Lyric Theatre presenting play as culturally significant as itself

In 1959, a 29 year old woman made history as the youngest black female playwright to have a show produced on Broadway.

Lorraine Hansberry, who tragically only lived to age 34, didn’t just shake up the theater world with “A Raisin in the Sun,” her play about the black experience in 1950s Chicago. She shook up the nation with her gripping tale of family, class, race, money, and of course, love.

That show — about the plight of a black family in 1950s Chicago — has since become a classic that is widely regarded as one of the most important black cultural works of the 20th century. Message Theater is reviving Hansberry’s classic this weekend at the Lyric Theatre, a significant player in Lexington’s own black cultural legacy.

“Part of our goal in the community is to provide a venue for artists to express themselves and The Lyric Theatre is the epitome of that effort,” says Patrick Mitchell, co-founder of Message Theater and director and producer of the play.

Mitchell says that although “A Raisin in the Sun” is six decades old, its themes of the impact of gentrification, race, class,and religion continue to be relevant to contemporary audiences.

“Creatively, we choose shows based off of a message. With ‘Raisin,’ it’s family values and gentrification, and seeing a black family trying to rise above their situation,” Mitchell says.

Cast member Meredith Frankie Crutcher agrees. She plays Beneatha Younger, a 20-year-old college student who shakes up the family status quo with modern ideas.

“This play hasn’t lost any of its importance because of America’s cyclical nature,” Crutcher says. “Race and the devaluation of black people are strong themes in this play and both are ever present and problematic in today’s America.”

Crutcher, 30, is just the kind of young talent Mitchell is hoping to attract.

“One of the biggest reasons we founded the company was for people who wanted to act and needed the opportunity,” Mitchell says. “I’ve got a lot of new actors who are stepping up to the plate.”

“Patrick has been especially influential in introducing and connecting Black actors and artists to the Lexington theatre community, which I feel encourages the theatre community to continue moving towards inclusivity and opens doors for broader storytelling,” Crutcher says. “The inclusivity is for our audiences as well. I hope the more that people of color are represented on stage ultimately leads to more people of color in the audience as well.”

Mitchell’s leadership in the black arts community runs deep: he co-founded Message Theater in 1987 with Frank X Walker, Bill Caise, Rev. Thomas Aaron, and Keith Griffith with a mission to fill a cultural void in the artistic community, specifically for artists of color.

“I think it’s important that they are able to see somebody who looks like them and can relate to the story that’s being told,” says Mitchell.

“What I love about this theater company,” Crutcher says, “is that they produce dynamic stories about people of color, giving audiences a chance to see the complexities of our lives as opposed to the stereotypical portrayals we are used to seeing.”

IF YOU GO

‘A Raisin in the Sun’

What: Message Theatre’s production of Lorraine Hansberry’s classic drama.

When: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 28 and 29; 3 p.m. Sept. 30.

Where: Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts Center, 300 E. Third St.

Tickets: $15

Call: 859-280-2218

Online: lexingtonlyric.com