African-American Shakespeare Company Cancels XTIGONE, Replaces with RAISIN IN THE SON

San Francisco's African-American Shakespeare Company has announced that due to unforeseen circumstances the company's World Premiere of Nambi E. Kelley's, XTIGONE, directed by Darrel V. Jones, has been postponed, and removed from African-American Shakespeare Company's current season schedule. A RAISIN IN THE SUN, Lorraine Hansberry's timeless play about a 1950s-era Chicago family longing for a better life, will be the third and final production of the company's 2011-12 season.

"Both the playwright and Artistic Director believe that, at this time, the final product would not reflect the artistic vision and excellence warranted of all of the hard work that has gone into making this production happen," said African-American Shakespeare Company Executive Director Sherri Young.

"Everyone involved with Xtigone has sacrificed to make this project work, and it is not without a heavy heart that we have come to this decision," said African-American Shakespeare Company Artistic Director L. Peter Callender. "With all good intentions the elements were not coming together as readily as everyone would have liked and hoped. Instead of continuing forward, we have decided the best thing to do would be to pull back and allow more time for development of the entire process with a new team."

African-American Shakespeare Company Artistic Director L. Peter Callender will direct A RAISIN IN THE SUN. "I am thrilled to direct this seminal American drama for African-American Shakespeare Company," said Callender. "It is a fiercely moving portrait of people whose hopes and dreams are constantly deferred. It is not just an African-American play, but an American play; it is a play that still resonates and speaks to all of us."

A RAISIN IN THE SUN plays May 12 through 27 at the Buriel Clay Theater at the African American Art & Culture Complex in San Francisco. For tickets ($10-35) and more information, the public may call 1-800-838-3006 or visit African-AmericanShakes.org.

Set on Chicago's South Side in the 1950s, A RAISIN IN THE SUN follows the divergent dreams and conflicts within three generations of a black family. Determined to live a better life, they believe that they can succeed, and retain their dignity, in the harsh and changing world around them if they stick together and resolve to no longer defer their dreams. A RAISIN IN THE SUN was the first play written by an African-American woman to be produced on Broadway; the title comes from the poem "Harlem"(also known as "A Dream Deferred") by Langston Hughes. This groundbreaking drama starred Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeill, Ruby Dee, and Diana Sands in the Broadway production, which opened in 1959; a film version was released in 1961 featuring the original Broadway cast. The original Broadway production ran for 530 performances and won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play; it received its first Broadway revival in 2004, starring Phylicia Rashad (Tony Award Best Actress in a Play), Audra McDonald (Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Play), Sean Combs, and Sanaa Lathan.

African-American Shakespeare Company Artistic Director L. Peter Callender has worked professionally as an actor, writer, and director for over 30 years. He received his formal training in theater at the Juilliard School in New York City, and has appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway, and in regional theaters across the United States and abroad. Directing credits include last season's production of Twelfth Night at African-American Shakespeare Company; additional directing credits include productions at Word for Word, Solano College, and the San Francisco School for the Arts. As an actor, Callender is an Associate Artist at California Shakespeare Theater, and has regional credits including productions at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Aurora Theatre Company, American Conservatory Theater, Lorraine Hansberry Theater, Magic Theater, Cincinnati Playhouse, Magic Theater, Thick Description, Arena Stage, and New York Shakespeare Festival, among others.

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