Lorraine Hansberry Theatre past productions
2011-2012 Season #31
"Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Someting Blue"
April 4-May 12, 2012
Blues for an Alabama Sky
by Pearl Cleage
directed by Michele Shay
featuring Robert Gossett
February 8-March 18, 2012
Blue/Orange
by Joe Penhall
directed by Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe
featuring Carl Lumbly
December 4-31, 2011
Rejoice!
book by Ron Stacker Thompson
concept by Ron Stacker Thompson and Pamela Goodlow-Green
music and lyrics by Nolan Shaheed
additional lyrics by Ron Stacker Thompson
directed by Margo Hall
musical directors Jacqueline Hairston and César Cancino
choreographer Traci Tolmiere
October 11-November 20, 2011
Two One-Act Plays:
Almost Nothing
by Marcos Barbosa
Day of Absence
by Douglas Turner Ward
directed by Steven Anthony Jones
presented by Lorraine Hansberry Theatre at our new home 450 Post Street
2010-2011 Season #30
"Bravo30!"
March 3-27, 2011
Fabulation; or The Re-Education of Undine
by Lynn Nottage
featuring Margo Hall
directed by Ellen Sebastian Chang
choreography by Pampa Cortes
presented by Lorraine Hansberry Theatre at Southside Theater, Fort Mason Center
February 25-April 10, 2011
Our subscribers saw
Berkeley Repertory Theater presents
a co-production with the Huntington Theatre Company and LaJolla Playhouse
in association with Lorraine Hansberry Theatre
Ruined
by Lynn Nottage
directed by Liesl Tommy
as part of our season
December 10-31, 2010
Joyful Noise; A Gospel Celebration of Christmas
conceived by Stanley E. Williams
additional text by André C. Andrée and Marc Pâquette
featuring Robin Hodge-Williams
with André C. Andrée
directed by Buddy Butler
musical director Robin Hodge-Williams
choreographer Brian Gibbs
presented by Lorraine Hansberry Theatre at Southside Theater, Fort Mason Center
October 29-November 21, 2010
Our subscribers saw
American Conservatory Theatre presents
Marcus; or The Secret of Sweet
by Tarell Alvin McCraney
directed by Mark Rucker
as part of our season
2009-2010 Season #29
"Hope, Home & New Horizons"
December 16-27, 2009
Black Nativity: A Gospel Celebration of Christmas
concieved and directed by Stanley E. Williams
additional text and lyrics by Marc Pâquette
featuring Debra Henderson
musical director Arvis Strickling-Jones
presented by Lorraine Hansberry Theatre at PG&E Auditorium
January 15 - February 28, 2010
our subscribers saw
Berkeley Rep presents
Coming Home
by Athol Fugard
directed by Gordon Edelstein
as part of our season
February 18 - March 7, 2009
Mahalia: A Gospel Musical
by Tom Stolz
directed by Stanley E. Williams
presented by Lorraine Hansberry Theatre at Post Street Theatre
2008-2009 Season #28
"The Passport Season"
October 2008
our subscibers saw
Radio Golf
by August Wilson
at TheatreWorks
as part of our season
December 16-27, 2007
Black Nativity: A Gospel Celebration of Christmas
concieved and directed by Stanley E. Williams
Musical Director Arvis Strickling Jones
presented by Lorraine Hansberry Theatre at PG&E Auditorium
February 12 - March 1, 2009
Waitin' 2 End Hell
by William a. Parker
directed by Buddy Butler
presented by Lorraine Hansberry Theatre at PG&E Auditorium
March 18 - April 25 2009
SF Playhouse & Lorraine Hansberry Theatre present
The Story
by Tracey Scott Wilson
directed by Margo Hall
presented at SF Playhouse
June 2009
our subscribers saw
San Francisco Opera presents
In association with Lorraine Hansberry Theatre
The Gershwins® Porgy and Bess (sm)
by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin
directed by Francesco Zambello
conducted by John DeMain
At the War Memorial Opera House
as part of our season
2007-2008 Season #27
October 2007
our subscibers saw
The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
at The Orpheum Theatre
as part of our season
October 11 - November 11, 2007
The Bluest Eye
novel by Toni Morrison
adapted for the stage by Lydia R. Diamond
directed by Walter Dallas
November 29 - December 30, 2007
The Black Nativity: A Gospel Celebration of Christmas
concieved and directed by Stanley E. Williams
Musical Director Yvonne Cobbs-Bey
additional text by André C. Andrée and Marc Pâquette
featuring the Dynamic Miss Faye Carol
also featuring Yvonne Cobbs-Bey
with Yolanda Cato Freeman
February 5 - March 8 2008
Word for Word Performing Arts Company presents
in association with Lorraine Hansberry Theatre
Sonny's Blues
by James Baldwin
directed by Margo Hall
April 20 - May 27, 2008
Fences
by August Wilson
directed by Stanley E. Williams
featuring Alex Morris as Troy Maxson
this was the final production at our 620 Sutter Street location
summer rental show
(not part of our season)
July 5-29, 2007
Rrazz Productions & Dominic Alario present
Paul Lekakis & Scott Douglas Cunningham in
Two Boys In A Bed on a Cold Winters Night
a play by James Edwin Parker
directed by David Drake
2006-2007 Season #26
October 26- November 5, 2006
Cultural Odyssey's Medea Project -- Theatre for Incarcerated Women
My Life in the Concrete Jungle
inspired by My Life in the Bush of Ghosts by Amos Tutuola
directed by Rhodessa Jones
music by Idris Ackamoor
November 24 - December 24, 2006
Black Nativity: A Gospel Celebration of Christmas
inspired by Langston Hughes
directed by Stanley E. Williams
Musical Director Robin Hodge-Williams
February 1 - March 4, 2007
Joe Turner's Come and Gone
by August Wilson
Directed by Stanley E. Williams
March 15, 2007
Senghor Celebration: The Life and Poetry of Léopold Sédar Senghor
by Zack Rogow and Stanley E. Williams
Directed by Stanley E. Williams
(not part of our season)
March 15 - April 15, 2007
Bricktop
conceived by Calvin A. Ramsey
book and lyrics by Calvin A. Ramsey and Thomas W. Jones, II
original music by S. Renee Clark
directed by Thomas W. Jones, II
choreography by Dawn Axam
May 10 - June 3, 2007
Spunk: Three Tales by Zora Neale Hurston
adapted by George C. Wolfe
music by Chic Street Man
additional music for this production by Kim Nalley
directed and choreographed by Darryl V. Jones
summer rental show
(not part of our season)
June 8 - July 30, 2006
Joe Spotts presents
Leslie Jordan in Like a Dog on Linoleum
by Leslie Jordan
directed by David Galligan
2005-2006 25th Anniversary Season
"Bravo25!"
November 25 - December 24, 2005
Black Nativity: A Gospel Celebration of Christmas
inspired by Langston Hughes
directed by Stanley E. Williams
Musical Director Robin Hodge-Williamss
February 2006
our subscibers saw
Gem of the Ocean
by August Wilson
at American Conservatory Theatre
as part of our season
February 2 - 26, 2006
from okra to greens/ a different kinda love story
by Ntozake Shange
directed by Danny Duncan & Stanley E. Williams
March 16 - April 9, 2006
I Just Stopped By to See The Man
by Stephen Jeffreys
directed by Stanley E. Williams
May 11 - June 4, 2006
Jared Choclatt's Hit It!
by Jared "Choclatt" Crawford & Andre C. Andree
directed by Stanley E. Williams
summer rental show
(not part of our season)
Make It So Productions presents
Hush Up! Sweet Charlotte
2004-2005 Season #24
Looking Over the President's Shoulder
by James Still
directed by Regge Life
Black Nativity: A Gospel Song Play
by Langston Hughes
directed by Stanley E. Williams
Musical Director Robin Hodge-Williams
our subscribers saw
Polk County
by Zora Neale Hurston
at Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Crumbs from the Table of Joy
by Lynn Nottage
directed by Stanley E. Williams
Blue
by Charles Randolph-Wright
directed by Buddy Butler
2003-2004 Season #23
our subscribers saw
Topdog/Underdog
by Susan-Lori Parks
at the Curran Theatre (Best of Broadway)
Black Nativity
by Lanston Hughes
directed by Stanley E. Williams
Musical Director Arvis Strickling-Jones
our subscribers saw
Levee James
by S.M. Shephard-Massat
at A.C.T.
King Hedley II
by August Wilson
Eubie! A New Musical Revue
Music by Eubie Blake: Conceived by Julianne Boyd
2002-2003 Season #22
Black Nativity: A Gospel Song Play
by Langston Hughes
directed by Stanley E. Williams
Musical Director Arvis Strickling-Jones
Seven Guitars
by August Wilson
The Dance on Widow's Row
by Samm-Art Williams
directed by Buddy Butler
featuring Ted Lange
Black and Blue: A Musical Revue
conceived by Hector Orezzoli & Claudio Segovia
our subscribers saw
The Dazzle
by Richard Greenberg
and/or
Lackawanna Blues
by Ruben Santiago-Hudson
at American Conservatory Theatre
2001-2002 Season #21
Black Nativity: A Gospel Song Play
by Langston Hughes
directed by Stanley E. Williams
Musical Director Arvis Strickling-Jones
Urban Zulu Mambo
conceived by Regina Taylor
short works by Susan-Lori Parks, Ntozake Shange & Kia Corthron
DIrected by Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe
The Piano Lesson
by August Wilson
Ain't Misbehavin
by Murray Horwitz & Richard Maltby Jr.
music by Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller
Directed & Choreographed by Danny Duncan
Musical Director Teryl Saunders-McGriff
2000-2001 20th Anniversary Season
One Day in the Life (with Recovery Theatre)
by Marvin X
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
by August Wilson
directed by Luther James
Black Nativity: A Gospel Song Play
by Langston Hughes
directed by Stanley E. Williams
Musical Director Arvis Strickling-Jones
Waiting to be Invited
by S.M. Shepperd-Massat
directed by Paul Carter Harrison
Bee
by Prince Gomolvilas
Twelfth Night
by Wm. Shakespeare
1999-2000 Season #19
Cultural Odyssey Performance Festival
Black Nativity: A Gospel Song Play
by Langston Hughes
directed by Stanley E. Williams
Musical Director Arvis Strickling-Jones
Lift Every Voice
Everybody's Ruby
by Thulani Davis
1998-1999 Season #18
Jitney
by August Wilson
The Trial of One Short-Sighted Black Woman Vs. Mammy Louise and Safeeta Mae
by Marcia L. Leslie
1997-1998 Season #17
Your Arms Too Short to Box with God
by Vinnette Carol and Alex Bradford
1996-1997 Season #16
One Mo' Time
by Vernel Bagnaris
Lift Every Voice Series: Ruby Dee
Lift Every Voice Series: Danny Glover
1995-1996 15th Anniversary Season
Tamborines to Glory
by Langston Hughes
1994-1995 Season #14
Amen Corner
by James Baldwin
for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf
by Ntozake Shange
1993-1994 Season #13
Steal Away
Two Trains Running
by August Wilson
1992-1993 Season #12
1991-1992 Season #11
The Piano Lesson
by August Wilson
Legends and Folktales of Brer Rabbit
adapted by Stanley E. WIlliams and Quentin Easter
Re/Membering Aunt Jemima
by Glenda Dickerson
The Love Space Demands
by Ntozake Shange
Henry O. Tanner; Portrait of an African American Artist
by Stanley E. Williams
Telling You My Dreams from a Cloud Sailing By
by David Rousseve
A Soldier's Play
by Charles Fuller
1990-1991 10th Anniversary Season
Dutchman
by Amiri Baraka
Fences
by August Wilson
Lift Every Voice Series: Roger Guenveur Smith
The Glass Menagerie
by Tennessee Williams
1989-1990 Season #9
I Ain't Yo Uncle: The New Jack Revisionist Uncle Tom's Cabin
by Robert Alexander
1988-1989 Season #8
The Resurrection of Lady Lester
by Oyamo
Joe Turner's Come and Gone (with American Conservatory Theatre)
by August Wilson
Sophisticated Ladies
the music of Duke Ellington
The Bluest Eye
(Staged reading of a script by Stanley E. Williams and Quentin Easter)
1987-1988 Season #7
The Colored Museum
by George C. Wolfe
1986-1987 Season #6
Sarita
by Maria Irene Fornes
Endangered Species
By Kim Euell – World Premiere
Moon on a Rainbow Shawl
By Errol John
3 Views of Mount Fuji
by Ntozake Shange – World Premiere
1985-1986 5th Anniversary Season
The River Niger
By Joseph Walker
LBJ (Long Binh Jail: The War Within the War)
by Jamal – World Premiere
Dramalogue Awards: New Play, Direction, Production
In the House of Blues
By David Charles (aka Buddy Butler) – West Coast Premiere
Directed by Buddy Butler
Mosquito Man
by Ellen Sebastian – World Premiere
Les Blancs
by Lorraine Hansberry
1984-1985 Season #4
Home
Samm-Art Williams
Livin’ Fat
by Judi Mason
Spell #7
by Ntozake Shange
The Third Life of Grange Copeland
adapted by Stanley E. Williams from the novel by Alice Walker – World Premiere
Air Guitar
by Robert Alexander – World Premiere
BATCC Awards: Musical Score, Sound Design, Choreography
Drama-Logue Awards: New Play, Direction, Musical Score
“Year’s Ten Best Plays” – SF Bay Guardian
1983-1984 Season #3
Old Phantoms
by Gus Edwards – West Coast Premiere
Boogie Woogie Landscapes
by Ntozake Shange – World Premiere
A Raisin in the Sun
by Lorraine Hansberry
“Year’s Ten Best Plays” – SF Bay Guardian
Checkmate
by Larry Americ Allen – World Premiere
Family Portrait
by Beverly A. Smith – World Premiere
Dream on Monkey Mountain
by Derek Walcott
1982-1983 Season #2
Transitions for a Mime Poem
by Owa – West Coast Premiere
featuring Ed Mock
Jump at the Sun
adapted by Glenda Dickerson from the novel Their Eyes were watching God by Zora Neale Hurston – West Coast Premiere
“Year’s Ten Best Plays” – SF Bay Guardian
We Almost Made it to the Superbowl
by Robert Alexander – World Premiere
Zooman and the Sign
by Charles Fuller – West Coast Premiere
“Year’s Ten Best Plays” – SF Bay Guardian
Funnyhouse of a Negro
by Adrienne Kennedy
1981-1982 Season #1
Prophecy in America (The Life of Martin Luther King)
by Felix Justice
Can I Speak for You, Brother?
by Philip Walker
Nevis Mountain Dew
by Steve Carter – West Coast Premiere
Our first production
Two One-Act Plays:
Trials of Brother Jero
by Wole Soyinka
and
Companions of the Fire
by Ali Wadud – West Coast Premiere
