TimeLine Theatre's A RAISIN IN THE SUN Begins Tonight

TimeLine Theatre Company begins its 2013-14 season with the award-winning play that "changed American theater forever" (The New York Times). A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, directed by Ron OJ Parson, runs August 28 - November 17, 2013 (previews today, August 20 - 25) at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave, Chicago. Press Opening performance is Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

To purchase tickets or for more information, call the TimeLine Theatre Box Office at 773.281.8463 x6 or buy online at timelinetheatre.com.

A Raisin in the Sun brings together an extraordinary array of acclaimed artists from Chicago and beyond to tell the powerful story of an African-American family living in a crowded apartment on Chicago's South Side during the 1950s. The cast, led byGreta Oglesby (Phylicia Rashad's standby for the role of Lena Younger on Broadway and Jeff Award winner for Supporting Actress in a Play for Do Lord Remember Me at Chicago Theatre Company) as Lena "Mama" Younger and TimeLine Company MemberMildred Marie Langford (TimeLine's In Darfur and My Kind of Town) as Beneatha Younger, also features Wardell Julius Clark, Justin James Farley, Jerod Haynes,Alex Henderson, Toni Martin, Chris Rickett, Daryl Satcher and Oscar Vasquez.

"Though written more than 50 years ago, A Raisin in the Sun-arguably the greatest play set in Chicago-has as much to say about our city now as it did in the 1950s, and our team of artists is delving into this classic in a way that intimately brings audiences inside the Youngers' apartment and struggles," said TimeLine Artistic Director PJ Powers. "For those who ask why we choose to tackle A Raisin in the Sunnow, I point to nearly every local headline that currently dominates our news and say: Because it's a story about Chicago-then and now and hopefully not forever."

A Raisin in the Sun is a poignant drama about the Younger family, who believe that a better life is just around the corner. But they are challenged when their plan to buy a home in the Clybourne Park neighborhood is thwarted by racial intolerance. This award-winning play celebrates faith, courage and the human spirit, even as it spotlights divisions that still plague Chicago more than 60 years after the play is set.

A Raisin in the Sun had its Broadway premiere at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on March 11, 1959, and the play was nominated for four Tony Awards in 1960. Resonating across generations, it served as inspiration for the Pulitzer Prize-winningClybourne Park by Bruce Norris and for Kwame Kwei-Armah's new play Beneatha's Place, which premiered at Baltimore's Center Stage in May 2013.

"It's hard to put into words what this play means to me, and to be inside of it once again," said director Ron OJ Parson. "It's an 'original' American classic, which has changed my life forever-not only as a director, writer, actor and artist, but most of all, a human being."

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE/EVENTS

PREVIEWS: Tuesday, August 20; Wednesday, August 21; Friday, August 23; andSaturday, August 24 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, August 25 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

OPENINGS: Press Opening on Wednesday, August 28 at 7:30 p.m.; Opening Night onThursday, August 29 at 7:30 p.m.

REGULAR RUN: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through November 17, 2013.

DISCUSSIONS: Discussions are scheduled on Wednesday, September 4; Sunday, September 8; Thursday, September 26; Sunday, September 29; Thursday, October 3;Sunday, October 6; Wednesday, October 9; Thursday, October 17; and Sunday, October 20. For a description of planned discussions, visit timelinetheatre.com.

COMPANY MEMBER DISCUSSION: A free post-show discussion with TimeLine Company members will be held on Sunday, November 10.

Tickets are $35 (Wednesday through Friday), $45 (Saturday) and $48 (Sunday). Preview tickets are $22. Student discount is $10 off the regular ticket price with valid ID. Special rates for groups of 10 or more are available. Advance purchase is recommended as performances may sell out. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the TimeLine Theatre Box Office at 773.281.8463 x6 or buy online at timelinetheatre.com.

A Raisin in the Sun will take place at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. TimeLine Theatre is located near the corner of Wellington and Broadway, inside the Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ building, in Chicago's Lakeview East neighborhood. The location is served by multiple CTA trains and buses. The LAZ Parking Lot at 3012 N. Broadway is the closest parking and costs $6 for 1-5 hours. TimeLine also offers discounted parking at the Standard Parking garages at Broadway Center ($8 with validation; 2846 N. Broadway, at Surf) or the Century Mall ($9 with validation; 2836 N. Clark). There is also limited free and metered street parking. There are two flights of stairs (18 steps) between the street and the theater space, with no elevator.

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