A Raisin in the Sun | Photo © Ikin Yum
Exclusive license granted by Joi Gresham and the Lorraine Hansberry Literary Trust (LHLT) for limited use of scenes from A Raisin in the Sun.
"There is always something left to love. And if you ain't learned that, you ain't learned nothing."
– A Raisin in the Sun, Act 3’
After many years of requests from the DT+ community, we are thrilled to announce that teaching materials for Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun are now available on DT+ for US and UK subscribers.
Lorraine Hansberry was the first Black woman to have a play produced on Broadway, and the 1959 play is now a staple of English and Theatre curricula. It tackles important themes of race, economic disparity, family dynamics, and the pursuit of the American Dream, and provides a springboard for social justice discussions around the Civil Rights Era.
"We are thrilled to bring key scene extracts and cast interviews from Tinuke Craig's fantastic production of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun to Digital Theatre+ users in the US and UK. Digital Theatre+ aims to provide every teacher with dynamic, engaging resources that will light up their classroom, and today's announcement is a perfect example of how we are achieving that goal."
– Clare Turner, Digital Theatre+ CEO
"Headlong is delighted to be collaborating with Digital Theatre on A Raisin in the Sun. It’s thrilling to see scenes from Tinuke Craig’s exceptional production continue to live on this platform, ensuring Hansberry’s vital story remains accessible to students internationally."
– Holly Race Roughan, Headlong Artistic Director
The DT+ Collection includes...
8 Key Scene Extracts
Each 5-minute scene showcases one of the most powerful moments of the play, including:
- Act 1, Scene 1: Lena and Ruth Discuss the Insurance
- Act 1, Scene 2: Walter Lee and Lena's Views on Money
- Act 3: Mr. Lindner Hears the Youngers' Decision
These key scene extracts were captured live by DT+ from Tinuke Craig's 2024 production, a Headlong, Leeds Playhouse, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, and Nottingham Playhouse co-production.
Exclusive Cast Interviews
Alongside these key scenes, students can gain valuable insights into character development and critical theatre analysis through exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews:
- Solomon Israel on Playing Walter Lee
- Doreene Blackstock on Playing Lena
- Joséphine-Fransilja Brookman on Playing Beneatha
- Kenneth Omole on Playing Joseph Asagai
- Jonah Russell on Playing Mr. Lindner
A Raisin in the Sun | Photo © Ikin Yum
Additional Learning Resources
As with all DT+ resources, we aim to provide dynamic and adaptable learning tools, and this collection will be no exception.
Written and video resources will perfectly complement the key scenes available to watch, while the diverse library on DT+ provides rich avenues into 'Compare & Contrast' activities on key themes, literary techniques, and historical contexts.
Ready to inspire your students?
Not a DT+ customer? Explore Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun on DT+!
If you already have a subscription, click here to view the full collection.
Please note: A Raisin in the Sun materials are only available for subscribers in the US and UK.