Hope Clarke Brings DIANA SANDS to Juneteenth Legacy Theatre, Now thru 5/20

Actress Diana Sands (1934-1973) refused to be bound by stereotypes. An African-American woman who knew full well the sting of prejudice, she constantly searched for roles with strength and dignity while battling the mindset of the entertainment establishment. Often overlooked today, her story and legacy will be told by Tony Award nominee Hope Clarke (Caroline or Change, Jelly's Last Jam) in the world premiere of Steve Willis' Diana Sands: A Certain Toughness of Spirit. Directed by Sue Lawless, the show begins performances tonight, May 15 at the Workshop Theatre Company's Jewel Box Theatre, at 312 West 36th Street, on the 4th floor. 

Best remembered for playing Beneatha Younger in the film version of Raisin in the Sun, the role she created on Broadway, Diana Sands was at the forefront when it came to non-traditional casting. She won major roles in works by Shakespeare and Shaw and originated the female lead in Broadway's Owl and the Pussycat, a part written for a white woman. But she was also cast in forgettable roles in movies like Ensign Pulver, which had her cast as a happy native woman on a south sea island. A lifelong chain smoker, she succumbed to cancer in 1973 at the age of 39.

Diana Sands: a Certain Toughness of Spirit stars Hope Clarke. Ms. Clarke was a contemporary of Diana, and the two performed together on the road in Hallelujah Baby!. Recalling those not-so-long ago turbulent times, Ms. Clarke brings to life Diana's story in this biographical drama. In addition to her work on Broadway, Ms. Clarke was the first Black woman to direct and choreograph the opera musical Porgy and Bess, which was commissioned by the Houston Opera.

Juneteenth Legacy Theatre presented a reading of Diana Sands last year as a one-woman show, as well as Steve Willis' Passing Ceremonies as a reading, workshop (Fresh Fruit Festival) and fully-mounted production in Louisville and the Nuyorican Poets Café, 2009-11. In 2006 Willis was awarded a Scholar in Residence appointment at New York University to begin work on a play about Diana Sands.

Both of Willis' plays were directed by Sue Lawless, who has staged hundreds of Broadway (5 O’Clock Girl), Off-Broadway (In Gay Company), regional productions and worked internationally with The Theatre Guild. Lawless’ JLT credits are: The Lives of Young Black Folk (NYCFringe Festival); Motion and Location (Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival); Passing Ceremonies (7th Annual Fresh Fruit Festival); Juneteenth Blues Cabaret and The Last Dust Track on tour; and Faith, Hope, and Charity: The Mary McLeod Bethune Story.

Diana Sands: a Certain Toughness of Spirit features sets & props by Dara Wishingrad, costumes by Ali Turns and lighting by Thurston Reyes. Production stage manager is Fulton Hodges.

Diana Sands: a Certain Toughness of Spirit will be performed from May 15 - May 20 at the Workshop Theater Company's Jewel Box Theater, at 312 West 36th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues, on the fourth floor. Show times are Tuesday-Saturday at 7pm with matinees Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 3pm. Tickets are $25.00 for evenings, $20.00 on matinees. For tickets call 212-868-4444, or go to www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showcode=DIA11.

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