First Look: ABC's A Raisin in the Sun

BuzzSugar — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 11:29:57 -0800

Lorraine Hansberry's 1959 play A Raisin in the Sun is already a true theater classic: It was the first play written by an African American woman to be performed on Broadway, and the original cast - including Sidney Poitier and current Oscar nominee Ruby Dee - was recognized with four Tony Awards. More than 40 years later, a 2004 revival starring Sean Combs, Phylicia Rashad, and Audra McDonald took home two Tony awards of its own.

Now, the majority of the Broadway cast has reunited for a television adaptation for ABC, which will air next Monday, Feb. 25. The movie has already screened at Sundance to positive reviews, and I'm eager to check it out for myself.

The play focuses on a family struggling to make a life for themselves in Chicago in the 1950s. Matriarch Lena Younger (Rashad) starts the story in motion, using money from her late husband's life insurance check to purchase a house in an all-white neighborhood - a move that isn't received well by their new neighbors. Meanwhile, the rest of the money ends up in the hands of Lena's son Walter (Combs), but instead of protecting and saving it to send his sister to medical school, he ends up tied up in a scam that could destroy the family's ambitions. It's a powerful story, and I'm curious to see how it translates to the small screen. To check out a preview, just read more.

Buzz News Roundup, 8/17

BuzzSugar — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:28:07 -0700

"American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks' first album is due in November, the Associated Press reports; her first single, "Tattoo," will be released Aug. 27.
Variety has news of Djimon Houndsou and Dakota Fanning signing on to star together in a thriller titled Push.
ABC has set dates for two relatively high-profile TV movies, the latest Oprah movie and an adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun, Zap2it reports.
According to Billboard, Jamie Foxx will star in another musical biopic, titled The Soloist.
TV Guide reports that the remaining episodes of "The Nine" are now streaming online, if anyone still cares.
The Washington Post explains why Ryan Seacrest is "hosting" the Super Bowl.
There's yet another new hero: Bratz star Janel Parrish is joining the cast of "Heroes" to play the head cheerleader at Claire's new school, writes the Hollywood Reporter.
Billboard reports that Amy Winehouse continues to cite "ongoing health issues" as she cancels another event: the V Festival in the U.K.

Photo courtesy of Fox