 1959 to today, and from her home in Nigeria to her career at a California university, Beneatha’s Place explores the power of identity as one woman confronts the fundamental questions of community and legacy.

Approximate running time is two hours including one 15-minute intermission. Latecomers will be seated at the house manager's discretion.

The Raisin Cycle is made possible by
support from:

50th Anniversary Season
Presenting Sponsor:

50th Anniversary Season Sponsors:

The National Endowment for the Arts

The William L. and Victorine Q. Adams Foundation and The Rodgers Family Fund

The Edgerton Foundation

The Annie E. Casey Foundation

The Eddie C. and C. Sylvia Brown Family Foundation

With additional support from:

Media Partners:

T. Rowe Price Foundation

The Rouse Company Foundation

Lynn and Tony Deering
and The Charlesmead Foundation
Ellen and Ed Bernard
Stephanie and Ashton Carter
James and Janet Clauson
Jane and Larry Droppa
Terry Morgenthaler and Patrick Kerins
Judy and Scott Phares
Phil & Lynn Rauch
Jay & Sharon Smith
Barbara Voss and Charles E. Noell, III

50th Anniversary Season
Associate Sponsors:

Kathleen Hyle
Kenneth C. and Elizabeth M. Lundeen

Open publication

Auntie Fola Kim Bey*	Tunde Eric Burton	Russ/Dan & Peter Nelson/Gary Jacobs Jonathan Crombie*
Francine/Lena & Beneatha Jessica Frances Dukes*	Albert/Kevin & Joseph Asagai/Wale Oguns Charlie Hudson, III*	Bev/Kathy & Harriet Banks Beth Hylton*
Jim/Tom/Kenneth Jacob H Knoll*	Karl/Steve & Daniel Barnes/Mark Bond James Ludwig*	Betsy/Lindsey & Mrs. Nelson Jenna Sokolowski*

Stage Manager Laura Smith*	Assistant Stage Manager Captain Kate Murphy*	Assistant Stage Manager Caitlin Powers*

Director Derrick Sanders	Scenic Designer Jack Magaw	Costume Designer Reggie Ray
Lighting Designer Thom Weaver	Sound Designer Elisheba Ittoop	Hair and Wigs Greg Bazmore, Linda Cavell
Production Dramaturg Gavin Witt	Voice and Text Evamarii Johnson	Casting Director Tara Rubin
Assistant Directors Sakina Ansari-Wilson, Jeff Kirkman

*Member of Actors' Equity Association

The Raisin Cycle Features

Playwright takes on ‘Clybourne Park’ with new work—Associated Press

Raisin Awareness: Kwame Kwei-Armah keeps his vow to bring CENTERSTAGE national exposure—The Baltimore Sun

For Sons of ‘Raisin,’ a Back-to-Back Duel—New York Times

Kwame Kwei-Armah With Mark Lawson on Beneatha's Place—BBC Front Row

Two Scoops—City Paper

CENTERSTAGE's Kwame Kwei-Armah On Building Beneatha's Place—WYPR

New Centerstage play rewrites the script on race—Bmore Media

Cameo: Kwame Kwei-Armah—Baltimore Magazine

Hansberry’s long shadow in Raisin Cycle—The Washington Post

Clybourne Park Gets A Sibling—The Wall Street Journal

A Raisin in the Sun inspires spinoffs and debate—The Boston Globe

Karl Linder a common character—The MetroWest Daily News

See The Raisin Cycle Press Release here.

Beneatha's Place Reviews

"let’s hope that others adopt [Kwei-Armah’s] impulse to keep the talk flowing."—The Washington Post

"CENTERSTAGE has crafted a surprisingly original and thought-provoking response to Norris’ play"—MD Theatre Guide

"performances are first rate"—Broadway World

"…thoughtful, beautifully crafted addition to the legacy of A Raisin in the Sun."—WYPR

"If Beneatha’s Place were only about responding to Clybourne Park, it would have marginal interest. But the new work, neatly spiced with humor, irony and history lessons, has enough substance in its own right."—The Baltimore Sun

"courageous world premiere"—DC Theatre Scene

"the actors are stellar…a hit in the making."—Baltimore Fishbowl

"poignant and politically charged drama"—DC Metro Theater Arts

Clybourne Park Reviews

"smart and heart-wrenching"—MD Theatre Guide

"first rate"—Broadway World

"isn’t merely clever—it’s smart… Explodes the modern day hot air balloon of political correctness."—WYPR

"a potent Baltimore premiere… wonderfully wicked humor"—The Baltimore Sun

"crackling, pointed dialogue… dazzling"—DC Theatre Scene

"superb production… Don’t miss it!"—DC Metro Theater Arts

"uproarious"—Baltimore Post-Examiner

ETC (Expanding the Cycle): A collection of events, programs, and discussions surrounding themes explored in The Raisin Cycle.

Both Clybourne Park and Beneatha’s Place raise tough questions and rouse passionate opinions; we hope to provide outlets for both, to enhance and activate your play-watching and to spark meaningful civic discussion. These participatory events will be scheduled throughout the run. See below for a current listing of ETC events and learn how to see both Clybourne Park and Beneatha's Place in just one day on our special Cycle Days.

Expanding the Cycle Schedule
Cycle Days

Thursday, May 23
ForeWords 6:30 pm & AfterThoughts 9 pm—Pre- and post-show discussions with artistic staff, offering an in-depth look at the world of the play.

Friday, May 24
Post-show Gig 10 pm—Grab a drink and join us in The Deering Lobby after the show for a musical performance with local artist, Charm City Social Club.

Sunday, May 26
Talk Back 4 pm—Open forum conversations moderated by a member of the CENTERSTAGE staff.

Thursday, May 30
Talk Back 9 pm—Open forum conversations moderated by a member of the CENTERSTAGE staff.

Friday, May 31
Post-show Gig 10 pm—Grab a drink and join us in The Deering Lobby after the show for a musical performance by local artist Ama Chandra.

Sunday, June 2
ForeWords 1:30 pm & AfterThoughts 4 pm—Pre- and post-show discussions with artistic staff, offering an in-depth look at the world of the play.

Thursday, June 6
Talk Back 9 pm—Open forum conversations moderated by a member of the CENTERSTAGE staff.

Friday, June 7
Post-show Gig 10 pm—Grab a drink and join us in The Deering Lobby after the show for a musical performance by local artist DeMerris featuring Winston Philip.

Saturday, June 8
Behind the Rep 4 pm—Watch as our production crew changes from one set to another, and learn about the process of rotating rep with Production Manager Mike Schleifer.

Sunday, June 9
Talk Back 4 pm—Open forum conversations moderated by a member of the CENTERSTAGE staff.

Thursday, June 13
Talk Back 9 pm—Open forum conversations moderated by a member of the CENTERSTAGE staff.

Friday, June 14
Post-show Gig 10 pm—Grab a drink and join us in The Deering Lobby after the show for a musical performance by local artist Wordsmith.

Sunday, June 16
Talk Back 4 pm—Open forum conversations moderated by a member of the CENTERSTAGE staff.

Expanding the Cycle is supported by the Howard County Arts Council through a grant from Howard County. Special thanks to Rep Stage and the Horwitz Center at Howard County Community College.

We have a feeling that the conversation surrounding The Raisin Cycle might be so engaging, some people will want to absorb it all in one day. Plan to spend a Saturday or Sunday with us seeing both Clybourne Park and Beneatha's Place. Plus with our special Cycle Ticket for just $79 you’re saving up to 32% over purchasing each individually!

PLEASE NOTE You must call the CENTERSTAGE Box Office by phone at 410.332.0033 in order to purchase Cycle Tickets for the Sundays listed below.

Check out the dates here:

Saturday, May 25
2 pm Beneatha’s Place
8 pm Clybourne Park

Sunday, May 26
2 pm Clybourne Park*
7:30 pm Beneatha’s Place
*Post-show; join us for an open forum conversation moderated by a member of the CENTERSTAGE staff.

Saturday, June 1
2 pm Clybourne Park
8 pm Beneatha’s Place

Sunday, June 2
2 pm Beneatha’s Place*
7:30pm Clybourne Park
*Pre- and post-show, join us for ForeWords (1:30 pm) and AfterThoughts (4 pm) for discussions with CENTERSTAGE artistic staff, offering an in-depth look at the world of the play.

Saturday, June 8
2 pm Beneatha’s Place*
8 pm Clybourne Park
*Post-show, join us for Behind the Rep to watch as our production crew changes from one set to another, and learn about the process of rotating rep with Production Manager Mike Schleifer.

Sunday, June 16
2 pm Clybourne Park*
7:30 pm Beneatha’s Place
*Post-show; join us for an open forum conversation moderated by a member of the CENTERSTAGE staff.

PLEASE NOTE The plays in The Raisin Cycle can be seen in any order. Both plays were inspired by A Raisin in the Sun and characters from that play are seen in both Clybourne Park and Beneatha’s Place. Their story lines, however, do not depend on previous experience with A Raisin in the Sun and the plays each present different stories and themes. While Beneatha's Place was written in response to Clybourne Park and A Raisin in the Sun it is not necessary to have seen either of those plays first.

Need something to do in Mount Vernon between shows? Click here to see all the wonderful options for dining and entertainment in our neighborhood.

2012-13 Season