(DEAL PARK, NJ) -- To mark the 50th anniversary of its 1973 premiere on Broadway, the Axelrod Performing Arts Center is presenting the musical Raisin now through March 12. The musical is based on Lorraine Hansberry’s classic A Raisin in the Sun, which explores a Black family's journey to a better life as they aspire to move out of the projects in the Southside of Chicago in the 1950s. Raisin is a poignant reflection on the American Dream. Photographer John Posada was there to take photos.
This rare revival of Raisin, one of the most unjustly neglected musicals in Broadway history, is presented with the approval of the Hansberry Estate in association with production consultant Phylicia Rashad, winner of the 2004 Tony Award for Best Actress in A Raisin in the Sun.
Raisin, which has been praised for its ravishingly beautiful score, stars Fredi Walker-Browne as family matriarch Lena Younger. Walker-Browne is best known for creating the role of Joanne Jefferson in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical Rent. Most recently, she has appeared in HBO’s Search Party, in Showtime’s Emmy Award-winning series The Big C and alongside Greta Gerwig, Ethan Hawke and Julianne Moore in the film Maggie’s Plan.
The Axelrod production is directed by Evelyn Collins, founder of the Denzel Washington School of the Arts, and will be a major part of New Jersey’s Black History Month observations. Choreography is by tap legend Dormeshia from Broadway’s After Midnight.
Rounding out the cast is Ethan Joseph, who recently made his Broadway debut in The Tina Turner Musical, as Travis Younger; Eric R. Williams (Into the Woods, Dreamgirls) is Walter Lee Younger; Gia Ware portrays Ruth Younger; Alexandria Reese is Beneatha Younger; Neptune’s MOZIAH is Joseph Asagai and Burt Conrad of Rumson is Karl Lindner.
In Raisin, Hansberry's classic story is transformed into a soulful, inspiring musical following a Black family’s quest for a better life. It explodes in song, dance and incisive human drama. With a book by Hansberry’s widower Robert Nemiroff and Charlotte Zaltzberg, music by Judd Woldin and lyrics by Robert Brittan, Raisin ran for more than two years on Broadway and enjoyed a record-breaking national tour. It was nominated for nine Tony Awards in 1974, including Best Book and Best Score, and took top prize for Best Musical. Raisin also won the 1975 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
In 1953, when the musical starring Debbie Allen and Joe Morton opened on Broadway, New York Times critic Clive Barnes noted that the book of the musical “is perhaps even better than the play... Raisin is one of those unusual musicals that should not only delight people who love musicals but might also well delight people who don't.”
"We are honored to be collaborating with TV and theater legend Phylicia Rashad and her close colleague, director Evelyn Collins to bring this historic revival to life," said Axelrod Artistic Director Andrew DePrisco. “Of all the lost musicals in Broadway history, Raisin may be the one show that most deserves to be heard and seen again, especially at the present time. It’s a powerful, beautiful story of hope, and audiences can expect to be entertained and moved by this new production.”
Performances run from now through March 12. Tickets are $32 to $63 and are available at (732) 531-9106, ext. 14 or www.axelrodartscenter.com. Group rates available. The Axelrod Performing Arts Center is located at 100 Grant Ave., Deal Park (Ocean Township), just five minutes from downtown Asbury Park with plenty of free parking.
Here are more photos from the production.
Raisin is presented with special permission by Concord Theatricals.
John Posada is a New Jersey based photographer specializing in photographing live theatre and music performances. For more than 15 years, John has photographed live events where he mastered the techniques of timing and capturing fast moving action under challenging lighting conditions. Currently, John has spent the last 3 years concentrating on photographing almost 200 theatre productions for over 70 different theatres. Click here for John's website.
